Bern…
Six figures gathered in an abandoned fort. They were heavily dressed, as the holes in the stone walls didn't protect them completely from the harsh winter wind coming in from outside. The peaceful snowy forest landscape could be seen clearly from the fort, although not a single one of them was there for the purpose of sightseeing.
"Jaffar, Ursula, Lloyd… and Linus… That's everyone, is it not?" A seductive looking woman with dark violet hair and golden eyes murmured as she caressed the arm of an older looking warrior. "If I have the Four Fangs together, I need no one else. I have need of you to eliminate someone who's living plagues me. His name is Eliwood, a noble of Pherae."
"..." The assassin Jaffar didn't make any remarks, and continued playing with his daggers.
"...Pherae is located in Lycia, is it not?" A female mage with short, dark blue hair asked after some thinking.
"That's right." The first woman responded. "However, he is no simple country lord… He has other friends, many who happen to be other Lycian Lords. Individually, they are no match for you… but carelessness invites death."
"I won't make that mistake." The mage smiled.
"Lloyd, Linus…" The woman continued. "I have work for the Reed brothers as well. Is that all right?"
"One question." A handsome looking swordsman raised his hand. "Are these our father's- I mean, the orders of the head of the Black Fang?"
"Hee hee, why of course!" The woman's personality seemed to take a one-eighty as she playfully stroked the older warrior's nose with a finger. "Isn't that right, my beloved?"
"Mmm…" The warrior seemed to only be concentrating on the figure of the woman who was still hanging onto his arm as he softly stroked hers. "Ah… yes."
"There!" The woman snapped back at the swordsman like a viper. "Are you satisfied? Your orders come from the head of the Black Fang, Brendan Reed. As members of this group, you will follow that order, yes? Or...does your opponent frighten you into immobility, Lloyd?"
"Sonia!" A more brutish looking version of Lloyd exclaimed. "How dare you speak to my brother in such a-"
"Linus." Lloyd held up a hand, silencing his younger brother.
"...I know." Linus begrudgingly stopped.
"Sonia, we do not need to be chastised by you." Lloyd replied. "Under our father, we've carried out the law of the Black Fang. If Eliwood is an evil person, then there is no reason for us to hesitate."
"The Fang lets none escape." Linus chimed in agreement.
Lloyd cupped his fist with his other hand. "We, the brothers Reed, dispense the Fang's justice.
"...Ursula, Jaffar, you understand your orders, yes?" The woman known as Sonia asked. "Once you locate your target, eliminate him at once!"
"It will be as you say, Lady Sonya." The female mage replied. "Anything for you."
"...I've received my orders." Jaffar got up from his seated position. "I will do my duty."
The assassin disappeared without a sound.
"Your target's name is Eliwood, a noble of Pherae!" Sonya addressed the remaining three Fangs with a dramatic wave of her hand. "Bring him down. On the Black Fang's honor!"
Ostia…
Eliwood and Chrom were currently waiting in the reception area of a fort on the outskirts of Ostia. Hector was busy seeking an audience with his older brother on behalf of the two of them, so the two Lords had some time to converse.
"The size of our group seems to just keep increasing, doesn't it?" Eliwood remarked.
Ninian and Nils increased the headcount by two on their own, and with the addition of Fiora, Canas and Dart, their numbers increased even further.
Fiora, with nowhere else to go, naturally decided to follow them, largely because of her younger sister.
Canas, as someone who is very interested in dark magic, wished to travel with them in hopes of learning a thing or two from Robin.
Dart, after requesting some leave from Fargus when he returned in the morning, decided to tag along with them as well, much to everyone's surprise. Robin had a sneaking suspicion that it had something to do with Rebecca, but he didn't utter a word about it to anyone. Fargus also didn't deny his first mate's request, as he was grateful for Dart and the Shepherds' assistance in protecting the town while they were away.
Either way, they now had many more people travelling with them than before.
"Yeah." Chrom nodded in agreement. "It kind of brings back some memories…"
"Oh?" Eliwood's interest had been piqued. "Do tell…"
"Well, back when I didn't know Robin, our group of 'shepherds' had the size of just three." Chrom held up three fingers for emphasis.
"Just three?"
"Just three. Me, my sister, and Frederick. But then one day, I found our dear tactician lying face down in the dirt, along the side of the road. I didn't know then, but it would be the start of a very long journey…"
Just as Chrom was busy reminiscing about the past, Hector came back with a neutral expression on his face.
"I've just heard back from my brother. He's already on his way here. We're to wait for him."
"He's coming here himself?" Eliwood asked in surprise.
"So it appears." Hector shrugged his shoulders. "I've told you many times before… Castle Ostia, not to mention the city itself, is filled with countless foreign spies. I assume he thinks it'll be easier to speak freely here."
"Wouldn't leaving Ostia generate even more attention?" Eliwood countered.
"He's travelling in secret with very few attendants." Hector chuckled. "Don't worry, he's very skilled in this sort of thing."
"Nils!" The three lords snapped their heads towards a sudden exclamation from Lyn.
"That doesn't sound good…" Chrom grumbled before they ran deeper into the fort.
Meanwhile, in a back room…
"...Is Nils OK?" Lyn cautiously asked. She had been quietly keeping an eye on the boy for the past few minutes, and she finally decided to say something after seeing just how light headed he seemed. "Do you think he has a fever?"
"Hmm…" hearing Lyn's words, Robin felt the young manakete's forehead. "It does seem a little hot… Nils, how are you doing? You seem distant."
"Nils… sh-should be fine." Ninian promised. "He's just a little bit tired…"
"Y-yeah… if we rest for one night… I'll… be… good…"
"Nils!" Lyn exclaimed as she saw the young boy drop to the ground. "Nils?"
"What's wrong?" Hector asked as he burst into the room.
"Nils suddenly fainted." Robin explained with a scowl on his face.
"Nils, open your eyes!" Lyn cried out.
"Lyn, calm down." Eliwood coaxed. "Let's not panic. We can move him to a room with a bed and call a healer."
"No!" Ninian blurted.
"Huh?" Hector looked at the bluenette, feeling quite confused.
"Please… you mustn't move him!"
"Ninian?" Eliwood looked at her in concern.
"Please…" Ninian begged.
"...Let's just do as Ninian asks." Robin suggested. "She must have her reasons."
"...just one night of rest." Ninian mumbled. "Just one night… that should… make things right."
"If that's gonna make him feel better, then alright. We won't move him." Hector agreed. "I'll make sure no one else touches him either."
"Lord Hector…" Ninian whispered without meeting his eyes. "Thank you."
"No worries." Hector responded in a carefree fashion.
"Milord!" A soldier rushed into the room, just as the previous matter became resolved. "We're under attack!"
"What!?" Hector exclaimed.
"From what direction?" Robin's attention got torn from Nils at the news. "And how far away are they?"
"S-sir…" The soldier stammered.
"Calm down, would you?" Hector sighed. "We're not going to blame the bearer of bad news. Just calm yourself and make the report."
"The east gate, sir!" The soldier shored up his courage. "A-and, they've… already made it inside…"
Robin's eyes shot open at the news as he dug into his pockets and fumbled for his Hekseer. Opening the device, he let out a sigh of defeat.
"What's wrong?" Lucina asked, seeing her lover's face.
"It's… pretty bad." Robin admitted.
"Fortunately, the shepherds have always been prepared for battle." Chrom patted his tactician on the back. "Surely, the battle is not lost yet!"
"You're right." Robin nodded. "Although this situation could've been avoided if I paid attention earlier, we can still make the most of it."
"No one can stand guard every hour of every day." Chrom reminded him. "Not alone, at least. Let's deal with the intruders first and discuss how to prevent this from happening again after we're done."
"...Right."
Moments earlier…
"...So this is where that Pheraen noble and his friends are, eh?" A paladin chuckled as he stopped his horse on top of the hill facing a rather large fort.
"...Yes, commander Eubans." A Wyvern Rider replied.
"Very well." The paladin turned to face his subordinate. "Heath, your unit will attack from the west of the fortress. Your mission is to put an end to the entire group."
"...are you serious, sir?" Heath asked. "Marquess Laus abandoned us and just vanished. We've no reason to even engage this group!"
"We answered the marquess's call." Eubans replied. "And so we must honor our duty. Regardless, we cannot remain in Lycia any longer, as we rebelled against Ostia. Our entire mercenary group is being hunted here. However… if we claim their heads, we can at least join the Black Fang in Bern."
"That's sound logic sir, but I'm opposed to this plan." Heath objected. "There are women and children there! What you're asking of us… it's something no knight… no, no man could do without shame!"
"Listen well, Heath." Eubans glared at his subordinate. "You're a wanted man, and a fugitive from Bern. How about we take you and hand you over to the Wyvern Knights over there? We might even get knighted as a reward. Y'know, for honest work."
Heath's eyes flickered for a moment, and he turned his gaze away.
"Hahaha!" Eubans gave a hearty laugh. "I thought as much. Everyone prioritizes their own skin over someone else's. Now get your unit together. We attack!"
Inside…
Gaius quickly but stealthily approached the main hall after a brief reconnaissance of the castle. Although he was not surprised, the assassin did feel a slight bit of relief when he saw that nothing major had occurred while he was away. Robin and the others had set up a control center of sorts at the center of the main hall, and guards were posted at each of the entrances.
Gaius walked up to the tactician to give his report. "I've swept most parts of the castle. Although I almost ran into a group of enemies once or twice, it would seem that there's no one here that can get in our crossfire."
"Perfect." Robin nodded. "That makes our job a lot easier. As long as we can protect this location, they won't be able to surround us. As we're deep in Ostian territory, we win the battle of attrition."
"If you say so…" Gaius shrugged. "Where do you want me then?"
"Why don't you join Stahl and the others?"
"Fine by me."
As the battle commenced, it was clear that the only strategy their assailants utilized was the all too common human wave tactic. This gave Robin an extremely easy time directing the battle from his post. All they needed was for a couple people to guard each entryway to the hall, supported from behind by a few others. Their mages and archers could stay a little further back, and cover multiple doorways with their ranged attacks. The enemy soon found it near impossible to breach their defensive position, as the narrow hallways acted as a floodgate to prevent them from fully utilizing their numerical superiority.
With their chokehold on the main hall, the mercenary numbers were slowly getting whittled down little by little.
"Die!" Hector broke out of the formation he had created with Oswin as the Armored Knight knocked an enemy axeman off balance with his shield. The Ostian Lord smashed his Wolf Beil into the unfortunate Brigande's skull, completely shattering it. Wil, Rebecca and the others standing behind the Ostian duo used this opportunity to shower the enemies down the hall with a flurry of arrows to cover for the opening in their defense.
A screech could be heard from down the hallway that doesn't sound like it belonged to a human could be heard as another row of bodies dropped. Very soon, an angry looking lizard and its rider rushed towards Hector as he tried to retreat back to safety. Its wings were peppered with broken arrows, and although not all of them had struck vulnerable areas, it looked like the beast was whipped into a frenzy from pain.
"...Woah, they've got Wyverns in here too!?" Hector exclaimed as he deflected an incoming spear. He darted backwards to prevent himself from being lunch to a certain winged lizard.
After recouping from the initial surprise, Hector made his way back next to Oswin. The Armored Knight tanked a slam from the Wyvern, though it wasn't clear who was hurt more from the attack. Nevertheless, a grunt still escaped Oswin's throat.
"Coming your way!" A beam of thunderous energy flew over their heads and shot through both the Wyvern and the Wyvern Knight, quite literally tearing their bodies apart.
Hector snuck a glance backwards to confirm his suspicions… yep, it was that black winged pegasus lady again. She was hovering slightly in the air above Robin, granting her a vantage point over the entire battlefield. She could quickly and accurately throw a powerful spell down each and any one of the possible entrances whenever they needed help.
Clearly, the enemy mercenaries determined that this pegasus rider was a major threat, and those of them that had bows all directed their arrows towards her. However, they were quickly discouraged by the white haired mage standing below, who blew away the wayward arrows with a meticulously timed wind spell anytime it was needed.
As a result, the shepherds had what was essentially a powerful turret that could not be touched, which mowed down enemy after enemy with both precision and area of effect spells whenever and wherever it was needed. Hector surmised that to the enemy, she and her black pegasus must have seemed like the indestructible angel of death that knew no mercy, and took no prisoners.
"...Oops…" Sumia muttered as she dropped the Thoron tome she had just used.
"...Agh!" There was a thud, as said tome indubitably struck a certain tactician (probably on the head) as it tumbled down from up above. He looked up at the clumsy pegasus rider and shook his fist towards the sky. "Sumia, watch where you're dropping those things!"
"Sorry!" Came the immediate reply. "I was trying to switch to an Arcfire tome, but missed the holding pouch."
'Then again… if these mercenaries knew what she was truly like, it'd be quite difficult to link the two of them as the same person who kills men like ants on the battlefield.' Hector deadpanned.
"Do you command this group?" Hector was shaken out of his thoughts by a sudden question that was thrown at him.
"Who are you to ask?" Hector turned back towards his primary objective: securing the corridor.
"I am Heath." A man with green hair pulled back on the reins of his Wyvern as he stopped in front of them. With his spear, he skillfully knocked aside one of Wil's arrows that was aimed for his mount. The arrow's trajectory was changed and it bounced harmlessly off the Wyvern's tough scales, instead of tearing through its slightly more vulnerable wings.
'It would seem this guy is a little different from the rest.' Hector thought to himself. 'Although, no matter how much skill he has, what can he do against powerful magical attacks?'
"...As I said, I am Heath." The man began his introduction once again. "One of Euban's mercenaries."
"In that case, you're my enemy." Hector replied nonchalantly. This was old news, after all. "Prepare to die!"
"Hold." The man held up his lance defensively. "I've not come to fight you. I wish to surrender to your group."
"Surrender?" Hector was beginning to become a little bit confused.
"I've no wish to harm women or children." The man explained. "Although I'm a soldier… I'm trying to be a human as well."
"...You're an odd one." Hector told him plainly. "Although, we could use what help we can get. Why don't you prove your sincerity?"
"That won't be a problem." Heath turned his Wyvern around, and began to rampage back down the corridor.
"Well, I suppose this is good news for us?" Hector scratched his head, finding himself with little to do as screams broke out further down the hallway. "... so, now what?"
With Lucina…
"What's with these people?" Lyn grunted as she withdrew her blade from the body of another victim. "Why do they keep mindlessly throwing themselves at us? You would think that after a while, they'd notice how they're getting slaughtered and back off."
Lucina sighed. "It's because they don't know anything else. The commander probably only knows two commands: attack and retreat. And if they're unlucky, the latter is a bit too complicated of an order to give."
Things were pretty quiet on her end, as Gaius and Anna took down most of the enemies that ran towards them from a distance. The few that got through their defenses quickly were torn apart by Lyn if not herself.
The way their enemies mindlessly attacked them with absolute aggression kind of irritated Lucina, and although she didn't want to admit it, it kind of felt like she was back in her own timeline, fighting the Risen.
"Mage!" Lyn shouted in alarm as she looked up from the opponent she had just disposed of.
"I'm on it!" The Ylissean princess immediately darted forward. If not for the occasional magic spell slung her way, she really might have regressed into that mindset.
'Thank Naga for these mages I guess?' Lucina thought as she lunged towards an enemy preparing to cast Thunder. In such an enclosed space, that spell could prove to be dangerous for herself, her allies, and her enemies alike.
Lucina knew she timed her strike correctly to reach the opponent before he could finish casting. She had trained with Laurent, who had insisted that she learn the cast times and ranges of the most common spells. Though most of this knowledge had been fairly useless to her so far (since the Elibeans didn't seem to have as advanced magic as Ylisse), she was glad that there are a few consistencies to not completely void her training. On a side note, Robin had also given her a hand in her training, even though he kept having to apologize for completing the cast and injuring his wife multiple times each session.
Having to train with proficient magicians such as Laurent and Robin, Lucina now understood just how fast at casting they are compared to the regular soldier. Theoretically, if the enemy mage had been replaced by Robin, she would've already bore the brunt of a close range Thunder spell already. But from experience, Lucina knew that her blade would reach before that mage could complete even three quarters of the spell.
This made it quite a surprise for her when an arrowhead protruded from the chest of said mage.
Since the unexpected aid came from the wrong direction, Lucina still reflexively backed off as soon as the target was dead. She wasn't sure if it was an accident on their opponents' part, or if there were some allied force coming to aid them. After all, they were deep in Ostian territory.
The sound of galloping hooves resounded from down the hallway before a Sacaen Nomad stopped in front of them.
"...So it seems you're being hunted again, Lyn of the Lorca." The mounted archer stated.
Lyn's face froze for a second before recognizing who it was. "Rath! Rath of the Kutolah! Well met! What are you doing here?"
"...After we parted company, I made my living as a mercenary." Rath casually explained. "That's the only talent people like me have anyway. Somehow, I made my way here."
"I see… you haven't changed at all." Lyn nodded. "It's good to see you again."
"Do you need my help?"
"Are you offering?"
"...You… If you desire it."
"Then, yes please! Lend us your strength!" Lyn pleaded. "We're involved in something terribly dangerous, and so we could use all the help we can get!"
"I see…" Rath turned his horse around. "Then after this is finished, I will end my service to this place. If you've room in your caravan, I'll follow you for my next job."
With that, the Sacaen nomad galloped down the hallway, presumably to engage the enemy.
"I take it, you know that person then?" Lucina asked.
"Robin does too." Lyn nodded in reply. "He was with us on our way to Caelin."
"I see… then there should be no problems." Lucina sheathed her blade, as evidently, there weren't any enemies coming down the corridor anymore. "C'mon, let's report this to Robin. Perhaps he needs us elsewhere now."
Meanwhile…
At that moment, Robin was busy pondering the next step. Based on the enemy activity, it was clear that they were running out of warm bodies to throw at them. Furthermore, they had even received some unexpected assistance, which Robin definitely would not complain about.
"What to do now then?" Robin asked rhetorically. He pointed at a lone icon standing outside the fortress on his Hekseer. "...When dealing with thieves, deal first with their chief."
To be completely honest, Robin couldn't rule out the possibility that his target was not the one calling the shots. He can't be 100% sure, after all. However, considering that it had not moved the entire battle, Robin figured it must be some sort of high ranked person. That, or whoever the icon represented was a massive idiot. The thing that worried Robin the most was actually that this enemy was the mage they had encountered earlier with the devastating dark magic. That person could pose a threat to even the strongest shepherd if the spell managed to connect.
"Who to send then…' Robin bit his thumb as he pondered the enigma for a brief moment. Knowing that he didn't have the luxury of taking too long to make his decision, Robin decided he would contact the candidates for this job immediately.
Shortly After…
'Gurgle gurgle…'
"Dammit Stahl! Why now of all times?" A redheaded Great Knight grumbled as the pair of horsemen rode through the halls.
"I can't help it!" The Paladin replied sheepishly. "I always get nervous when something like this happens. I mean, what if something goes wrong? All of a sudden, I have so much responsibility!"
"Then make sure you don't mess it up!" Sully roared back.
"Plus, I could really use a sandwich right about now."
"I'll make you a knuckle sandwich if you keep whining."
The cavalier duo charged past a few enemies as they exited the fortress, galloping forward with only one objective in mind. They had been given a task by Robin that could decide the outcome of the battle… probably.
Off in the distance, Stahl and Sully could see the lone Paladin standing atop a small hill that overlooked the fortress. Having identified their target with their own eyes, they made haste towards him.
As their horses raced towards what was presumably the enemy commander, Sully noticed that there was surprisingly little resistance that they had to charge past. It would seem that the mercenaries either were all inside, or had all fled. Or, it could be possible that it was a mixture of the two.
It didn't really matter what the scenario was to Sully. The only thing that mattered was reaching this Paladin and plunging her axe into his skull.
Adrenaline coursed through her body as Sully got closer and closer. The Paladin might have had something on their mind, as his focus was not directed at her or Stahl. Or maybe he just thought they were his subordinates… there was no way for Sully to know. Either way, it may be an easier task than she expected.
Suddenly, a large shadow flew over their heads.
"Woah!" Stahl had to pull hard on the reins as his horse panicked from the large Wyvern that passed over them.
The Wyvern Rider beat them to the punch as he drove a spear towards the Paladin. His target didn't even flinch as he brought one hand to his side and drew a glistening silver sword. Using it, the Paladin redirected the spear's trajectory, and ducked as the rest of the Wyvern narrowly passed over him. Mounting a counterattack, he swung at the underside of the passing Wyvern, nicking the flying lizard, but not causing any major debilitating injuries.
"You are a traitor, Heath." The Paladin scoffed as he swung his sword to rid the tip of his weapon of Wyvern blood. "You know nothing of honor!"
"I may not be the best person." The Wyvern Rider replied. "But I simply must live a life in which I am not ashamed. Commander Eubans… it's not too late… If you give the order to stop…"
"Ha ha!" Eubans replied. "Heath, Heath, Heath. You're so naive! You're no knight, and I suppose you're no mercenary either, you dolt! You know nothing! You can carry your precious morals straight to the grave!"
Sully and Stahl ended up watching the two of them duel for a few moments.
"Well… I guess that answers our previous uncertainty…" Stahl nervously chuckled after he recomposed himself. "Shall we lend a hand?"
"I don't see why not." Sully began riding towards the Paladin again.
Eubans was doing more than fine against just Heath. Despite having a disadvantage in both range and mobility, he was the one putting Heath in a tight spot. He wasn't the leader of this mercenary group for no reason; Eubans was a seasoned veteran that knew how to deal with opponents of various shapes and sizes.
Still, he was no miracle worker. Eubans noticed Sully's axe coming down on him a little too late. As a seasoned veteran, he was able to at least block the strike with the shield wielded in his offhand. He was also able to push away Heath's lance with his sword once again as well. Although he was caught slightly off guard, Eubans did not yet show signs of concern. In his day, he had dealt with more overwhelming odds dozens of times before. But the straw that broke the camel's back was Stahl's lance piercing him from behind. Unfortunately, Eubans didn't have a third weapon, or hand for that matter to deal with the three opponents at once.
With a pained final breath, Eubans fell off his mount.
"Well, that's that." Stahl chuckled as he withdrew his lance. "Shall we head back then?"
"Wait." Sully pointed her axe at Heath. "What about this guy? Wasn't he one of the mercenaries too?"
"I changed sides." Heath quickly explained as he laid down his spear and held his hands up in a gesture of surrender.
"Give him a break, Sully." Stahl turned his horse around. "He fought against his commander, didn't he? That's good enough for me. We were only instructed to take out that one target."
"Grr… I hate it when you're right." Sully grumbled, but begrudgingly followed her husband as they rode back towards the castle.
Heath took the opportunity to go over to Eubans' dead body and close the eyes of the dead Paladin. He sat down next to the corpse of his former commanding officer.
"Commander Eubans… why did it have to end like this?"
Cleanup afterwards took a little bit of time, but with the difficult part over with, no one was really complaining. Injuries this time were once again minimized, which was a luxury the native Elibeans were beginning to get themselves accustomed to.
After a few hours, the interior of the fortress was beginning to look much more presentable than right after the battle. Though it did nothing to hide the fact that some sort of brutal conflict took place just moments ago, at least most of the blood and guts were cleaned up, and the bodies disposed of properly.
Hector sheepishly welcomed his brother, Lord Uther, as well as his entourage.
"I see some things never change." Uther chuckled as he was led through the hallways. "It never ceases to amaze me how trouble always follows wherever you go."
"Uhm… sorry." Hector scratched the back of his head as he braced himself for the scolding that probably would follow.
"To be honest, I'm just glad you're still alive." Uther admitted. "I hadn't heard from you for so long, that I began to suspect the worst. One more day, and I may have started to arrange your funeral rites."
"...my apologies. I was a little busy."
"I would love to hear what business you could have been taking care of, in depth, some other time." Uther chuckled as he stopped before the main hall. "But, I guess neither of us have the time or luxury to do so right now. We'll shelve this discussion for another time."
Seeing Hector return with his brother, Eliwood immediately stopped his conversation with Chrom and Robin, and came up to greet him.
"Lord Uther! It's good to see you."
"And you as well, Eliwood. And, I've heard of the exploits of you two as well, Chrom and Robin of Ylisse."
"The honor is ours." Chrom gave a very standard reply, to which Robin nodded in agreement.
Uther's tone grew serious. "I… heard many things from Leila's final report. Eliwood… I'm sorry about your father. I was powerless to help."
"No…" Eliwood's expression hardened. "Nothing could've been done. More importantly… have you heard of Nergal?"
"Only what was reported to me, I'm afraid." Uther sighed. "I know that he appeared a year ago and seized control of the Black Fang. Then he ensnared Laus in a plot of rebellion against Ostia. Although, for the life of me, I cannot comprehend what he must be after…"
"The dragons that disappeared after the Scouring…" Eliwood responded. "He wants to bring them back."
"What!?" Uther had a look of shock on his face. "Can that be done?"
"This… may take some time. Why don't we move to a more comfortable venue?" Robin suggested.
"Yes, let's do that." Uther waved off his personal guards who tried to follow after him. "There's no need for that. We're all friends here. It's my little brother after all."
The five of them made their way to a more secluded room.
"Alright… *cough* please explain…" Uther invited the other four to give him more information as he sat down.
"Well, as you may know, my involvement in this whole ordeal began when my father went missing…" Eliwood explained. "Actually… Now that I think about it, that's not exactly correct. We had a run in with the Black Fang about a year before that."
Robin nodded in agreement. "Nergal must've had control of the Black Fang then as well, because they were hunting Ninian and Nils."
"Ninian and Nils?" Uther asked.
"Ah…" Eliwood sighed, realizing just how long this conversation will probably take. "Well…"
Later…
"... I think I understand most of what is going on now…" Uther knitted his brows after having a massive amount of incomprehensible information thrown at him.
"...So…" Hector's expression grew curious.
"I'm… going to need some more time to ponder on what Ostia can commit…" Uther admitted. "It's not that I don't believe you… but at the moment, Ostia is dealing with many other problems as well. You're going to need to give me a few days to think about this."
"I… see."
Uther coughed several times as he rose from his chair.
"Lord Uther, are you…" Eliwood began in concern.
"I'm fine." The Ostian Lord quickly waved it off. "Just a little cough is all…"
"It is getting chilly lately, especially at night." Eliwood admitted. "Make sure you take good care of yourself."
"You're beginning to sound like my mother, Eliwood." Uther chuckled as he stood at the door frame. "After knowing what's been going on, I won't be surprised if you have something you need to do. Otherwise…" Uther scanned the room, stopping his gaze on Robin and Chrom in particular. "Feel free to take a little time to enjoy what Ostia has to offer. There's a festival that has been going on for the past few days… perhaps you'll find something worth your time there…"
"This has even got my brother brooding…" Hector commented after Uther had left. "He's usually a firm believer in quick decisions… Yet he now wishes for more time. This usually never happens."
"There must be a lot on his plate." Chrom surmised. "Unfortunately, I know that feeling all too well…"
"Robin?" Eliwood asked as the tactician rose from his seat. "Is something wrong?"
"Hm?" Robin blinked a couple of times. "Nothing's wrong… the meeting is over, isn't it? There's not much use sitting here doing nothing."
"Oh… I guess you're right."
Elsewhere…
"My hands hurt!" Serra complained as shook them in the air dramatically.
"Calm down, calm down." Matthew sighed. "You did a good job earlier healing the injured. Does that make you happy?"
"Hee hee… you saw that didn't you?" Serra grinned. "Lord Oswin, tell me you saw that too!"
"You… did well." Oswin replied nonchalantly.
"Hmph… you could've said it with a little more enthusiasm…"
"Milord!" Serra stiffened up when Oswin suddenly straightened his posture and saluted at something behind her. As far as she knew, Oswin didn't even give Lord Hector that kind of respect, which can only mean…
"I see you're as jubilant as ever, Serra." The voice of Lord Uther could be heard behind her.
"Eep! H-h-how do you do, Lord Uther?" Serra meekly turned around to see the Ostian Lord standing over her.
"As fine as I can possibly be." Uther gave a wry smile. "How has my brother been, Oswin? Quite a handful, isn't he?"
"Not at all, milord." Oswin replied.
"Ah, c'mon, you don't have to lie to me."
Oswin smiled, but didn't say any more on the subject. "How has your health been, milord?"
Uther's expression grew dark. He gave Matthew a glance. The thief, understanding what Uther wanted, silently pulled Serra away, leaving Uther and Oswin alone.
"Not much better, I'm afraid." Uther sighed. "The physicians tell me I only have a month left… if that."
"It's that serious?" Oswin clenched his jaw.
"I wish it weren't so." Uther admitted. "So before I pass, I'm glad I could at least speak with you about it now. When Hector takes my position…" Uther paused for a moment, perhaps thinking carefully about his next words. "Please continue to guide him down the right path."
"I… will do everything within my power." Oswin replied.
"Good." Uther sighed, leaving a melancholic expression on his face.
"...And it was necessary for you to keep this information from Hector?" Oswin and Uther froze, as a voice belonging to neither of them entered the conversation.
Robin turned the corner. "Sorry for eavesdropping."
"You…" Uther unconsciously moved his hand to the sword that hung by his side, an action that Robin took notice of, but didn't bring up. "What brings you here?"
"I couldn't help but overhear that you had some sort of health issue?" Robin asked innocently. "I can ask Lissa to check it out for you, if you're willing. Lissa's our best healer, by the way."
"And why are you willing to do so?" Uther asked. "Is there something that you wanted in exchange?"
"No, no. I don't need or want anything. I'm just doing… what a friend would do."
"I find that hard to believe." Uther scoffed. "Still, a simple checkup shouldn't hurt. Although… all the doctor's I've seen so far have told me there is no cure… I'm sure this time will be no different."
"Great." Robin clapped his hands, and Lissa revealed herself from the shadows as well.
"Uh… surprise?" Lissa awkwardly exclaimed.
"So you knew." Uther sighed as he shook his head in defeat. "Very well. I'll play nice this one time."
Robin brought the three of them to the fortress's infirmary, where Uther conceded to letting Lissa do a routine health checkup.
"Hmm… you were right, Robin." Lissa frowned. "It DOES seem to resemble a dark magic injury."
"What!?" Uther was shocked, and it caused him to go into a coughing fit for a moment. "...You mean you know the cause of my illness?"
"Er… more or less?" Lissa shrugged.
"No doctor or physician has ever been able to diagnose what I've been suffering from." Uther continued. "The ones that claim that they do have already been proven wrong."
"Can you cure it?" Oswin asked hopefully.
Lissa shook her head. "No, unfortunately, I can't."
Uther sighed in defeat. "I guess I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up. It's one thing to know the cause, and another to overcome it."
"Hold on a sec!" Lissa exclaimed. "Robin didn't ask me to come check on you because I could heal your illness. I'm only here to confirm his hunch. Although I may not be able to cure you, it's possible that he can."
"Is this true?" Uther asked.
"Lissa has already confirmed my suspicions." Robin nodded. "I'm pretty sure I can deal with your illness… but I have to warn you ahead of time what it entails: the method I will use doesn't require the use of healing staves, and instead uses quintessence as its cost. Specifically, other people's life energy."
"I see…" Uther furrowed his brows. "So in order to heal me, someone else has to die?"
"I'll do it." Oswin immediately volunteered.
"Stop it, Oswin." Uther shook his head. "That's too much for me to ask of you."
"Quite noble, but unnecessary." Robin smiled. "I didn't mean anything by that. No one has to die. Fortunately, a group of mercenaries swung by, and donated themselves for you earlier. I just needed to tell you, in case you have any ideas about using this power again in the future."
"I see…" Uther cupped his chin. "You're saying that if I ask you to heal someone in the future like this, I'll have to be willing to make the necessary sacrifices, is that right?"
"Precisely." Robin nodded. "This time, you just happened to get lucky."
"What do you think, Oswin?"
"Milord, I think you should try it. If you can get cured, it would be great news for Ostia, and all of Lycia for that matter."
Uther closed his eyes. "Very well. Even if you seek to harm me, there's not much you can do to make the situation any worse. "I suppose it doesn't hurt to trust you this one time…"
The Following Day…
"Lord Uther! Did you get a good night's sleep? You look much better than usual!" An old man with a long, gray beard waddled up to Uther, walking stick in hand.
Uther smiled at Hans, an advisor that had taken care of him ever since he had been a young boy. Hans had used to be an advisor for his and Hector's parents, but even after they had passed, his loyalty to Ostia was unfettered.
"Ah, Hans, yes I do feel much better." Uther gave a genuine smile, one that he had been unable to give for quite some time now. "I think I slept better than I've ever had in the past several months."
"Oh ho! I take it that something weighing down your heart has been recently resolved?"
"You're perceptive as usual."
"Well, it's rare for you to randomly take a stroll through the hallways. And when you do, it's usually with a scowl on your face as you ponder a difficult decision."
"Is that right?" Uther looked contemplative for a moment. "The interior of the castle is nothing I haven't seen. Shall we take a look outside? The festivities haven't ended yet, have they?"
"Not at all, my lord. If you wish to take a look, then allow me to accompany you."
"That would be greatly appreciated."
Uther left the castle followed by Hans, as well as several guards. As the citizens of Ostia noticed him, Uther received mixed responses. Some waved at him with smiles on their faces, while others silently slipped away, trying to avoid making eye contact with him. Others still hid their scowls and tried to pretend he didn't exist. Regardless, Uther didn't really care about any of them. As long as they didn't come looking for trouble, Uther would leave them be. This was supposed to be a relaxing walk, after all.
"Look over there… who the hell is he?"
"...my word… how lucky must that guy be?"
"I don't remember seeing anyone like him in Elibe before. If he's some sort of nobleman, we would've heard of him before, no?"
"Is he a traveler from Bern?"
"It's possible. That girl, isn't she Sacaen?"
Uther's attention was redirected by the murmurs and whispers of his guards.
'Oh look, a familiar face…' Uther thought to himself.
Robin was visiting the various stalls that were set up for the fair. However, what made him stand out were the girls that were smothering him. One with dark blue hair clung onto his right arm, wearing clothes that appear to be from a foreign land with a peculiar looking sword hanging by her side. Another with green hair wearing traditional Sacaen garb hung onto his left. And if that weren't enough, a third woman with red hair sat atop his shoulders, happily munching on the street food they had bought from the vendors. Occasionally, she fed some to Robin, who took a couple bites to appease her.
"My, my… isn't this a surprise…" Hans chuckled as he stroked his beard. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that the granddaughter of Marquess Caelin?"
"Indeed she is." Uther smiled. He didn't realize that the Ylissean tactician was that close with Lyndis either. There seemed to be some sort of story there. Perhaps it had something to do with the Lundgren incident he had heard about quite a while ago.
"If I recall, didn't she refuse multiple suitors before?" Hans inquired. "This is most intriguing… There has to be something special about that young lad over there."
'That may be an understatement.' Uther thought to himself. After all, that guy was the only reason his life got extended. He's definitely not a typical mage. Regardless, Robin seemed to be an ally, which would be a massive blessing for all of Elibe.
"I think I've made my decision."
"Hmm?" Hans turned to Uther.
"Nothing. I was just thinking aloud." Uther let a grin appear on his face. 'I've already trusted him once. Maybe it's fine to trust him once more.'
New Characters:
Heath (Wyvern Rider, 26): HP: 100% Str: 75% Mag: 10% Skl: 50% Spd: 45% Lck: 50% Def: 60% Res: 20%
Author's Notes:
Hello everyone! First, I must apologize for the long delay in getting this chapter out, this time due to some unforeseen circumstances. As the year draws to a close, I'm doing some self reflection on how the year went and regret not being able to post many chapters. To be completely honest, 2021 has probably been the most hectic year of my life (so far), so I'm not really surprised by the unfortunate outcome.
Hopefully, next year will be a bit less eventful, and one of my new year's resolutions is to be able to write a bit more than I did this past year. With a bit of luck, there should be a few more chapters next year than this one (fingers crossed).