THREE | Fears
A/N: Warning: Dark scene ahead. Am changing the rating of this to M. No, no lemon. But I realized that this really is, as Naryfiel puts it, "a darker, more human tale".
BERN | Bern Keep
Kumiko, in two years, had grown quite familiar with Zephiel's morning routine. It consisted of tight discipline and waking up unbearably early—before sunrise. Zephiel was rumored to wake up before his attendants even did. He would wake up before sunrise, dress himself in his fighting gear, drink some warm ale, and oversee to the regular training of the soldiers, in which he would participate himself, exercising his swordsmanship. And then he would briefly meet with the Three Generals of Bern—Murdock, Brenya, and Narshen. An equally brief meeting with the Master of Spies, Anko, would follow. And then he would dress for court and have a private breakfast, with usually only Kumiko and Guinevere would take with him, and an honored guest, if there was one. And the list would go on—meeting with the Ministers, discussions with the scholars and strategists—oh, it was endless.
The first months that they were married, Kumiko tried to keep up with Zephiel's routine. She woke up early and watched him as he trained his soldiers, as he trained himself. He stood by him as he met with his Generals or his Ministers. But then eventually, she realized that he didn't need her help in making decisions or in his meetings. Zephiel was a genius—he had the solution to everything. And Kumiko never knew how to run a country—she refused to say anything or state her opinion in fear that she would embarrass Zephiel and herself. Even in military tactics, or in the art of fighting, Zephiel knew as much—or, so much more—than she did, she found that there was nothing for her to correct or speak for. She had no place in his routine, the routine of kings.
The role of queen, however, was not for her. She learned that queens were supposed to, like all wives, "run the home". And her home was Bern Keep itself, and her family and children everyone that worked and lived in it. But that was Guinevere's job, and did she do it well. Before she even married Zephiel, Guinevere had been effectively running the Keep. The princess had volunteered to educate her in the role and eventually give it up to her, but Kumiko refused, not wanting to look like an usurper who just suddenly took over the princess' place, when she was not even royalty. So she made up her own routine.
Kumiko was much opposite Zephiel's routine. She was only up when the sun has already risen, and then she would briefly wash herself and then take breakfast with Zephiel (who has by then already had two meetings and exercise) and Guinevere (who by then had already bathed and saw mass and oversaw the preparation of breakfast). And then activities that filled her day were not pressing activities, unlike Zephiel's. These included lounging with her few friends like Nino and Jaffar in the garden while having pastries, looking over the garden plants and seeing that they were well, watching the soldiers train from an outdoor tent, once in a while correcting a soldier who she just knew was holding a weapon wrong or standing wrong. Most of her hours were spent in the library, reading and discussing with her ladies. Or she would travel from the keep in pursuit of things like science, like meeting Genevan inventors to see their innovations and how they would be useful to the country. Or she would visit the Liestal countryside and check on the harvest of their crops, and cook with the housewives and gossip all day long. The citizens loved her for stepping out of the Keep to connect with them more than any queen over has. The noblemen hated her because she seemed like a useless queen who was only dilly-dallying and was only good for her looks—a trophy queen to a perfect King of Bern.
o0o0o0o0o0o0o
The next morning seemed ordinary to Kumiko, another day fitting in to her ordinary routine. She woke up only when the sun was up, hurriedly washed and dressed, and, in an act of rebellion against Zephiel, ordered her breakfast alone in her chambers.
The disappearance of Guinevere would have made the princess' responsibilities fall onto Kumiko's shoulders, but they never did, they fell onto the shoulders of the Master of the Protocol, as assigned by Zephiel. So Kumiko's day continued to her long hot bath, and then, she decided, into a visit to Anko, the castle's Master of Spies.
Anko and Kumiko were friends of old—they were friends ever since they were seven—and Anko's father, a military tactician, took Kumiko in his care when Kumiko's parents died. This pretty much makes Anko and Kumiko sisters—unbound by blood but bound by a deep friendship and understanding of each other. That relationship, however, changed when Kumiko found out that Anko was a spy—the Master of Spies—for Bern Keep. Kumiko's current situation, being queen of Bern, can be blamed on Anko. She was the schemer behind the meeting of the king and the once-tactician Kumiko. When Kumiko found this out, she felt a slight resentment towards Anko—she knew that their friendship would never be the same.
The queen went to the Anko's office, her bodyguard Jaffar trailing not far behind her. It would be her first time to visit the spy once again in quite a while. The stupendous location of the spy's office was an added factor as well—they had to climb a ridiculous flight of stairs to reach Anko. When she reached the room, Kumiko was panting, and then she knocked hard against the door and said, "Anko! Anko! I know you're in there!"
There was no answer for about a minute, in which Kumiko continued to persistently tap on the door, dramatically adding, "I'm about to faint from walking up all those stairs, so open up!" When the door did open, Anko was there, leaning against the doorpost, looking smug.
"How can you know I'm in here?" Anko asked, eyebrows raised, as she studied her fingernails as if they were a matter of much importance. "I could be at the Tactician Guild, I could be at a pub drinking, I could be assigned to a top secret mission where no one but the best spy is needed, or seeing to it that Heath's hair isn't the mess that it's known to be. What do you need?"
"I need to talk," Kumiko said, a demand.
"Let me guess. About the war?"
The queen nodded.
"Come in, then," Anko invited the queen to her office, and they went inside, while Jaffar stayed by the door. "Been a while since I had you to chat. Maybe you can help me clean up as well, it's a mess in here."
The office of the Master of Spies was filled with papers, documents, scrolls, parchment and books, all arranged into bookcases and chests. Despite the appearance of Anko, she has a knack for arranging her documents. But despite that knack for arrangement, Anko's office was currently overridden by papers—the too numerous letters to Bern Keep, asking what is happening and what the war was about. Kumiko, for a second, found herself lost in the mountainous stack of volumes and papers.
"Oh, I have something for you," Anko said, as she started to look in the drawers of her desk.
Though Anko was technically part of the king's court, she never dressed like a courtier. Her hair was a dark shade of purple that came close to black, held up on her head by a gold clamp with little bells that rang as she moved about. Her blouse, silk or some such, was loose with its neckline plunged into a deep V towards her chest. She wore knee-high boots, and short skirts. She was a stark contrast to the courtiers in their fancy, sumptuous gowns, so it would always be easy to spot her in court. She didn't even dress like a Master of Spies. Merely… a spy. Never the master. Kumiko remembered Matthew in his dashing white tailored shirts of impeccable make and his dashing black and gold coat—he looked more an ambassador than a spy, an official member of Ostia's court rather than a man doing all the dirty work and pulling all the dirty reins. But that was Lycia. That was Ostia. They cared for appearances. This was Bern. All the Bernese cared about was that the work was done and done well, damn appearances. Practicality above aesthetics. Anko was a great embodiment of that.
"Here it is," Anko came out with a folded parchment, and handed it to the queen. Kumiko took it and studied it for a while—it had no indication or writing of any sort in the outer folds. So she opened it and when she did, she gasped.
She knew that handwriting. It was of—and she had just been thinking of him a while ago!—Matthew, the Master of Spies for Lycia, Ostia. He was a dear friend to Kumiko, and she was much familiar with the curves and lines of his handwriting. She was stunned for a while, but then she read through the document, which was a letter.
Kumiko,
I've heard that Bern is starting war, and that Ilia and Sacae are now taken by your country. This is all a joke, right? Or so I want to think. My network confirms to me that this is true indeed. I hope you don't tell me that Lycia is going next. We're trying to tighten our defenses. Lord Hector doesn't know what to do. He should be calling on all the lords of Lycia at some time. But Kumiko, you're there, right? You're still in the castle? I don't understand what's going on! When I heard the news, all I could do is write to you. You're safe, right? I hope you are.
-Matthew
It was Matthew indeed. He, despite being a Master Spy, did not prod Kumiko for information regarding the war, but instead just asks of how she is. Of course. He knew how Kumiko believes in peace, and thinks that if war is started by her country, it would mean that she was in danger, that she had no hand in it at all.
Shocked, so many questions start running into Kumiko's head. How long ago was this? Is Matthew alright? Is Ostia alright? But the one she asked was, "Has the king seen this?"
"Yes," Anko answered, not surprising Kumiko. He had always checked all the letters she might receive. Always, she got a little upset with him when she would find that she has received a letter opened and unsealed by him already. "He gave it to me for archiving," Anko said.
Ah, archiving. The euphemism for the unforgivable "keep it but never show it to her".
Kumiko looked down at the letter again, and then, gave the spy a puzzled look. "Why did you give it to me?"
Anko shrugged. "I don't know. Whim, maybe. You know I can get away with it."
Kumiko didn't believe her. Anko was always one to have ulterior motives, which she has proved time and again. Anko was the Queen of Ulterior Motives. But whatever her motive might be, this act was beneficial to Kumi. She'd rather have this than have the thing hidden from her. "Anko," Kumiko said gravely, "What do you know about this war? Why has my king started it? Please tell me!"
"Whoah!" Anko backed away into her seat, making a display of surprise. "If I tell you, I might as well not live to see the day. That I gave you the letter was trouble enough! Zephiel would have my head."
Zephiel. Anko always just referred to him as 'Zephiel' when no one would hear. Of course, Kumiko thought. In ways, she is more of his friend than she is mine. "I won't tell anyone," Kumiko said, sounding like she was taking a solemn oath.
The spy shook her head. "I know you too much for that. If I tell you specifics, you would repeat them to the king in an argument with him. And of course, who would he think told you the information?"
An annoying argument, but Anko was right. Kumiko was never good at keeping secrets—one could easily detect when she was lying or acting. So instead, Kumiko asked another question. "How long has this letter been here?"
The spy looked up to the ceilings of her office for a while, pretending to ponder the question. "Let's see… A month ago, I presume. Exactly after Sacae and Ilia were taken. That Matthew person knows of a fast way of delivering letters, huh? He's really a Master Spy."
A month ago? It was a month ago! So many things can happen in a month! Lycia could be taken in a month!
"The king," Kumiko said, feeling her chest tightening as she spoke, her breath coming in shorter bursts, all in shock—this was too much! A month ago! "I have to talk to him! I have to tell Zephiel that this is stupid and utter nonsense and-"
"I hear you tell that to him often enough," Anko said, rolling her eyes. "And how are you going to tell him when he's not even here?"
Kumiko literally felt her breathing stop for a few seconds when she heard Anko's words. "…He's not here? Surely you mean, he's not here, meaning this very space this very moment?"
It was Anko's turn to be puzzled this time, and when she realized what this meant, she actually gasped, and it was genuine. "Goodness! You don't—He didn't tell you? He didn't tell you he left?"
"To where?"
"I saw him," Anko said, getting up from her chair and pacing around, looking genuinely troubled. "He left before sunrise with Narshen and his soldiers. I don't know to where. He never told me."
That was all Kumiko needed to hear to stand and slam her fist on the low table before them, and exclaim, "Anko! I have to stop him! Wherever he's going, if he's bringing his soldiers, then it can't be for a good cause!"
"I assume you had known," said Anko, meaning it, as she looked directly into Kumiko's eyes when she spoke. "He has always told you when he would be leaving, aye? He has always told you when he had trips, even if they were the military kind."
Yes, Kumiko told herself. He had always told her. And if he did not this time, than it probably meant he thought it would be better that she didn't know… And that could mean no good for her.
"Oh no," Kumiko said. "Oh no. He is probably on a military attack. …I have to stop him! If I go after him now, then maybe I can still find him, and stop him!"
"Are you mad?" Anko told the queen, growing as frustrated as her. "There is no way you are finding Zephiel when you have no clue! The continent is huge, Kumiko! I think it's best you wait this out. Zephiel would eventually come back, and then you could ask-"
"Anko! Father would be ashamed of you!" Kumiko screamed, unable to hold it in. "You—you know where he is, right? You're siding with him! You didn't train all your life to be a great tactician and spy just to promote war? Or did you? Did you?"
Anko froze in place, hurt by Kumiko's accusations. You don't know the pressure I am going through right now. You don't know that I am not any fond of war and that I have no idea what Zephiel is up to. You have no idea how much I blame myself for turning Zephiel into this monster, by breathing in to his ear to do it, to kill Desmond. I had no idea things would turn out like this. But Anko did not say that. She was still, thinking for a few seconds, choosing which card to play. And then she said, "I serve the one who gives me my pay! My loyalty is to my king! You! You're the queen of Bern! Don't tell me your loyalty is to Lycia, or Etruria, or anyone else?"
"The King of Bern is WRONG!" Kumiko screamed in a volume that silenced both her and Anko. She paused to catch her breath. "…He's… absolutely wrong."
Jaffar had entered the office, alarmed because of the queen's screams. When he saw that the two women were having an argument, he stayed still in a corner, almost unfelt by the women.
The queen gathered her full skirt and bent down to pick up the letter from Matthew, panic clearly seen in her actions. "…It seems to me Zephiel is starting to trust you less," Anko said, taking on a softer tone now. "If I were you I would stop acting rashly and reexamine where I stand in this war. You have all your friends out there in the continent, but what about us, your friends here in Bern? If the king should know that I gave you information, I would more or less lose my life. Not only me, but Heath, and Nino, and Jaffar… Would you endanger the few allies you have in the castle just because of a rash decision?"
You just want your position. You just want your riches and your title. You don't even care what I really feel. What should I expect? You sold me to that monster two years ago.
Kumiko let out a frustrated sigh, looking as pale as death, holding on to one of Anko's chairs for support, as if she were about to collapse.
"I think," Anko spoke, but to Jaffar, who was silently lurking there in a corner of the office, "that you should see that Kumi gets back in her room and lies down for a while before she overexerts herself…"
Jaffar obliged to this by approaching Kumiko quietly, taking her lightly on the shoulder and on the arm, leading her out of Anko's office.
You're not the only one in pain, Kumi. You're not the only one.
BERN KEEP | The Queen's Chambers
"Zephiel, I don't want to be with you anymore! I never wanted to in the first place!" she told him, emotions long buried in her heart finally surfacing and finally pouring out. "I thought I could help people if I were queen, just as you said, but I didn't know that this would be a curse to my life! And I want you to know that that's just why I did it—because I want to help people. Not because of some stupid infatuation for you and—oh, love is even more impossible! That's why I don't want any of this anymore! I absolutely hate you!"
He said nothing, but his features all but spelt it out. He was looking at her darkly, his face stern and unforgiving, as if everything she said was unforgivable. She had seen this face before, Kumiko thought with a shudder. Not on Zephiel, though, but Kumiko very well knew that this was the face of a man determined that a person before him was already useless, and he would not hesitate to end her himself.
Kumiko felt herself backing away from him in fright. "You'll regret you said that," Zephiel said, his tone meaning it. "All of that. …Useless wench"
She was backing away from him, eager to run from him, but he was all too quick and strong—he seized her and pinned her to the bed, his hands with a death grip on her wrists to keep them from flailing, his legs pinning her own to keep her from kicking him. She was about to yell for help but then his mouth crushed against hers, kissing her maliciously, his tongue slipping into her mouth. Kumiko flinched, still trying to resist as he pulled her hand to his chest, forcing her to touch him, pushing her hand lower down his body…
No, no no! Help me! Please help me! Someone help me!
My lady! Lady Kumiko, please! Please wake up!
Kumiko opened her eyes to see her red-haired attendant Miranda looking worried over her. She blinked, very much aware of the nightmare she saw in her dreams, and also very much aware that she was still panting and sweating out of fear. A nightmare. Just a nightmare.
"…Zephiel would never do that to me," Kumiko said, as if to the air. Two years, and Zephiel has never done that to me. He has never forced me to do anything I do not want.
"Your Majesty?" Miranda asked, puzzled as to what the queen was saying.
But that was two years ago. What about now? Now I am a useless piece. What use does he still have of me? That man is not capable of love. When I refuse to act according to how he expects and when I no longer have his favor, he will no longer treat me kindly. Just like that bastard Marquis of Regrada did to my mother. Just like Zephiel would do to me.
"Oh, my lady!" Miranda gasped, as she saw silent tears streaking down Kumiko's cheeks. The queen blinked and stirred when she realized that she had been crying, and then made an effort to smile and laugh it off, but she was surprised when Miranda suddenly took her in an embrace and started stroking her back to comfort her.
The tears started coming again. And then Kumiko asked, still as if to the air, as if she were still in a daze, "Zephiel wouldn't do that, would he?"
"Of course he wouldn't," Miranda said, trying to comfort. "His Majesty never would. He will not leave you or harm you. As long as you stay by his side."
He will not leave you or harm you. Of course. It was Zephiel they were talking about. He was always civil when it came to women. And he has never raised a hand against her or forced her into anything.
…As long as you stay by his side.
o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
The next morning, the king was still away, and Kumiko, for once, wanted him to be around. It was a rare emotion she has never encountered before—wishing for the king's presence—but this time, she wished it not because she wanted to be with him, but because she was scared of what he can do at wherever he is. She paced back and forth in her room the evening before, which concerned her attendants very much. She didn't speak, she said nothing, and they could notice her running her fingers between the pleats of her velvet ochre dress furiously, as if it were a vice.
There would be no court session because the king was not present, and the courtiers and noblemen idled about the castle, bumbling around and doing their own business. Kumiko was one such who idled as well—at least that was what others might perceive it. She was utterly confused, and without any other ally to turn to, all she could do was discuss repeatedly with Nino and Jaffar about her worries.
Nino and Jaffar listened to her and tried to ease her without fail. The couple were a perfect match in the sense that, Nino, understanding the queen's emotions and frustrations, gave her much needed emotional support and comforting, while Jaffar, once an assassin, would still remind the queen of the more logical courses of action and prevent her from doing anything rash.
For the most part of the day, Kumiko was doing just that—staying in her apartments, entertained by Nino and her ladies, in constant intelligent conversation. She tried not to talk too much of the war, of Zephiel, and of her obvious disapproval of it—lest the ladies start thinking she complained too much or was absolutely single-minded, upon other things. But for the most part, she failed. She still spoke much about her opinion that the war was absolutely absurd and should be stopped at all costs.
"Good day, my lady queen."
The conversation stopped, and all eyes turned to the open doorway to the Queen's Apartments as Anko stood there and boldly walked into the room—a misfit in a sea of women in elegant gowns and polite conversation. The spy was in her usual wear—leather working boots and short skirt and all—but what was unusual was the look on her face. It was serious… yes, serious. She waved a piece of folded parchment in her hands as she walked towards the queen, who straightened and stood to meet her.
"A letter," Anko said, as she knelt before Kumiko and handed out the parchment to her. Anko would always treat Kumiko like a close friend, but when the occasion calls for it (that is, when there are other people watching) she would treat the queen like the queen that she is.
Kumiko took it, and took a breath before opening it. It could be from her husband, or maybe, just maybe, from an old friend like Matthew or Hector.
She opened it and found uneven, block-like letters, the lines none too steady, as if whoever was writing had a shaking writing hand. She had no idea of the handwriting, but at the end she found that it was signed by Matthew, Ostia's Master of Spies. She immediately read through the letter.
Kumiko,
I don't know if you've received my first letter, but I just had to try. You must be aware by now of what's going on with the continent. I have something important to tell you.
I was just thinking about things I need to finish as head of the Spy Network of Ostia, since I was getting tired and old from spy work. It was then that it happened. Castle Ostia, famed for being impregnable, was attacked by Bern soldiers. It seems some of our castle guard and knights sided with them, too-those curs. I am a thief and a liar by profession, and yet I've never thought of backstabbing Ostia. And to make things worse, Lord Hector was then at a meeting in Araphen, with some of his finest knights, and that included Oswin and Serra.
I immediately ran for Lady Lyn and Lilina, but it took me long to get there. Those Bern soldiers just came from everywhere! When I reached Lady Lyn and Lilina, I just... I came to the scene with Lady Lyn bravely trying to protect her little girl, but unfortunately I witnessed her fall to a Bern soldier... I can still see it clearly, that sword buried into her mid-section...
Time froze for me. Not only was Lord Hector gonna kill me for being unable to protect his wife... Lady Lyn was a very kind person... I actually felt as bad as I did when Leila died... Oh, darn, this is bringing back sad memories...
I managed to take Lilina, though, but those Bern soldiers were on my trail. I got beat up, and the girl was taken and I was sure I was a goner, but Xarin came to my rescue. Talk about a twist of fate. I was trying to rescue a girl and I end up being rescued by one.
I have a sword wound on my right shoulder that renders my entire right arm useless. It will heal, Xarin assures me, but I think I'm not that positive. It hurts like hell just to move it. I can very much use my left hand to fight and do thief work, but not much to write. Sorry about my letters. I still can't help but feel, though, that this wound makes me all the more useless of the moment. I'm not as dependable with my right arm like this. I feel bad, especially seeing that Xarin has to take up the brunt of the work and fighting that I can't do by myself. I owe her big time now.
We're safe, but we don't know for how long, and we don't know where Lilina is. We've no news from Araphen, so I'm actually worried for Lord Hector, and miraculously I'm also worried for Serra and Oswin… I'm trying to keep my hopes up, but I've heard alarming rumors…
But what face do I have to show to Lord Hector? I let his wife die just like that in front of me, and I let his daughter get taken away! The only thing saving me from the thought of slitting my wrist is Xarin here who keeps reminding me that I am the leader of the spies of Ostia. I can't break down, for the sake of our spies all over the continent who must've already heard of Castle Ostia's fall. If their leader breaks down, our top-class spies would wander aimlessly, maybe even going over to Bern's side. You know us spies—we're an odd bunch. Some of our spies could easily defect to Bern. I don't want that happening.
Xarin has kept herself strong through all this. She really should be the role model for a spy—I can't help but wonder where that woman gets her strength from. Sometimes I wish she would just embrace me and tell me everything is going to be okay, like my mom would do, like YOU would do. But rather, she only tells me, Matthew, there's more work to be done. I have a gut feel that if I don't pick myself up, she'd kick me down into the dirt until I do. And I don't want a woman kicking me down, so I've got to work and heal and get better.
We're sneaking into Castle Ostia tomorrow to find Lady Lyn's body and at least give it a decent burial. The Lady of Ostia doesn't deserve to be just left like that... I've heard that Lilina is kept hostage, but she's safe. That just leaves Lord Hector, Oswin, and Serra. They've been gone for long. I actually prayed for the first time in years that they be safe...
I know it's a laughable idea to be writing to the queen of the country who's the cause for all this, but I'm not addressing you as queen of Bern. Although I do want to question you for the insane acts your country is starting and information about that is welcome, you are still my good friend, Kumiko, and right now is a time for friends.
Oh, I have to stop writing. Xarin's here. She'd tell something incredibly biting if she finds out I'm penning a letter to you, of all people. Because, of course! I figure I've written down too much for safe—but I don't have anyone to talk to, anyone to trust. Kumiko, I know you're not mad enough to support a war. I hope you're still the same tactician I knew from before. And more than that, I hope you're alive.
-Matthew
By the time Kumiko finished the letter, silent tears were already sliding down her cheeks. Anko watched this—she expected Kumiko to act like this, after all. She would cry, but she would fight, yes she would.
And then Kumiko found another slip of paper—this time it had Anko's undeniable handwriting on it.
That Matthew person really knows of a way to deliver letters fast. Odd how his letter arrived before the king did. The Tactician Guild is holding a meeting later this afternoon. I've come to tell you that. Mark and the others will be there. We'll talk about things. If you can get away with it, I hope you attend the meeting. Jaffar's there for a reason, isn't he?
When Kumiko lifted her head from the parchment to ask, Anko was already walking away. The ladies murmured at the Master Spy's rudeness, but Kumiko knew that when it came to matters about the Tactician Guild—which she was still part of—there were no royalties, no kings or queens. It was Anko's guild, and she was the boss. There would be a meeting later this afternoon, and she just had to be there.
End of Chapter.
A/N: Apologies for that dark rape scene. I couldn't think of anything to separate the two events with both Anko and Kumi in it, so I made that up—it just seemed appropriate right after Kumiko getting angry at Zephiel right after her argument with Anko. I figure I have to touch upon the issue why Kumiko refuses to open up to Zephiel after being married to him for two years. Why she somehow admires him but still decides to put up a 'wall' between them. In the Journey, since it's genre is generally lighter, I am unable to touch on this darker side, only keeping it light mentions of Kumiko's past. Also, why Kumiko hates to work for nobles aside from the ones she knows and hates most nobles in general and why she shows no regret and even likes the fact that her blood father is dead by murder. And, I figured, as a female tactician, Kumiko exists in a man's world always trying hard to prove herself good enough even against a man, as is seen in her days in the Military Academy. Those are why, in a way, she fears submitting to a man, especially one like Zephiel. I am unable to explore much of this "darker more human side" in the Journey, as its genre is actually different and its audience even more different. And FE6 is generally a darker tale than FE7. Thanks to this scene my rating for Bern has jumped up to M. Don't worry, not all chapters will be this dark. I felt like I just had to do this one scene. And no major lemons ahead. If the scene hurt your mind, err, just pretend you never read it. XD
Dark, heavy chapter I know. Don't worry, I got the next chapter for you guys to move on to real soon. Please review! Does anyone particularly support this 'darker, more human tale' or should I stick to making it a 'fairy tale and lighter read'? Flame me if you must. I'm open to opinion, as usual.
EDIT: Possible timeline error to be fixed up next chapter.
PS: Etrurian/Elibe-in-general politics will have to wait but it's coming up soon. We all know that Kumiko is so leaving and not staying in Bern Keep, haha. XD As for pairing requests, I want to be frank that I am not at all that familiar with all the characters of FE6. I played through it once and finished it once, that's it. I am not familiar with all the support conversations. I will probably highlight only certain characters. Request if you have anyone in mind. One of the major purposes of this fic, after all, is the story of FE6 retaining the viewpoint of FE7, so we'll still tie-in some FE7 characters here (as seen with Matt).
PPS: I won't be working in Journey real soon. But one day I'll get back to it, for the meantime I'll pour my attention to Bern. Nothing that will appear here will essentially spoil Journey, so no worries. (We all know that it's Kumi-Zephiel anyway.)
