The Hall of Heroes was peaceful. Tweeting birds flew brilliant patterns through the spaces over the courtyards, as heroes from all around gathered and spoke.
The Hero King Marth was having a conversation with Prince Chrom, and his daughter Lucina. Faye followed Alm around. Linhardt had fallen asleep in the grass below Setsuna, dangling from a trap in a tree, left to stop Gaius from stealing candy from Sharena.
On a beautiful summer day, there was no better time to relax and cherish your bonds with-
"ALFOOOOOONSE!" A voice cried out from the tactic room.
"What, what?!" Alfonse burst through the door, looking around, and spotting Kiran huddled in a corner.
"My robes...!" The poor Summoner cried, their summoner's robes ripped up in several places.
"Gods, what happened? Are you okay?" Alfonse sheathed Fólkvangr and hurried over.
"I was coming back from a battle and got ambushed... Silque healed me, but my robes have been falling apart!" Kiran cried, trying to hold it together.
"Oh, for... Summoner, don't worry, it's fixable. Let's bring it to Oboro." Alfonse reached a hand out.
Kiran quivered nervously, not moving.
"Summoner... they're just clothes." Alfonse said cautiously. The Summoner never seemed to take them off.
"I... I can't..." Kiran mumbled, holding the hem of the robes close.
"Yes you can. You're safe." Alfonse said, reaching and placing a hand on the robe.
Kiran made no move to stop him, but Alfonse found himself hesitating, worried about what he might find.
He pulled the Summoner's robe away, and looked down at Kiran.
Their short, brown hair was a bit of a mess, and their golden eyes were surrounded by dark circles. Kiran looked longingly at the robes, and then looked away to hide their face.
Alfonse pushed away the urge to bring up the dark circles, as worrying about the Summoner's sleep was clearly secondary to the health of their robe.
"We can get it fixed just fine, so don't worry." Alfonse reassured Kiran.
"Please... please don't look at me..." Kiran mumbled, trying to stay hidden in the shadows prevalent in the dark room.
Alfonse nodded, walking away to find Oboro.
"Ehh, it'll take a few days." Oboro looked it over, scowling.
"Ah, that's a shame... something wrong?" Alfonse asked, inspecting her scowl.
"Nohrians..." She grumbled.
"Alright, alright!" Laslow turned around and walked away, taking his tea elsewhere.
Alfonse watched him for a minute, before looking back at the now relaxing Oboro. "The Summoner is getting a little restless, it's hard to watch. Is there any way to expedite the process?"
"Ahem! You can't rush perfection!" Oboro said proudly. "But I'll hurry, right after I finish Lord Takumi's New Year's outfit."
"In the summer?" Alfonse groaned.
"Oh, well, sorry to hear you're upset by that fact. I'll get to it when I get to it." She shrugged.
"No- No, I'm sorry. Please get to it as soon as possible. Please. The Summoner really needs it." Alfonse apologized.
"I will." Oboro smiled, taking the tattered robe away.
Alfonse watched her walk back towards her quarters for a moment, then turned away, leaping in fright as he immediately ran into his sister.
"Alfonse, what are you doing with Oboro?" She asked, as Alfonse dragged his soul back into his body.
"The Summoner's robe was ruined in a battle, and needs to be repaired. I just came to deliver it to Oboro." Alfonse explained.
"Wait... so this means that Kiran isn't wearing their robe?" Sharena's eyes widened.
"Ye- wait, don't you dare!" Alfonse reached for Sharena and failed to stop her. "Sharena, don't take advantage of the Summoner's weakness! They're really uncomfortable!"
Alfonse chased her all the way back to the strategy room, but the two of them stood dumbfounded in the empty room.
"Kiran... didn't leave without the summoner's robe... did they?" Alfonse looked around.
"I thought-..." Sharena looked around. "Huh...?"
"Well, I suppose it's not as if it's unusual for The Summoner to leave the strategy room... but without their robe?" Alfonse thought carefully.
"Oh, thank you, Jakob." Corrin smiled, taking the cup of tea into her hand and sipping it, relaxing at a table with Professor Byleth.
"Jakob, your special blend is exquisite." Byleth looked it over, tilting the cup around in his hand.
"Thank you, sir. Please enjoy." Jakob bowed, stepping aside.
"I don't have many tea parties, this is nice." Corrin looked around at the gazebo.
"Really. How do you usually relax?" Byleth asked with an otherwise emotionless stare that would seem counterproductive to relaxation.
"Well, I try to have tea sometimes. But unfortunately it always gets interrupted by something crazy happe-"
"Corrin, Corrin!" Camilla called out, causing Corrin to choke on her tea. Byleth moved to offer his handkerchief, but was too slow, as Jakob was already on the case.
"Yes, sister?" Corrin coughed the last bit out, wiping her mouth with Jakob's handkerchief.
"Look at this little darling I found!" Camilla dragged the shy Summoner in front of her. "Isn't she so cute?"
"Isn't that a young boy?" Corrin asked, tilting her head.
"Is it?" Camilla looked at the Summoner inquisitively.
"Where did you find them?" Byleth asked.
"Oh the poor dear was lost in the Summoner's room, trapped in with all the maps and books." Camilla explained, squeezing the small individual into a hug.
"And is there any chance that this person who happens to be the exact same height as Kiran, appears to behave in the same fairly awkward way, and is wearing the same underclothes as our Summoner... is the Summoner?" Byleth asked.
Camilla and Corrin thought for a moment, before looking at the small person, with the golden eyes ringed with dark circles.
Kiran shivered, embarrassed and shy. They appeared just about ready to cry.
"...gods!" The two of them gasped in surprise, as Byleth sipped his tea.
"Summoner?" Alfonse called out. "Summoner!"
"Where did they go?" Sharena asked, approaching from the other wing.
"If we've met up, then the Summoner must be outside somewhere." Alfonse said, reaching for the doors. "Let's just hope they're still in Askr, and haven't been kidnapped by Embla..."
They opened the doors and their eyes caught immediately on Veronica.
"Veronica!" Alfonse stepped forward and drew Fólkvangr.
"Wait, that's the Brave Princess Veronica! That's not our Veronica!" Sharena caught his sword hand.
Veronica looked up from her tea, sitting with Byleth and Corrin. A small crowd had formed around the gazebo, and after a short moment, the Summoner turned around with a cup of tea to themself.
"You're... out without your robe." Alfonse said in disbelief, sheathing Fólkvangr.
"I um... is... is it fixed yet?" Kiran asked, red faced and embarrassed.
"No, not yet. I'm glad to see you safe." Alfonse breathed a sigh of relief.
"Kiran! You don't look so good!" Sharena jogged over, taking their face into her hands.
"I'm... I'm just-... a little tired..." Kiran scrambled to find the right words, turning bright pink.
"Sharena, don't pester Kiran." Alfonse pulled her off of the Summoner. "I was worried, but it seems that there's no cause for alarm."
"Yeah. Thanks for... thanks for believing in me." Kiran smiled slightly.
"That's so sweet..." Corrin smiled.
"I think The Summoner should stay like this forever!" Camilla squeezed the Summoner's lights out. "You can rest on my lap if you'd like!"
"Careful of-" Alfonse started, as Camilla noted the droning sound from within her arms.
"nnnnnnnnnyyEEGGH!" Kiran broke free, throwing their arms up in the air and startling everyone.
