Hello, dear readers. CrossVipeR316 here with the latest chapter of Gamer Emblem Awakening.
First off, there's something I need to apologize for; I changed the title of the chapter. The reason? This chapter grew much longer than I expected while writing it. I decided to stop earlier to prevent this chapter from becoming excessively long (it already is, IMO). Don't worry, though. The plot should be back on track by the next chapter.
As usual, thank you for the reviews and positive response from you. Each and every review is important, as they tell me what I do good and what could use improvement. Now, onto some specific reviewers.
Sugouxxx: Yeah, the Chrom/Robin pairing is actually one of my absolute favorite pairings in Awakening, mainly because it adds a layer of depth to the story that no other Avatar pairing can offer - especially if you go for the "true" ending. As for the suggested ladies for Jack: Hm... Hmmm... Those are indeed some good picks. In fact, there was a point where I had some ideas for this fic that involved pairing Jack with either Cherche or Maribelle, depending on the situation. The real eye-opener, however, was that you suggested Miriel. Now that I think about how I've portrayed Jack up until this point, pairing him with Miriel makes a lot of sense. So kudos to you for suggesting an idea that I didn't even consider. In the end, however, I chose to pair Jack with Robin because I feel that it gives me some more options for this fic. Who knows? You might be able to write a Fire Emblem fic one day that picks up on some of the ideas suggested here.
pataponvideo: Oh, I've got some stuff planned with Mimicry, all right. In fact, this chapter will be the first time Jack will use the skill. Feast you eyes on what happens when an otaku can mimic any fictional character they can think of.
Naga Mada: I'll see what I can do to streamline the text further. I can't guarantee that it'll be as streamlined as the fic you suggested, but I'll try in my own way. BTW, thanks for the review. :D This is the kind of input every writer needs (not that I'm ignoring every review before yours, 'cause I'm not).
MADRABBIT0702: I admit, Jack's bag is already pretty OP. Depending on how you look at it, it should be the most OP item in his possession until somewhere near the very end. I want Jack to be OP, but not because of items he gets from thin air, but because he trains 'til he drops while abusing certain game mechanics. I think you'll get what I mean in this chapter.
Quest: Thanks for understanding regarding the swearing. Having someone support you openly can make a world of difference, and that's exactly what you provided. As for the encyclopedia; well, that's an interesting idea... Jack technically already has that in the form of his Observe log. I'll try posting some of the entries as a separate section in this fic, starting with this chapter. Enjoy!
Anonymous reviewer: It is indeed Frederick who's behind the training regimen! The man can come up with exercise programs that burn more calories in an hour than the flames of Naga can burn forests in a full day! And don't worry, the line of questioning has been dropped. Jack has enough survival knowledge to know how dense of a mine field that particular topic is.
Copyright disclaimer: I only own the plot of this fic. For a full copyright disclaimer, please read chapter 1.
With that out of the way, enjoy the reading!
...everyone starts out small. Me, you, everyone, with no exceptions. So what if you feel like a burden? That doesn't have to be true forever. If you keep striving to improve yourself, it's only a matter of time before you become irreplaceable for us all. I'm sure of it. - Jack
Chapter 3: Meeting the Shepherds. Intros and infos in the capital.
"-or so help me, Frederick, next time I see you injured, I'll leave you to tend to your wounds yourself!"
"That I can manage, milady. I always carry some medical supplies in a small pouch should I sustain any debilitating injury while you're out of reach."
"Aargh! That's not my point!"
Sigh. Yet another argument between Lissa and Frederick. After Lissa was done with her angry ranting, she decided to switch tactics, resulting in her arguing with Frederick nonstop. They've been at it for…half an hour, give or take a few minutes. Lissa makes some kind of threat about making Frederick's life harder unless we stop for some shuteye "right this instant". Frederick either doesn't realize it's a threat or simply doesn't care and explains how he will handle it. Rinse and repeat. I'm amazed that a princess who insists she needs her beauty sleep can have so much energy to make sure she gets it. Seriously, I couldn't think of half the threats she's thrown Frederick's way the last 15 minutes from the top of my head, and Lissa just keeps going like it's natural. And I'm even more amazed that Frederick has a response to every single one. How prepared is this guy?
Now that I take a closer Observe, I notice that Frederick carries a title.
The wary
You're vigilant to a fault. Nothing escapes your notice. And most importantly, you're practically impossible to catch unprepared because you make it a point of being ready for (almost) anything. You're great to have around in dangerous areas, but you could afford to lighten up among allies. Gaining new friends is hard if you suspect every new person you meet to be out for their own personal gain.
Passively makes the bearer of this title immune to sneak attacks. All new relationships start at "Distrusted".
Well… that certainly explains a lot about Frederick. It also explains why my relationship with him advanced to another level. Maybe I've finally gained some trust with the wary Great knight. Speaking of relationships, what does Observe say about the new menus?
Social status, menu screen
No man is an island. Unless you decide to become a hermit, your life will inevitably contain some form of interaction with other people. It begs the question: How well will these interactions go? How trusted are you? And how much can you insult someone before you get slapped in the face? It all depends on how others view you. That kind of information is stored right here. Remember: you can go far with the right connections. Just ask any politician you meet.
Relationships, menu screen
This menu displays how well things are between you and the people who know you personally, be they friends, rivals or enemies. A healthy relationship has many benefits: a friend to laugh with, an ally in battle, a shoulder to cry on, the list goes on. Who knows? The future love of your life may even be on this list (Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge.). Just remember that relationships are always mutual. No one wants to be friends with a selfish person.
Current relationships:
Robin: Trusted
Chrom: Neutral
Lissa: Neutral
Frederick: Neutral
Sully: Neutral
Virion: Neutral
So, judging by what I can see here, I can conclude two things:
1: My efforts during the last battle earned me enough of Frederick's trust that he won't watch me like a hawk anymore (or at the very least, he will watch me less like a hawk).
2: Being so helpful to Robin from the onset worked wonders for our relationship. Must have something to do with helping her when she was completely lost.
"Do you really want us to look dead on our feet when we see my sister in the capital?!" I hear Lissa shout. Oh, Lissa, you did NOT pull the royalty card!
Frederick freezes up for a moment and looks at Lissa. Unlike before, he looks hesitant.
"Very well. You've made your point clear, milady. Milord, might I suggest we take a few hours to rest?"
"I certainly wouldn't mind." Chrom sighs. "I think we could all use some sleep right now." Several tired groans echo from our group. To be fair, we did fend off a horde of armed zombies and their steroid pumped leader not even two hours ago. After nightfall.
"Finally!" Lissa shouts and lays down under the nearest tree. She's out like a light five seconds later. Well, that was fast.
The rest of us decide to follow Lissa's lead and get comfortable with what we can put together on short notice. Some twigs here, a cloth bundle there. It's not exactly five-star, but it's leagues better than sleeping on the bare ground. The only one not sleeping is Frederick, who lays a blanket (that he pulled out from somewhere) on Lissa and then volunteers for night watch. And then there's me.
See, the abilities of a Gamer allow for so many loopholes, it's absolutely ridiculous if you can exploit them.
Observe? Know your enemy before your enemy knows you.
Food? The only meal I've had was the one by the campfire before the Risen literally came crashing down. And I've never really felt hungry since arriving in this world either, so it's safe to assume that my body doesn't need food to survive.
Sleep? Well, the main purpose of sleeping is to let the body recover from the fatigue that's been building up over the course of the day. Neglecting your sleep is a surefire way to mess up your health because your body just doesn't have the strength to function properly. But I have the body of a videogame character. And with a few exceptions, videogame characters can go for as long as they want without sleep and suffer no consequences for it whatsoever.
"Gamer's body OP", you say? "Plz nerf", you say? Well, I don't care! I'm gonna abuse this to get stronger. Count on it!
So, no, I'm not sleeping. I'm meditating.
*Chirping crickets*
I swear, I am! Just because I shut my eyes doesn't mean I've fallen asleep! If anything, it's a great ruse so no one suspects that I plan to stay awake through the whole night! There's a few things I can improve on while meditating on the ground. Aside from leveling the obvious Meditation, I can keep up Reinforcement too. And as long as I'm careful with how much MP I use, I can even train Telekinesis a little. I just need to apply a tiny amount of force on myself, and no one will notice.
…
There's only one problem with this kind of training.
It's so boring!
Seriously, I'm lying on the ground and try to not move at all. It's one thing to do it for, say, a few minutes. But doing it for hours? That could drive anyone mad! I need something to do before I expose my own ruse!
What I really want to do is level Telekinesis quickly because of how versatile it is. But how do I do that with my eyes shut? Hm… Telekinesis works in that I focus on an object, envelop it with my mana and then use that mana as a medium to move said object with my mind. But in order for me to pull it off, I need to know where the object I want to manipulate is. I wonder… If Telekinesis works as a mental extension of myself, can I use it as more than just a hand? How about, say, a sensory organ? Let's see what happens if I reach out blindly.
I soon feel something with Telekinesis.
*Squish, squish*
It's… soft.
*Squish, squish*
And… yielding.
*Squish*
A little broadening of my mental scope tells me that whatever I'm touching has a round shape.
"Mmn…"
Was that Robin?
…
By Naga's divine countenance! Did I just grope Robin with my mind?!
A new skill has been created due to a special action! You gained "Telekinetic sense"!
Oh man… Oooh man… If she finds out what I did, she'll Thunder me to the Demon's ingle and back! And then she'll kill me for good measure – assuming I even survive the trip.
It did feel nice, though…
No! Bad thoughts! Bad thoughts! Stay down, or I'll lock you up in the back of my mind and throw away the key! Just try me!
…
Thought so. *Ahem!* Now, where was I? Oh yeah, don't freak out.
Now, then. Let's take my new skill for a spin.
Telekinetic sense, Lvl 1 [0.0 %], Active, Cost: 10 MP
The human body is said to perceive the world through five separate senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste. There are even rumors of a sixth sense, separate from the other five. But this one is none of the above mentioned. By using your ability to project a mental force on objects outside yourself, you can use that very mental contact to perceive the objects as if you used your sense of touch, except there's no need for physical contact. The Byakugan ain't got s-it on this!
Range: 3 meters.
Well, this is interesting. It's not like I'm actually seeing things around me. It's more like I can…feel the shapes of everything within a certain distance. And then my mind subconsciously constructs a mental image of what my new skill perceives. It's like seeing everything in shades of grey, with the shade varying depending on what my new sense picks up on. Heck, I can even "see" what's underneath me! This is so cool! And the best part is that I'm not even suffering from any headache due to sensory overload. I can perceive my entire mental image with no problems!
Now that I know what's around me, I have everything I need to practice my Telekinesis on a broader scale (without accidently groping someone again). Heh, I'm getting stronger by the minute, without lifting even a single finger.
Timeskip
The sun begins its rise over the horizon as we're all woken by Chrom (who took the latest watch shift). A little cleaning up on our impromptu camp site, and it's like we were never here. The others only had like five hours of sleep, but it should be enough to at least last us until Ylisstol without people mistaking us for zombies due to exhaustion. I for my part had plenty of time to practice my skills. And I wasn't even the least bit tired despite not catching a wink of sleep. Gamer's body rules!
"Ah, that's better." Lissa sighs contently while stretching.
"Indeed." Virion agrees. "I couldn't possibly have made myself presentable had I stayed awake all night. Why, the ladies would have positively run in fright at the sight of my fatigued countenance."
"No news there, Ruffles." Sully chuckles. "Ya send gals runnin' for the hills as you are already."
"Oof! Please, dearest Sully! You wound me!"
Chrom takes a closer look at Robin. "Hm? Is something the matter, Robin?"
The others look at said tactician, who has a frown on her face.
"I'm fine, Chrom. I needed that sleep. It's just…last night, it felt as if someone *shudder* felt me up."
Don't think about it. Don't think about it! Don't you freakin' think about it!
…
Her moan was cute…
Naga d-mn it!
"Scandalous!" Virion exclaims. "We must find the perpetrator and bring that scoundrel to justice right this instant!"
"Ya sure it wasn't you, Ruffles?" Sully asks with a raised eyebrow.
"Of course not, my dear! I know I may come off as overwhelming for a lady seeing me for the first time, but I would never tarnish her honor!"
"I can attest to that." Frederick adds. "I was on night watch when I heard you…react to something. But when I looked at you, I saw no one by your side. No one could have reached you where you lay."
Robin keeps her frown for a while longer before releasing it with a sigh. "Looks like I can't think of anything. I suppose it was just my imagination."
Phew… Dodged an arrow there. Frederick, I really owe you a favor for covering for me, even if you're not aware of it. I'll make it up to you someday, I promise.
With the camp site cleaned up and everyone ready to go, we continue our trek towards the capital.
…
There really isn't much happening when walking on a dirt road, unless some freak ambush comes our way. And judging from what I can percieve through Telekinetic sense, there's no one by the road, and therefore, no potential ambushes.
Wonder if I can do something else while leveling my skills. There's only so much you can do when all the entertainment you have is an Observe log and a group of allies to Observe. Since just about everyone is still a bit groggy from having woken up, no one's up for any conversation either. What to do, what to do?
You have anything for me, Options?
…
A rename feature? Sounds nice. I might rename some skills in the future to make them sound better.
Hmm… The alerts during battle are starting to get a little redundant. Maybe I should change that first.
Later
It took some searching in the menus, but I've disabled most combat related alerts now. Though I still want to be kept up to speed in case of boss-level enemies or item drops mid-battle. Aside from that, I think I can decide whether I've killed an enemy or not. Should make things smoother for both me and the read- Never mind…
And, hey, we finally reached Ylisstol!
The capital looks fine to me. Hope the Risen only fell down in the forest we were in last night. Not everybody has a safety measure named "Chrom". Speaking of Chrom, it only takes a few seconds for the gate guards to recognize him and Lissa before they open the front gates into the capital. I could imagine getting past that gate would've taken a great deal longer if I didn't travel with Ylissean royalty. So, thanks, Chrom and Lissa.
"So this is Ylisstol, capital of Ylisse…" Robin says as she looks around in awe. "I've never seen so many people!"
"It appears the capital was spared the chaos we encountered, thank the gods." Frederick says relieved. "I see no evidence of the great quake. It must've been limited to the forest."
"Well, that's a relief!" Lissa agrees.
"Look! The exalt has come to see us!" An elderly citizen exclaims.
And here she comes. Exalt Emmeryn herself walks through the streets and greets the people with a smile. The people, in turn, wave in her direction with enthusiasm or bow in respect. Behind Emmeryn are a small group of armed soldiers and the occasional Pegasus knight, though it looks more like a formality than actual security due to the small size of the group and their level of equipment.
"The exalt is your ruler, yes?" Robin asks curiously.
"Yes." Frederick answers. "Her name is Lady Emmeryn."
Robin frowns at the small guard force. "Is it safe for her to walk among commoners like this?"
"The exalt is a symbol of peace – Ylisse's most prized quality." Frederick explains. "Long ago, at the dawn of our age, the fell dragon tried to destroy the world. But the first exalt joined forces with the divine dragon and laid the beast low. Exalt Emmeryn reminds us all of the peace we fought for then."
"With Plegia poking at our borders, the people need her." Chrom piques in. "She's a calming presence, when some might otherwise call for war."
Everyone has a smile on their faces at this point – Robin most of all. "Then the Ylissean people are indeed lucky to have her."
"She's also the best big sister anyone could ask for!" Lissa says happily.
"Yes, I imagine she…" Robin stops mid-sentence with her mouth agape. "Wait, what? She's your… But wouldn't that make you and Chrom-"
"The prince and princess of the realm, yes." Frederick confirms with his unflappable smile. "You remember Chrom's name and not this?"
I raise an eyebrow. "Didn't the way Frederick's manner of speech when he talks to Chrom and Lissa seem odd to you, Robin? The way he addresses them should indicate that they are at least of some noble birth. Heck, even the people back in Southtown addressed Chrom in a similar manner."
"But you said you were "shepherds"!" Robin protests.
"And so we are…in a manner of speaking" Chrom replies. "We just have a LOT of sheep."
Robin starts to bow in a rapid manner, animé style. "C-Chrom… I mean, Prince Chrom! Sire! Forgive my dreadful manners!"
Chrom chuckles uneasily. "Just Chrom is fine. I've never been much for formalities." Chrom, you have NO idea how badly my home world needs politicians with your kind of personality and sense of responsibility. No offense to the politicians who actually do a good job, just saying.
"The prince and princess…" Robin says with a contemplative look. "That explains why Frederick tolerates all the teasing, eh?"
"Indeed." The Great knight sighs. "Oh, the sacrifices I make for the good of the realm…"
Too bad no one really cares about his brief moment of drama.
"It looks like Emm is returning to the palace. Would you two like to meet her?" Chrom suggests.
"Er, don't you normally need to request an audience in advance or something like that first?" I ask as I scratch my head.
"Not for us!" Lissa says happily. "Emm always has a door open for family. And since you're with us, you can come in too." There you go pulling the royalty card again, Lissa. The strange thing is that she ends up helping us when she does it. It's like she's acting like a spoilt child, yet her behavior helps others in the process. Like a real princess, I suppose.
Our walk takes us to the palace gates, where we're once again let in after the guards take a brief look at Chrom and Lissa. Just as we're about to enter the palace itself, Sully walks in a different direction.
"Well, this is where we part ways for now. Catch ya later! Come on, Ruffles."
"Gladly, my dearest Sully." the Archer replies smiling. "Where are we headed, by the way? A humble tavern? The marketplace? Oh, perhaps a little spot only you know of? Why, I'm honored that you would invite-"
"Keep babbling and I'll kick ya outta the gates!"
"I'll be good!"
With that, the two head off to somewhere else. Chrom, Lissa and Frederick lead me and Robin into the palace. And let me tell you, this place is fancy! The floor is made of stone that's been cut into identical squares. The corridors and stairs are covered with red carpets that give off a homely feel even though I don't even live here. Guards and the occasional maid walk in every corridor and bow towards Chrom and Lissa when they see us. After a few minutes of walking, we come up to a particularly ornamental double door.
"Well, here we are." Chrom says and pushes the doors open.
The doors open to reveal what has to be the throne room. This room is huge! Really tall ceiling, extra pillars for support and interior decoration, intricate tapestries on said pillars and torches in between them, a stained-glass window on the back wall, above and behind the throne, and a massive brown carpet leading forward. And standing in front of said throne is the exalt herself.
"Chrom! Lissa! Welcome home. Oh, and good day, Frederick." Emmeryn greets the ylisseans. "How fared you all?"
"Well – we shouldn't have any bandit problems for a while." Chrom replies.
"Wonderful. And our people?"
"Safe as they can be, Emm. But we still need to watch the borders." Chrom narrows his eyes. "The brigands crossed over from Plegia."
"Forgive me, milord. My pegasus knights should have intercepted them." Phila says with a bow.
Chrom shakes his head. "No, Phila. Your duty was here, with the exalt."
"And besides, we had plenty of help!" Lissa adds happily.
"Ah, you speak of your new companions here?" Emmeryn asks curiously. "Would you please rise, young man? I wish to see your face, so I can address you properly."
"Gladly, your Grace." I respond and rise from my kneeling position.
…Wait…
When did I kneel?!
"Wha-?"
Chrom chuckles, Lissa giggles, and Frederick and Phila look at me with amused smiles.
"What's wrong, Jack?" Robin asks.
"I don't- I- I kneeled and I wasn't even aware of it?!"
Lissa finally loses it and doubles over in laughter.
"A ha ha ha ha! Oh gods! Your face looks priceless!" she says while pointing at me unsteadily.
Chrom smiles at me. "Emm has that effect on people who see her for the first time. You're not the first one to unconsciously kneel before her."
"I certainly hope it ceases soon though." the exalt sighs. "It gets difficult to address others when they keep kneeling before me."
Something's going on here. What's up with this woman?
Emmeryn Lvl 30 Class: Sage
The exalt and current ruler of the halidom of Ylisse. Emmeryn succeeded the throne after the untimely demise of her father, the previous exalt. Unlike her predecessor, Emmeryn strives for peace with anyone she meets and demonstrates it by embodying this virtue. This is a result of having seen what horrors the previous war wrought for her people while she was still a child. She loves her younger siblings Chrom and Lissa above all else and is willing to risk her life for their sake. The one with the most radiant smile.
Titles: Exalt of Ylisse (+ 10 % CHAR)
Paragon of peace (+ 15 % CHAR)
HP: 3 700 / 3 700
MP: 2 800 / 2 800
STR: 12
VIT: 14
DEX: 10
INT: 52
WIS: 58
LUCK: 10
CHAR: 253 (200*1.1*1.15)
Items:
- None
O_O…
That CHAR stat… No wonder people kneel before her unconsciously.
Considering other characters that I've met so far don't display any stat points to use, it's safe to assume that all their stat gains are a result of their actions. Which begs the question; What has she gone through to become such a charismatic person? Well, I kinda know from the game, but, yikes! The game doesn't even begin to illustrate everything Emmeryn's been through!
Well, with that sidetrack out of the way, Chrom turns back to his elder sister.
"This is Robin and Jack. They fought bravely with us against the brigands. I've decided to make them both Shepherds."
Emmeryn smiles at this. "It sounds as though Ylisse owes both of you a debt of gratitude, Robin and Jack." Remember when I thought Chrom had the most charming smile in the halidom? I take it back. Emmeryn wins that award by miles (any kind of miles).
"Not at all, milady!" Robin answers hastily.
"I am honored, your Grace." I answer – and find myself kneeling once again. Drat!
That's when Frederick enters the conversation. "Forgive me, your Grace, but I must speak. Robin claims to have lost her memory, and Jack claims to be a simple traveler from a place he has yet to disclose. But they are only that: claims. We cannot rule out the possibility that they are brigands themselves or even Plegian spies." Oh, for crying out loud, Frederick! Just when I thought we were finally getting somewhere!
Chrom narrows his eyes at his lieutenant. "Frederick!"
Emmeryn intervenes before an argument can break out. "Yet you allowed both of them into the palace, Chrom. Do they have your trust?"
"Yes. They both risked their lives for our people. That's good enough for me."
"Well then you two." the exalt says to me and Robin smiling. "It seems you both have earned Chrom's faith, and as such you have mine as well."
"Milady." we answer in unison.
Emmeryn turns to Frederick. "But thank you, Frederick, for your prudence as always. Chrom and Lissa are blessed to have so tireless a guardian. I do hope they remember to mention that from time to time…" Was there a slight edge in her voice? Scary…
Frederick gives a short bow. "They occasionally express something akin to gratitude, your Grace." He then turns to Phila. "Phila, I assume you've heard about the deathly creatures we encountered, yes?"
Phila nods grimly. "Yes, milord. They've been sighted all across Ylisse."
"Chrom, we are about to hold council." Emmeryn tells her brother. "I was hoping you could join us."
Chrom nods. "Of course."
"I think that's our cue, Robin and Jack. C'mon, there's a place I want to show you. And you might want to get up, Jack."
Wait, what is she- How did I end up kneeling again?! Oh, come on! I was actively trying to not kneel this time!
Any further thoughts are interrupted by Lissa grabbing me and Robin by the wrists and dragging us out of the throne room. Wow, girl's got a strong grip! Not to mention she's quick on her feet. Both me and Robin struggle not to end up getting dragged along the floor as Lissa pulls us through the castle corridors like we're dolls in the hands of a little girl.
One harrowing trip with the Lissa express later…
Due to running nonstop while in an awkward position, DEX goes up by 1!
Finally…she stops…
Now that I have my chance to catch my breath, I notice that Lissa dragged me and Robin into the palace grounds on the right side. There's lots of open space and a three-story building that reminds me of a military barracks – complete with stables. Sully walks out from said stables and waves in our direction.
"Hey! Nice to see ya again! So, how'd meeting with the exalt go?"
"Probably as well as it could." I reply.
"Jack even went through the whole kneeling thing three times before we got here." Lissa adds with a smile that's way too innocent. Sigh… Will I ever live that down?
Sully chuckles. "Yeah, it happens. H-ll, it happened to me too when I first met her!"
Lissa's practically bouncing on her feet. "Enough about my sister though. Come on, this is what I wanted to show you!" Lissa walks into the building with the rest of us close behind.
"Is she always like this?" Robin asks Sully.
The Cavalier nods. "Pretty much. I honestly like her more like this than those other nobles with sticks up their asses."
"Hear, hear." I comment. I've read enough about those guys in the history books back home to get a feel of what they're like. Noble in name, and name alone.
As we walk into the barracks, we see several faces that I recognize from the game. There's Sumia fidgeting and looking out a window in the general direction of the palace. Vaike's off in a corner and flexing his muscles to no one in particular. Probably busy admiring his own physique. And…is that a suit of armor standing on the middle of the floor? Hold on… Wait, that's Kellam!
"Here we are! The Shepherds' garrison." Lissa proudly presents while gesturing around the big room we're in. "Go on, make yourselves at home."
Robin and I take a moment to take everything in. The place is loaded with stuff, from crates to furniture to the odd Concoction bottle sitting on the floor. Heck, they even have a decorative suit- wait, that's just Kellam in his armor again.
Didn't I notice him 10 seconds ago? Seriously, you would think a big guy in a big suit of armor sticks out like a sore thumb everywhere, but Kellam just vanishes from your perception the moment you stop thinking about him.
A fancily dressed girl with blonde curls comes running in Lissa's direction. That would be Maribelle, and she looks deeply upset. "Lissa, my treasure! Are you all right? I've been on pins and needles!"
"Oh, hey, Maribelle!" Lissa greets with an easy smile.
""Oh, hey" yourself! I've sprouted 14 gray hairs fretting over you!"
"Aw, you worry too much. I can handle a battle or two!" …Says the girl who got cornered by a trio of murderous zombies last night. "…Although I could do without the bugs and the bear barbeque…"
"Hey, squirt! Where's Chrom?" Vaike shouts as he approaches us from his corner. "I bet he had a hard time without ol' Teach and his trusty axe!"
Lissa turns to the Fighter with a smirk. "Oh, so you're "Teach" now, Vaike, is that it? Hee hee! And here I thought people were just born lacking wits. It can be taught?"
Vaike grins proudly. "Ha! Never doubt the Vaike!" Then his face morphs into confusion. "…Wait, was that an insult?"
Before Vaike has the chance to make himself look even sillier, Sumia drops in. "Beg pardon, but when might we see the captain?"
Maribelle sighs. "Poor Sumia. She's been simply beside herself with concern… Her eyes were scanning the horizon all day during training. She might have earned fewer bruises fighting blindfolded."
Lissa smiles at the yet-to-be Pegasus knight. "Aw, Sumia, that's so sweet of you to worry about Chrom."
Sumia's face turns pink. "Worry? Well, I… He's our captain and our prince – of course I'd worry!"
"So, who're the strangers?" Vaike piques in.
"No one's stranger than you, Vaike…" Lissa replies. "But allow me to introduce Robin and Jack! They just joined the Shepherds. Chrom's made Robin our new tactician and Jack our… Um, what role do you play here anyway, Jack?"
That had me thinking. What role will I play in the Shepherds, other than "just another member"? Lissa and Maribelle are obviously the healers, Kellam's the wall (when the Shepherds remember he's actually around), Miriel and Ricken are the mages, Vaike's the heavy hitter, Frederick is Chrom's second-in-command and Stahl and Sully charge in first as cavalry. With the addition of Virion, that's the sharpshooter and lookout slots filled in. And Sumia and Cordelia will eventually join to cover the skies.
Out of all the remaining roles, which one does my current skill set fit the best? Wait, I know! "Hm… I think I'd fit as the new scout. At least for the time being."
Robin looks at me in surprise. "You? A scout?"
I grin happily. "Yeah. I may not look like it, but I'm pretty good at sneaking around and gathering information. I mean, I did spot that old watchtower when we fought back in the forest. I think I just need some more practice, and I'll fit into my new role in no time."
Lissa looks at me with a raised eyebrow before shrugging. "Eh, what he said. Jack says he's hardly fought before, but he comes up with the craziest ideas when fighting – and they work! And Robin's strategies are incredible! You should see all the tricks she has up her sleeve!"
Vaike smirks. "Oh, yeah? Can any of 'em do this?" The Fighter lets out the loudest and most drawn out non-food related belch I've ever heard. If I remember correctly, this is where Maribelle throws a hissy fit over Vaike's manners. Better run damage control before Robin ruins her image in the noble's eyes.
My face turns into slight disgust. "I'm torn between amazement that you pulled that of and disgust because of how bad your breath smells. Well, nice to meet you all – minus the belching."
And here comes the hissy fit. "Ugh, Vaike! That was abhorrent! Must you baseborn oafs pollute even the air with your buffoonery? As for you, Jack, I suppose I should be glad that you are at least a little civilized. Rest assured, I'm more than happy to give you lessons in proper etiquette in the future, not some tomfoolery like Vaike would."
With that, the blonde Troubadour walks away with her nose held high in classic stereotypical snob fashion. Ah, Maribelle. She can look like a total pain in the beginning, but once you pull that stick out of her ass, she becomes indispensable. She's actually one of my favorite characters in the game, and not just because she has personality to spare. Given enough time, she can build a skill set that makes her an absolute terror as a Dark flier (Galeforce + Lifetaker + Tomefaire + flier mobility + high magic stat = one h-ll of a spell slinger). Sure, she's fragile on the physical side, but she tanks magic like a pro no matter what her class is.
"Don't take it to heart, Jack." Sumia says comfortingly. "Maribelle warms to people slowly."
"Or burns too quickly! Hee hee!" Lissa adds. "But yeah, just give her time."
And that's when Chrom comes walking in. Sumia's smile could practically light up the entire room, even at night.
"Ah! Captain! You've returned! I was- I mean, we were so- Eep!"
*Bam!*
Ouch. That faceplant looked painful. I notice a few sheets of paper fluttering down to the floor in the corner of my vision. Did she slip on those papers? Talk about unlucky girl.
"Sumia! Are you all right?" Chrom asks concerned. "…Those boots of yours again?"
Sumia dusts herself off with an embarrassed look on her face. "No! I mean, yes! I mean… *sigh*"
Weird… She just did an epic faceplant on the stone floor, and yet her face looks as pristine as before the fall. What's her deal?
Hm? A skill?
Stone face, Lvl MAX, Passive
You may look delicate, but you're no stranger to taking impacts to the face, be it from others or because you're just that clumsy. Having suffered so much facial trauma during your life has strengthened every facet of your countenance to the point that almost nothing can mar it, not even stone. In fact, you may even be able to break something with your face alone due to how hard it's gotten. And yet, your cheeks remain as soft as ever. No, it doesn't make sense. Negates all damage caused by attacks hitting the face unless it's a bladed weapon.
The heck? I- I'll just leave it at that…
Chrom continues as if it's an everyday occurrence. "All right, listen, everyone: in the morning, we'll be marching to Regna Ferox."
"Regna Ferox?" Robin asks curiously.
"A unified kingdom to Yilsse's north." Sumia explains. "Inhabited by barbarians, or so it's said."
"Warriors are what they are, and we'll need their strength to quell this new menace." Chrom corrects. "Typically, the exalt would request such aid in person. But given recent events… Well, the people might worry should my sister suddenly leave the capital. So the task has been passed to us. Now, this mission is strictly voluntary. So if, for any-"
"I volunteer!" Lissa immediately replies.
"Me too!" Vaike follows confidently. "You'll be needin' ol' Teach along for such a delicate mission!"
"I'll go as well." we hear a voice say from seemingly nowhere.
Hang on a sec. Did that suit of armor just talk?
I walk up to said armor and knock on it twice. "Uh, anybody home?"
"*Sigh* I'm right in front of you."
Yikes! Kellam, don't scare me like- Oh, it was his voice. How did I miss him like that again?
"Uh, great. Glad to have you aboard." I say awkwardly as I shake Kellam's hand.
"Jack? Who're you talking to?" Chrom asks bewildered.
"The big guy right in front of me." I reply as I use my free hand to indicate Kellam. "He says he's coming along. It's fine by you, right?"
Chrom takes a few steps closer. "Who? All I see is- Whoa! Kellam? When did you get here?!"
The big Knight sighs again. "I've been here the whole time, sir. Like I said, I'm coming along as well. That is, if you'll have me?"
Chrom looks as uncomfortable as me. "Um, yes. Having you along is reassuring. Just…stay close to where we can see you."
"I… I, um…" Sumia says hesitantly.
Chrom turns to the brunette. "Yes, Sumia?"
"It's just that… I'm not sure I'm quite ready for a proper mission just yet. I'd probably just get in the way."
"Well, you could stay behind the main group, and if a battle is met, just watch and learn? Your choice, of course. But some lessons can only be learned on the battlefield."
"W-well, if you think it wise, Captain."
Chrom gives Sumia an easy smile. "Just stay by me and you'll be fine."
Sumia looks overjoyed. "Oh, yes! I mean– Yes, sir, I'll do that!" Wow… Girl's got it bad for him.
Quest alert:
Main quest: Feroxi alliance
As peaceful as things seem to be in the halidom for the time being, it's only a matter of time before things go south. Between Risen spreading across the land like a plague and Plegians bullying the poor civilians, Ylisse's standing army is spread paper thin in their attempt at keeping a handle on the giant mess. It's been decided that Ylisse request aid from their old ally Regna Ferox, but with Emmeryn being busy staying in the capital to keep panic from spreading, it falls on Chrom and the Shepherds to forge the alliance the halidom needs. Join up and make sure this diplomatic venture becomes a success.
Objectives: ?, ?, ?
Rewards: Increased closeness with Robin, increased closeness with Chrom, ?, ?, 4 000 EXP, 4000 gold
Failure: Ylisse has to face the incoming hardships alone, resulting in the halidom inevitably falling to ruin.
After some small talk, we're all dismissed with orders to gather outside town the next morning. Until then, we're basically free to do whatever we want. The first thing I decide to do is check on my new room.
It's pretty small. Big enough for a bed, a desk and a closet for clothes and equipment, but there's room for little else. Much to my surprise, the closet comes with a small mirror mounted on the inside of one of the doors. That gives me the opportunity to take in my appearance.
I've retained my east Asian traits, thank goodness. It would feel weird if I looked like I'm from another part of Earth. Oddly enough, however, that's where the similarities between my past body and current body end. Physically, I look like I'm 16 or 17 again, instead of someone in their 20's. I think I even have some baby fat left on my face. My physique is slim, but a closer look shows some visible muscle on my arms. In fact, I can feel a little bit of notable muscle everywhere on my body. Must be from all the physical exertion since I arrived in this world. I'm sure I'll be able to put on more muscle as I grow stronger physically, though I would prefer keeping my body streamlined. The bodybuilder look just isn't my style.
Well, my physical appearance looks okay. Next on the list is a piece of equipment that's been on my person from the beginning and that I've been ignoring up until now; the mysterious medallion. As far as I can remember, I woke up with this thing around my neck, but I have no idea of what it is. Let's see…
Error! Cannot identify item!
Mysterious medallion, Accessory, ?
A medallion of unknown origins that you found around your neck when you woke up. You can't make heads or tails about this thing, no matter how you try. The only lead you have is the cryptic inscription on the back side.
When the great calamity seeks a new vessel, the two that cannot coexist will become one in the hands of the arcane prodigy to open the path to the realm of souls. Only the truest of bonds can overcome the wicked soul and tame its power to become an instrument of good.
Well…that doesn't tell me a lot. Call it gamer's instinct, but I get the feeling that this medallion will be crucial for me in the future. Kinda like many other mysterious objects that the main character starts out with, but has no idea what it's good for until an important turning point in the story or even at the very end. Meh, if nothing else, it does make for a fine accessory.
I hear someone knocking on the door.
"Jack? Are you in there?"
Hey, it's Robin! I open the door and let the Tactician in.
"Hi, Robin. How's it going in getting settled with the Shepherds?"
"Quite well. I didn't have much on me when I came here. Just my clothes and weapons."
Robin takes a look around my room.
"It looks pretty sparse in here…"
"Yeah, but I think I still have everything I need." And if I can't fit anything in my room, there's always my bag. "The closet even comes with a small mirror. Same for you?"
Robin shakes her head. "Actually, my room isn't here. Chrom gave me a room in the palace, as I'm the new tactician of the Shepherds."
Well, what do you know? Must be one of the perks of effectively being a commanding officer in a military unit.
"And?" I ask. "How's your room?"
"Lots of space – enough for at least a couple of bookshelves along with everything you have here. I think my bed is bigger. And I even have a washing room with my own bathtub."
Oh, you lucky girl, you. Yeah, we "ordinary" folks have to share a common washing area, which is basically a well surrounded by a fence. Sure, it's got enough stuff to make yourself clean, but I would really appreciate if there was something resembling a waterconduit, so I could take a proper shower. And the less said about the *ahem* restroom, the better. Freakin' nobles get all the good stuff around here… (*Grumble, grumble*)
"Well, I didn't come here to ask you about your room, Jack." Robin says, breaking me out of my grumbling. "I wanted to talk to you about the role you took upon yourself when Lissa introduced us to the other Shepherds."
"Oh, you mean the scout thing?"
Robin nods. "Yes. Jack, I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but the scout is one of the riskiest positions you could take. You will be the first to head towards enemy lines in order to gather information about them, and you'll almost always do it alone. Should anything happen to you, the others may not know before it's too late."
"I'm aware of that, Robin. That's why I'm taking this role."
Robin raises her eyebrow, silently asking me to elaborate.
"Like I said during the introductions, I'm good at gathering information while remaining undetected. I know I'm not the most experienced soldier around, but I think I can do this better than anyone else that's part of the Shepherds at the moment (conveniently forgetting Kellam)."
"That's good and all, but knowing that you put your life at risk like that worries me, Jack. Lissa told me about how you suffered from a severe wound during the battle last night when you fought to protect her. If she, Sully and Virion hadn't been around, you might've died!"
I let it sink in for a moment. She has a point. Even with my regenerative abilities, that wound would've probably harmed me faster than I could recover. Without Lissa nearby, I'd be a sitting duck until someone handed me a Vulnerary – provided someone could even reach me in that hectic battle.
"You're right. If anything, that wound showed me how careful I need to be in the future. But you have to understand, Robin, this isn't just about me. Everyone among the Shepherds put their lives on the line on the battlefield, even you. You're the tactician, yet you fight right alongside us on the frontlines."
"That's so I can relay my directions to the others more efficiently."
"And that's exactly my point. The frontlines are among the most dangerous areas of a battlefield, and yet you put yourself there for the sake of your comrades. I'm going as the scout for the same reasons. The information I gather could be crucial in order for you to form good strategies in the incoming battle. I know you can plan things on the fly, but having some time to plan ahead generally leads to better strategies. I'm not risking my life because it's exciting, Robin – I'm doing it because I believe that I can help you direct us and help us all in turn."
Robin takes a moment to think about my words and nods with a nervous expression. "That's a lot of trust you're putting in me, Jack. Honestly, I'm not sure if I can live up to your expectations."
I smile at the nervous Tactician. "I think you sell yourself short, Robin. I may not have known you for more than a full day, but I get this strange feeling that I can trust you with my life – at the very least until I feel confident that I can easily hold my own against any foe. And even then, we're a team. We stand together in battle and help each other. If one of us falls, the other will be there to pick 'em up. I have your back, and you've got mine."
Robin smiles back. "Now I'm the one who thinks you're selling yourself short, Jack. You started out as a total novice at combat when we met on that field, yet look at yourself now. You've survived two battles in a single day and emerged stronger from them, and you're even fighting alongside Chrom and the others to protect the people of Ylisse. You've already become an ally that I can rely on – both inside and outside of a battle."
She trusts me that much already? Gee…that makes me feel happier than I thought…
"You think so?" I ask hesitantly.
Her smile widens. "Jack, I know so. You said that you have this feeling that you can trust me with your life. Well, I feel the same. You're the first person I can remember meeting, and the first thing you did was doing everything in your power to help me. How can I not trust someone like that?"
That brings a smile of my own to my face. "Thanks, Robin. I look forward to aiding you in any way I can in the future. Hopefully this'll be the start of a great friendship."
"My thoughts exactly, Jack."
Due to expressing a strong sense of duty and solidarity, CHAR goes up by 1!
Your relationship with Robin has advanced! Your relationship with Robin is now "Allies"!
I suppose that would be the equivalent of having a support conversation. And what a conversation it was. No wonder the characters improve their relationships so fast through them. Some conversations may look unproductive at first glance, but they always get very personal.
After my conversation with Robin, I head out to the courtyard to see if there's anything to do. I might find a good place to practice at daytime.
That's when I notice Sumia. I walk over and greet her.
"Hello, Sumia."
The brunette turns to me with a startled expression.
"Oh! Hello… Jack, was it?"
I nod. "How are things going?"
"Oh, fine. Same old, same old."
Her expression looks a bit downcast for someone who claims to be fine.
"I can tell something's eating at you. Care to share?"
Sumia sighs. "It's just that, it all sounded so inspiring when Captain Chrom was all "some lessons can only be learned on the battlefield" and "you can stay behind if a fight is met". But now that I've had some time to calm down, I feel like me being there would be a terrible idea after all. I mean, I can hardly fight, I'm not sure if I'm ready for any missions – I just feel like a burden for everybody."
Well, this won't do! Sumia has the potential of becoming a great fighter, no matter what others say. It's just a matter of nurturing her carefully.
"I wouldn't say that you're a burden. The fact that you're part of the Shepherds means Chrom trusts you to become a great ally in the future, unless you're there already. And going by the levels of strength he and Frederick display in battle, that says a lot about his faith in you."
Sumia's face turns hopeful. "You mean…you think I can make a difference?"
I nod smiling. "Sure do. Just look at me, Sumia. Would you believe I hadn't done so much as touch a sword when I had my first run-in with a bandit who had no qualms cutting me down where I stood? And that happened yesterday."
Sumia looks at me in surprise. "What? But Lissa said Captain Chrom made both you and Robin members yesterday! She even said you come up with crazy ideas in battle that work!"
I nod. "It's true. Apparently, Chrom was so impressed by my performance in helping everyone drive out the bandits who were pillaging a town, that he offered me to join too. By the way, do you know how I managed to get past that bandit and then helped in driving the rest out?"
Sumia shakes her head. Oh, this is gonna be good.
"I ran and hid behind some crates. Then I snuck up behind him with a frying pan and clocked him clean over the head. He dropped like a sack of potatoes. I took his sword and killed him with it before running of in search for Robin and the others."
Sumia's in awe. "Wow… I had no idea…"
"My point in all of this is that everyone starts out small. Me, you, everyone, with no exceptions. So what if you feel like a burden? That doesn't have to be true forever. If you keep striving to improve yourself, it's only a matter of time before you become irreplaceable for us all. I'm sure of it."
Sumia smiles at me. "Thank you, Jack. I think I needed to hear that. I don't think I'm much good in a fight yet, but I'll keep training until I am!"
I grin happily. "Great! In fact, I think we can help each other in that regard. See, I was just looking for some place to practice my own skills, but I think I would benefit more from having a sparring partner. So, what do you say, Sumia? Up for a spar?"
That throws Sumia for a loop. "Huh? You mean, right now? But… But I-"
"Hey, you said yourself that you'll train until you're good in a fight. But training won't complete itself. If you want to get good, you have to work for it. There's no time like the present!"
Sumia looks hesitant before she steels herself. "I- No, you're right. I can't keep fretting over everything forever. I'd love to spar with you."
That's the spirit, Sumia! You'll become awesome soon enough, you'll see. "Cool. One problem, though. Where do we spar?" I ask as I scratch my head sheepishly.
Sumia sweatdrops before leading me to a small area with crates. A quick Observe reveals that the crates hold a plethora of wooden practice weapons. Heavier than conventional weapons to make soldiers have an easier time swinging around the real deal, low base damage, perfect for training. I walk up to a crate containing practice swords and pick one up before walking to a circle that's been drawn on the ground. That would be the sparring ring. Sumia soon joins me with a wooden staff.
I've had my fair share of opponents before, but those were either untrained bandits or zombies. Unlike before, my opponent is a trained soldier, clumsy as she may be. I'd better think about my form now.
Let's see… Stand sideways, point my weapon towards my opponent, square my shoulders, slouch forward slightly, bend my knees, stay on my toes. There, that should work.
"Ready when you are." I tell Sumia. Sumia nods and settles in her own stance.
We circle each other carefully, trying to look for an opening. Sumia takes the initiative and charges me. Makes sense. Her staff gives her the longer reach.
I quickly step to the left and parry her strike to the right. Before I can retaliate, Sumia pivots and brings back the staff for a horizontal sweep. I duck and step inside her guard for a stab against her heart, but I'm forced back by her shoving the butt end of the staff against my torso. Yikes, Sumia's way better than she gives herself credit for!
I take a few steps back, effectively bringing us back to our starting positions. Okay, now I know that Sumia can handle polearms pretty flexibly. She's quick at melee range as well, eliminating some problems that most novice lance users struggle with. One thing's for sure – Sumia is no novice!
I decide to take the initiative this time and charge her. Sumia answers by bringing up the staff and stabbing towards my solar plexus. I parry to the left this time and slide my sword along the length of her staff towards her hands. Just as I'm in range, however, Sumia shoulder tackles me. Cr-p, I'm off-balance!
"Here goes!" Sumia shouts and goes in for what promises to be a painful blow-
-and then she trips mid-charge. Was that pebble always there?
*Bam!*
Sumia lies facedown on the ground, her staff dropped to the side. She groans as she raises herself up on her arms. Wait… Did her face leave an imprint on the ground? We're standing on packed dirt! What is her face made of?
"Oh, horse plop! Just when I had the perfect chance too!"
I bend down and help her up. "That was incredible, Sumia! You wielded that staff in ways I didn't even know of."
Sumia blushes at my praise. "Oh, thank you. I do make sure to practice every day, and both Sully and Frederick help me whenever they have time. It's just that…I always mess up somewhere! How can I help anyone if I keep tripping all the time?"
I mull the question in my head. Sumia's definitely ready for combat. The only things holding her back are her tendency to trip as well as her lack of confidence.
"You know… I think you might be able to solve your problem if you're just more aware of your surroundings – especially the ground in front of you."
Sumia looks at me questioningly. I might be on to something here.
"Like you said yourself: you had me back there. If you didn't trip, I would be the one on the ground with a bruise on my chest. Had we used real weapons, you could've easily landed a killing blow. While practicing your lance play is important, I think some running would do you good."
"What?! But I trip all the time!"
"Maybe you do right now, but running is about more than just getting from one point to another on foot – you also need to be aware of your surroundings and make sure you have a good foothold while keeping up the pace. Running outside in, say, a forest will allow you to practice on keeping an eye on where you can go without having your foot hit a snag or root. Give it some thought. You might train yourself out of all that tripping. And even if you don't, you still get the benefit of increasing your endurance."
Sumia smiles. "Thank you, Jack. I'll definitely give it a try. I think I'll go running in the forest outside the capital."
"Sounds like a plan. Just make sure to bring a weapon with you. You can't be too careful these days."
Sumia nods and runs off.
"Eep!" *Bam!*
And trips again. But unlike before, she peps herself as she gets up and keeps going with more enthusiasm. She might've said something along the lines of "For the Captain!", but I might be wrong.
Looks like holding that conversation with Sumia increased my CHAR by 1. I even noticed my relationship with her increasing. Well, that sparring session was fruitful.
One issue that became clear to me during the spar was my lack of armor. I really should've addressed this earlier, what with all the fighting and the only protection I have is a bunch of civilian clothing. Heck, that wound I suffered during the battle last night probably wouldn't have been as bad if I had some armor on my body. Maybe I should've asked Sumia if she knows a good armorer in the capital.
I hear a horse neighing and notice someone leading a horse into the stables. Hey, that's Stahl! He'll also join us to our trip to Ferox tomorrow. Too bad Vaike forgets to tell him, resulting in the poor guy missing out on breakfast. Well, time to rectify that.
"Hi there!" I greet Stahl. He turns around and greets back.
"Hi! You're a new face."
I nod. "Yep. My name is Jack. I joined the Shepherds after Chrom asked me yesterday."
Stahl and I shake hands.
"My name's Stahl. I've been a Shepherd for a few years. It's nice to meet a new member."
"Then you'll have some great company. Chrom didn't just pick up me – he also got you guys a new tactician."
"Really?"
"Yep. Her name is Robin. Her abilities as a tactician are top notch. I think you'll get along just fine."
Stahl smiles. "That sounds great. The more, the merrier."
I nod in agreement. "Oh, by the way – we'll be marching north towards Regna Ferox tomorrow, so if you want to join, you better get ready outside town in the morning. Your choice, though. Chrom says it's voluntary."
"Thanks. I'll be there. Good thing you told me, or else I might've missed breakfast. Gods, that would be awful!"
That's that problem taken care of. "Good to have you along, Stahl. Say, do you know where I can get some armor? It won't do if I get into any more fights without proper protection."
Stahl nods in agreement. "Yeah, I know just the place. Just let me get my horse boarded and I'll take you there."
A few minutes later, we're walking down the streets of Ylisstol. Stahl leads me through an alley to the left near the capital plaza and stops in front of a building with a sign that says "Smithy of secrets". Okaaay…
"Well, here we are. In fact, most of the Shepherds come here whenever we're in need of something related to our equipment. It's a small establishment, but they offer a wide range of services at an affordable price."
Luckily for me, I can tinker with my map to mark important places, and if Stahl's judgement is to believed, this place makes the list. We walk into the smithy to meet-
"Welcome to the Smithy of secrets! How can I help you?"
No way… Red hair done in a ponytail, slim build, charming smile on her face… The smithy is managed by an Anna! Those girls are everywhere!
(AN: Fun fact: In the Fire Emblem/Persona crossover game "Tokyo mirage sessions", the salesclerk in one of the shops you have access to bears a striking resemblance to Anna, right down to the charming smile. She even has a twin sister who manages a shop in the alternate world.)
"Hello, Anna! How's business?"
"Well, if it isn't Stahl." the merchant/blacksmith greets cheerfully. "Well, business could be better, and I think you could help me with that right now. So, watcha need?"
Stahl shakes his head. "Actually, I'm just here to show your place to my new comrade Jack here. He needs some armor now that he's joined the Shepherds."
The redhead's smile lights up like a sun. "Yay! A new customer- I mean, you came to the right place, young man!"
Oh man… I hope I can get some new armor without having to sacrifice my nonexistent purse.
As it turns out, Stahl was right in that Anna offers a wide range of services. Aside from working on metal equipment, she also offers armor made of cloth or leather and can even work on most weapons – aside from legendary or divine ones, of course. She's good, but not that good. After some searching in what Anna has to offer (she even has a catalogue for that purpose), I decide on a piece of chainmail and some leather armor to cover my upper body. That should protect the most important parts without sacrificing any mobility. And speaking of sacrifice – my money count made it out of that affair just fine. Here's to hoping that the Annas only try to screw the bad guys over. You never know with these girls…
"I'll have everything ready by tomorrow morning, so make sure to stop by!" the smithy owner says with her trademark smile as we leave.
Stahl and I return to the Shepherds' barracks just in time for supper. It sounds nice – until we find out that Sully's on mess duty tonight. The moment we hear the news, Stahl vanishes in a cloud of dust. Before I can follow my new comrade, Sully has me in an iron grip on the shoulder.
"Nice of ya to join me for supper, Jack. I'm tryin' out this new recipe I got from the palace kitchens a week ago, and you look like just the person to test if it works!"
I know I can't argue my way out of this one without suffering Sully's wrath. A quick look around the mess hall (which coincidentally is the very same room where Lissa introduced us earlier today) shows that me and Sully are the only ones here. Sigh… Better get this over with. May Naga have mercy on my soul…
You have ingested terribly cooked food! You now suffer from "Poison"!
Why, Naga, why? That was awful beyond words! Just one bite of…whatever it was Sully tried to cook knocked me unconscious. When I came to, Lissa was there (bless her soul) with some medicine and strict orders that I'm to stay in bed until tomorrow. So here I am now, in bed and feeling miserable. I think the fever's passed at least. Ugh. If Sully's cooking didn't look as bad as it is for your health, that stuff could become a dangerous murder weapon. As it is, it might be good for torturing POW:s or executing criminals of the worst kind.
Oh, well. I might as well make the most of my situation. With no one to disturb me, I might have a great opportunity to make new skills and practice them along with my already existing ones. And the first step is making a space where I can practice undisturbed no matter what I do.
"I- ID…Create…" I groan out.
A new skill has been created due to a special action! You gained "ID Create"!
ID Create, Lvl 0 [0.0 %], Active, Cost: 50 MP
The ability to create an ID (which is short for "Instant Dungeon") is now in your hands! Having your very own parallel dimension opens up for plenty of possibilities, but most casters use it as their private training grounds. It's a useful trick, since any damage done in here doesn't happen in the real world. You're technically somewhere else, after all.
Creates an ID that only the caster can enter. Any creature or object that the caster is in contact with when this skill is used is taken into the ID as well. Any change that is done in the ID does not affect the outside dimension.
Current ID:s available:
Lv 0: Empty
A dome of mana spreads out from my body and covers everything I can perceive in less than a second. Unlike the real world, everything in the ID is tinted red, with the exception of the sky, which is colored black, and every cloud being pure white. I get up on shaky legs and stumble my way down to the "restroom" area in the courtyard. There I find a place that no one would mind if it got dirty. I steel myself, bend over the place and stick my fingers down my throat. This is gonna suck…
"Bluuuerrgh!"
I know regurgitating is not the most pleasant way of getting rid of food poisoning, but I need it out of my system yesterday. Sickening feeling aside, my efforts soon pay off.
You are no longer suffering from "Poison"!
Ugh, good riddance! A quick stop by the well to rinse my mouth, and I'm right as rain again. Before I can begin my epic training session through the night, there's one more thing I need to do first. I get back to my room and will the ID away.
"ID Escape".
A new skill has been created due to a special action! You gained "ID Escape"!
The ID shatters like glass, bringing me back to my room just the way I left it. Time to make a skill that will leave no one the wiser that I've gone off on a brief training trip in another dimension. I concentrate my mana and will it to take shape outside my body.
"Shadow clone."
*Poof*
A new skill has been created due to a special action! You gained "Shadow clone"!
In a puff of smoke, a perfect replica of myself emerges. Just for testing, I poke it on the chest.
"Relax, Boss. I'm a solid, perfect replica of you. And if this skill does just what it says on the tin, you just made the perfect training skill." my clone says.
I grin at the news. "Awesome! This means I can finally put my real training plans into motion. As for you, you already know what to do."
My clone does a mock salute and heads for the bed. "You got it, Boss."
My plan is very simple. By leaving a Shadow clone in my bed, everyone thinks I'm sleeping when I'm actually in an ID training through the night. When morning comes, I just need to exit the ID in my room, dispel my clone and climb into bed, and it'll look like I never left it at all. Of course, my clone will be busy during the night. Remember all the skills I trained while feigning sleep last night? That's what my clone will be doing every night when it fakes sleep in my stead.
With my cover set, I once again activate ID Create and head back to the courtyard.
Now to begin my real training. There's plenty of skills that I wish to create, and I have all the time until sunrise, at the very least.
Considering how MP intensive my training sessions will become, I'll need some good MPR to last me through the night. So I open my Status menu and dump points into WIS until it hits 50. The results are immediate.
Due to holding great amounts of wisdom, you have gained "Mana savant"!
Due to holding great amounts of wisdom, you have gained "Intermediate mana manipulation!"
Oh, baby! Judging from what I can read here, these new skills will keep my MP up a lot better than before! Just what I need for a night of intense skill grinding!
The first skill I want to make is one of the most versatile skills I have ever seen. The versatility comes from my vast knowledge in everything animé and game related. The skill already has a chant for activation, but I'll try putting my own spin on it. I settle in a stance with my arms stretched out in front of me and a little bit on either side. My palms are open and point forward and slightly down. I once again concentrate my mana. Considering the scale of this skill, the MP cost will likely be huge. I take a deep breath and begin chanting. Mimicry, go!
Life, death, and the border between.
My craft reaches beyond what is seen.
Pain and toil was all I could feel
as I stood, day and night, forging my steel.
Yet those hardships were a small price to pay
to make these creations see the light of day.
They will slay my foe, peasant or lord,
for I am the bone of my sword!
Unlimited Blade Works!
Flames appear in the air as I chant. When my chant reaches its end, the flames expand until they cover everything in sight. Next thing I know, I stand on a plain, with grassy hills as far as the eye can reach. In the sunset horizon I see massive gears turning.
A new skill has been created due to a special action! You gained "Unlimited Blade Works"!
I notice that the plains are empty. I suppose it makes sense. UBW is basically a manifestation of the caster's soul. All the weapons that Shirou has at his disposal when using this technique come from the experience gained from countless battles. Every weapon that he wields tells a story. Since I just made my own UBW, it's only natural that there are no weapons here. I haven't experienced that many battles yet.
That's where my next skill comes into play. Making sure that Mimicry is still active, I draw my trusty Bronze sword and channel my mana through it while using Observe.
"Trace on."
The results do not disappoint.
A new skill has been created due to a special action! You gained "Trace on"!
Would you like to synchronize Trace on with Unlimited Blade Works?
Heck yeah, I do! This way, I don't need to experience countless battles in order to fill my reality marble with all kinds of weapons. With my vast knowledge of weapons, both real and fictional, I can make them instantly!
I hear the sound of a hammer striking an anvil in the distance. Then a Bronze sword appears on one of the hills, sticking out of the ground. Oh, I am gonna have fun with these two skills!
Now, which weapon is next? Oh, maybe I should try making a zanpakutou!
Error! Living weapons cannot be created.
Well, that's a shame. And here I had hoped I could go bankai on the Grimleal. Heh, it would've been hilarious to see their faces go from shock to contempt to pants-sh-tting terror as their numbers get ground to dust in a wave of razor sharp cherry blossom petals. Oh well, guess I can't have it all…
So, what weapons does that leave me, aside from every weapon in Fire Emblem history? The seven swords of the hidden Mist (except Samehada), Smoker's seastone jitte, every weapon wielded by a lancer class Servant, every keyblade ever (including the χ-blade), Laphicet's spell paper, Wonder Blue's valiantium blade, the Final Fantasy weapons (I'm especially looking at your swords, Cloud and Sephiroth), Erza Scarlet's entire weapon arsenal, every Blazer's device, major Armstrong's alchemy gauntlets, Goku's extendable staff, lightsabers… The list goes on and on and ON. Hm…wonder if I can trace suits. That would enable me to make some costumes from My hero academia (Bakugo's grenade gauntlets sound very tempting if I can get some nitroglycerin), or even a gunman from Gurenn Lagann.
Okay, maybe I'll skip the suits. Those things sound pretty complex in my book, and I have enough on my plate already.
Timeskip
Phew… I think I've recreated every fictional weapon I know of. And let me tell you, that's a LOT. Probably the result of being a guy who's part gamer, part otaku, and with more memory capacity than I know what to do with. Well, I have a massive arsenal of weapons at my beck and call. Now to train in using them. I dump a load of MP into making shadow clones and soon find myself in a small crowd of…me.
"Alright!" I shout to get every clone's attention. "Each one of you grab a weapon and go to some remote place to practice until you exhaust yourselves. Don't worry about dropping your weapon, just go nuts in mastering them and I'll handle the rest."
My clones salute and go every which way in search for a weapon to practice with. There are two clones that I stop, however.
"You two get an exceptionally important task. As you're already aware of, we lack any skill in unarmed combat, and that's a massive weakness we need to cover quickly. Your task is to train in a style of martial arts that is fast, effective and deadly in the right hands. Then you spar against one another."
"Sounds good, Boss." one of the clones reply. "Any style you want to learn in particular?"
Well, since I've recreated skills from the Fate series, I might as well mimic one of the deadliest martial artists from the same universe. My grin may or may not look scary.
"I want you to learn the martial art that can let even an ordinary man beat the cr-p out of a trained warrior – the fighting style of Souichirou Kuzuki."
My clones shudder for a moment before one of them speak up.
"The high school teacher who almost singlehandedly handed Rin, Shirou and even Saber their asses in just over a full minute?"
I nod. "The very same. If a former assassin can curb stomp the wielder of Excalibur barehanded, imagine what his skill can do in the hands of someone who's trained themselves to super-human levels."
"Sheesh, Boss. You sound like you're trying to take over the world."
I shake my head. "You know me. I simply like being OP. And considering we might go up against the draconic incarnation of the apocalypse and his evil cult in the future, I'll need every advantage I can get. You know the drill."
My clones nod and walk towards an open space to begin practicing.
There's one more skill that I need to check off. While it is powerful in its own right, this skill is mainly a stepping stone in the process of making an even more powerful skill. I settle in a stance with my right hand stretched out and the palm facing upwards. I activate Mimicry once more and then start concentrating mana above my palm. Then I rotate the mana in a circular direction. Then in two. Four. Eight. And eventually every which way. Next, I pump more mana into my construct and concentrate all of it into a small shape. Lastly, I take a strong grip on the rotating mana and contain it in a spherical shell.
A new skill has been created through a special action! You gained "Spiraling mana sphere!"
Perfect. Now I just need to rename the skill – and what better name than the original one that has become about as well known as the Kamehameha itself?
"Rasengan!"
*Boom!*
The crater I left in the ground has a diameter close to my own height. And that's while I'm still a novice with a skill that's only the first step towards something even greater. All in due time, though.
I make one more clone with the instruction to focus solely on the Rasengan (and Meditation of course). There, that should be every skill I want at the moment.
The cool thing about this particular mass training isn't just that I'll master a wide range of weapons. See, before I made my army of clones, I reminded myself that all weapons training is to be done while in Mimicry. The result? Not only will every clone recreate the moves of the original wielder, those skills will all be passed on to me when they dispel. My combat skills in general won't be the only things skyrocketing – Mimicry will get plenty of use tonight from each and every clone. The same, of course, goes with the other skills that I train whether I feign sleep or travel: Reinforcement, Meditation, Telekinesis, Telekinetic sense (which I renamed into "Mind's eye") and Observe. If a clone dispels, I just replace it with another one. Ah, the beauty of Shadow clones.
As for me, I start doing every physical exercise I can think of, with Reinforcement deactivated and instead focusing Telekinesis to weigh me down. I'm trying to simulate training in stronger gravity to increase my stat gains faster.
Due to constructing an extremely efficient and comprehensive training regimen based on your abilities, WIS goes up by 1!
Well, that's probably all I will do until sunrise. Now, if only I could trace an mp3-player or something similar so I can train with music…
To be continued
Preview of the next chapter
*Risen wander the highroad*
Risen: Raagh…
Chrom: Great… The Risen have spread all the way here.
Frederick: Gods, will this undead menace ever stop?
Vaike: Hah! They'll be redead after they taste my axe- Hey, where'd it go?!
Chrom: Not now, Vaike.
Vaike: But I had my axe just a second ago, I swear!
*An axe is thrown right at a Risen's head*
Miriel: Are you referring to this axe?
Vaike: Hey, thanks, Miriel!
Miriel: Take better care of it, or I'll fix it to your wrist with magic – permanently.
Next time on Gamer Emblem Awakening:
Highroad to hectic! Risen as far as the eye can reach!
*Wounded Pegasus thrashing about*
Jack: I hear Link is a great horse tamer. Maybe he can lend a hand. Now, if only I knew how to reach Hyrule…
Omake: Reviewing the recipe
Sully looks at the unconscious Jack after the Traveler had a taste of her cooking.
"Strange…" the Cavalier mutters while scratching her head. "I could swear I followed the recipe perfectly this time."
Miriel walks in and finds Jack on the floor.
"Fascinating. He seems to have been knocked unconscious, though there are no signs of physical trauma."
"Miriel?"
"Good evening, Sully. I came here to prepare some supper for myself."
"Well, no need for that." Sully says proudly. "I made enough food for everyone. But it's weird how Jack just went down after only one bite. There's no way the palace chefs would make a recipe that terrible."
Jack's face turns green.
"Er, is that normal?"
"Heavens, no!" the Mage exclaims. "That is a symptom of food poisoning."
"What? But I followed the recipe perfectly! I even made sure every ingredient was as fresh as can be!"
Miriel takes a look at the bowl with Jack's mostly untouched serving. The black substance gives off a sinister aura – and even seems to move a bit. Parts from critters like newts and mice float around here and there.
"If I may inquire, what kind of recipe includes newt and mouse?"
Sully hands Miriel a note with the recipe. After reading the whole list, Miriel blanches.
"This is no recipe for consumable food! This is the recipe for Ricken's latest experimental potion! We had to reject the recipe and destroy the entire batch due to how dangerous of a failure it was! Goodness, did that boy throw it out near the palace kitchens?"
Sully sweatshops. "Well, cr-p… That explains where I got that note from…"
Jack's face turns purple.
"Uh, I think it's getting worse."
"We have to get a healer here, immediately!"
New skills:
Mind's eye, Lvl 27 [68.1 %], Active, Cost: 8 MP
The human body is said to perceive the world through five separate senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste. There are even rumors of a sixth sense, separate from the other five. But this one is none of the above mentioned. By using your ability to project a mental force on objects outside yourself, you can use that very mental contact to perceive the objects as if you used your sense of touch, except there's no need for physical contact. The Byakugan ain't got s-it on this!
Range: 16 meters.
ID Create, Lvl 0 [50.0 %], Active, Cost: 50 MP
The ability to create an ID (which is short for "Instant Dungeon") is now in your hands! Having your very own parallel dimension opens up for plenty of possibilities, but most casters use it as their private training grounds. It's a useful trick, since any damage done in here doesn't happen in the real world. You're technically somewhere else, after all.
Creates an ID that only the caster can enter. Any creature or object that the caster is in contact with when this skill is used is taken into the ID as well. Any change that is done in the ID does not affect the outside dimension.
Current ID:s available:
Lv 0: Empty
ID Escape, Lvl MAX, Active, Cost: 0 MP
A skill used to exit an ID. Any objects in the caster's inventory is taken out of the ID as well. This skill can only be used outside of combat.
Mana savant, Lvl MAX, Passive
A skill only found among a select few who have gained a great understanding of the workings of the world. It is said that a great sage who reached this point had the ability to tap into his natural source of mana on a level previously believed impossible.
Passively increases maximum MP by 30 %. All magic based skills deal 10 % more damage.
Intermediate mana manipulation, Lvl MAX, Passive
Mages who ascend beyond mere apprenticeship and find themselves masters in their own right consider this skill to be a mark of experience. By gaining an intimate understanding of the flow of mana, those who practice the arcane arts are capable of channeling their mana with efficiency they could only dream of during their apprentice days.
Passively reduces the MP cost of all skills by 10 %.
Shadow clone, Lvl 5 [50.0 %], Active, Cost: 100 MP / clone
A skill originally created by the second hokage Tobirama Senju. Uses the caster's mana to make a physical replica of themselves. Each clone can act and think independently of the caster and can use any skill that the caster can use.
The stats of each clone is 10 % of the caster's own stats. A clone will dispel if its HP or MP reaches 0. Any information, EXP, new skills and leveling of already existing skills that the clone gained will automatically be transferred to the caster upon dispelling.
Unlimited Blade Works, Lvl 9 [42.0 %], Active, Cost: 500 MP
A skill originally created by the heroic spirit Shirou Emiya. Creates a reality marble; a manifestation of the caster's own soul in the shape of a separate dimension. Within this reality marble, any weapon that the caster has traced can be used at their will. Does your enemy have enough weapons stocked up? Maintenance cost: 80 MP / minute
Synchronization effect: Any weapon that the caster analyses with Trace on is automatically added to UBW.
Trace on, Lvl 32 [24.0 %], Active, Cost: 44 MP
A skill originally created by the heroic spirit Shirou Emiya while he was still a magus-in-training. By using Observe while channeling mana through an object, the caster can analyze the object's structure on a molecular level, as well as its history from the moment of making until the present day. Any weapon that has been traced can be recreated and wielded as the caster's own weapon by using this skill again. Should a traced weapon enable use of a skill, the caster can use that skill while wielding the weapon.
Maintenance cost: 28 MP / minute
Synchronization effect: While UBW is active, all costs related to this skill is reduced to 0.
Polearm mastery, Lvl 1 [0.0 %], Passive
The spear is believed to be the first weapon man ever wielded, mainly for the purpose of hunting. Long and slim, polearms are easy to use but difficult to master due to their length and rigidity. Those who master these weapons not only gain an advantage in range – they can also attack in more ways than many other weapons offer. It has the added benefit of looking awesome AF too.
Increases attack speed and attack power by 5 % when attacking with a polearm of any kind.
Axe mastery, Lvl 1 [0.0 %], Passive
The axe was originally a tool meant for cutting wood. With war, however, came the weaponization of any tool available, including this one. Axes hold most of their weight as well as the bladed edge at the end of the shaft. With so much of their power concentrated at a small space, axes can deal more damage than most other melee weapons at the tradeoff of being among the most difficult to wield.
Increases attack speed and attack power by 5 % when attacking with an axe.
Archery mastery, Lvl 1 [0.0 %], Passive
Building on the ranged options that the spear offered, man eventually engineered a weapon designed exclusively for attacking at range. The result was the bow. Handling a bow requires great commitment and dedication, as the user needs to take factors such as wind direction and the target's movements into account when lining up a shot – let alone having a clear line of sight in order to even aim properly. Those who can master this weapon, however, can send death from afar before most enemies even have the chance to react.
Increases attack speed and accuracy by 5 % when attacking with a bow.
Martial arts mastery, Lvl 1 [0.0 %], Passive
There are those who train with a weapon until they can wield it like an extension of their body. Then there are those who train their body until they can wield it like a weapon. This skill falls into the latter category. While martial artists usually fight at a disadvantage in terms of range, they make up for it with techniques most weapon wielders could only dream of. Underestimating a foe due to their lack of weapons can be a fatal mistake.
Passively increases STR, VIT and DEX by 5 %. Increases attack speed and attack power by 5 % when attacking unarmed.
The snake, Lvl 1 [0.0 %], Active, Cost: 0 MP
The fighting style of the high school teacher under cover Souichirou Kuzuki. A martial arts style practiced by assassins who are sent undercover by an unknown organization. The style mainly focuses on grapples, as well as crippling blows to vulnerable areas like joints. Like a real snake, the practitioner strikes with blinding speed and lethal accuracy the moment they spot an opening. This style is not meant for combat – it's meant for disabling a target or outright killing them.
Using this style while unarmed increases attack speed by 5 %. Attacks on joints and vital areas deal 50 % more damage.
Rasengan, Lvl 1 [0.0 %], Active, Cost: 150 MP
A skill originally created by the fourth hokage Minato Namikaze. Performed by concentrating a high amount of mana and rotating it in multiple directions simultaneously while containing it in a spherical shell.
Base damage: 1 000 % of the caster's INT stat. Can only be used at melee range.
Jack's encyclopedic corner
Great Knight, Class
Combining the tremendous strength and rock-solid defense of armored Knights with the mobility and versatility of Cavaliers, Great Knights are commonly seen on the frontlines as elite soldiers. With the many benefits also come many risks, however. The Great Knight combines both the best and worst of two worlds.
Increases attack power and attack speed by 10 % when attacking with a sword, lance or axe. Damage taken from physical attacks is reduced by 10 %. Magic spells of any element do 10 % less damage. Damage taken from magic spells of any element increases by 10 %. This unit counts both as mounted and heavily armored.
Chain mail, Armor, Uncommon
A piece of armor made by combining small chain links into the shape of a shirt. The material allows for good coverage of the upper body without sacrificing any mobility. As the armor is made of chain links, its main purpose is to stop incoming arrows rather than melee attacks. Often worn under a more rigid piece of armor.
Poison, Status effect
A foreign substance is wreaking havoc inside your body! Depending on its potency, your condition will range from mildly uncomfortable to dead. Get some antidote or a healer, pronto, or suffer the consequences! Continuously deals damage over time. The more potent the poisonous substance and the higher the amount, the higher the damage suffered. HPR is reduced to 0 while this debuff is active.
Intetsu, Sword, Base damage: 58, Unique
The device of the Blazer-in-training Ikki Kurogane. While wielding this blade, Ikki was able to accurately analyze the skills of his opponent and then use them as his own. Due to his abnormally low levels of magical power, Ikki was constantly forced to struggle against an academic system where magical power was the measure of performance. He managed to prove his worth in the end, showing the world the fruits of his hard labor.
Available skills when wielded: Blade steal, Ittō Shura.
Maaan... This chapter got longer than I expected. Well, at least now everything should be set before the Shepherds head out for the highroad.
Hope you like the dialogues that deviate from the game script.
Jack's encyclopedic corner contains entries from his Observe log, so if you're curious about the kind of stuff he reads about on a regular basis, that section will give you a little bit of that.
As usual, please rate and review!
CrossVipeR316, over and out.
