I. Am. Back!
Ah, it's been a long time since I last posted a new chapter. But the wait is over, good people. This very wall of text is proof.
It's been quite a few strange months since last time. First the government where I live puts heavy restrictions on how people are allowed to move about, all to make sure to limit the spread of the current pandemic. Then, a few weeks ago, the government decided to let up a bit on those restrictions – right as the tourists start to flock around popular holiday places. As you might have figured, local authorities have raised some major concerns regarding the risk of the pandemic gaining a second wind, due to how packed the beaches and towns could get with the sudden influx of people gathering there.
My point is; we're not out of the woods yet. Please make sure to be mindful to the people around you. It's better for everyone, at least until we can get that vaccine everyone's waiting for. Props to the scientists and their teams who work day and night to find a cure that can finally counter this worldwide disease. And major props to the brave souls who literally put their health and lives on the line to treat those who have fallen victim to the corona virus. That, right there, is the picture of heroism.
And with that out of the way, you are now free to enjoy this chapter.
Copyright disclaimer: I only own the plot of this fic. For a full copyright disclaimer, please read chapter 1.
If the old ways are holding us back from striving forward, then better to cast them off than to drag such a burden with you throughout your life. – Pheros
Chapter 30
Windswept fortress!
The Reaper enters the eye of the storm.
I backflip and land on my training staff before I bend it a bit and use the resulting backlash to pole vault myself back one more step. A pair of training axes swing where my weapon was moments later. I land on my feet and twirl the staff into position once more. Opposite of me, Gerome settles in his own stance.
I note that this stance is different from the one he uses when he rides his version of Minerva, which means the guy has trained in fighting both on foot and while mounted. And he's proven himself proficient in both variants.
More importantly, the masked Wyvern Rider has proven himself to be a tricky opponent to fight one-on-one. Not only does he react to my moves far faster than any of my other students, he retaliates with far better efficiency and speed as well. That Color of Observation skill of his is one crazy good skill. Can't fight recklessly and match him blow for blow either. The black sheen on his weapons indicates he's covered them in armament, making them far more durable and deadly than an ordinary weapon of the same category.
So, this is how it feels like fighting a Haki user. It's one of the weirdest powers born from the human imagination that I've ever heard of. It would be flat out busted if acquiring it wasn't so difficult (though the fact that everyone and their grandma seems to have access to that blasted power in the New World kind of takes away what makes it special).
Hmm… If remember the description of Gerome's skills correctly, he can perceive living beings with what's essentially a 6th sense. But…that leaves non-living things, such as inanimate mass. In other words, the very ground we're standing on.
I grin and slap the ground in front of me. A slight twitch on Gerome's features is the only indication that he caught on to my plan before he jumps sideways to dodge the slab of packed dirt that erupts on his position moments later. Though while I Transmute the dirt a few more times, I notice that Gerome handles that method of attack quite easily as well.
Oh, of course. The earth moves according to my will, which means Gerome can "hear" how I intend to shift it right before I do.
Seriously, Haki is borderline broken.
I sigh with an exasperated smile. "Good grief… Exactly how hard did you train in order to get that good in hearing the voice of all living things?"
"I have you in particular to thank for that, Jack-sensei." Gerome replies. "Learning to dodge swings while blindfolded both toughened me up while also training my other senses. Even to this day, I have yet to learn how you convinced Mother to let you train me like that."
"Let me guess; it had something to do with her threatening to sic Minerva on me if I ever stepped out of line." I comment dryly.
Gerome nods. "Among other things involving an axe. Or two."
I stand back up and shoulder my training staff. "Should've seen that one coming. So, want to end it here, or do you want to continue?"
"I don't answer questions when the options are "keep going" or "sneak attack to catch me off-guard"."
My face turns sour due to being found out. Just…Haki, man!
"Fine!" I huff. "Guess that means you're ready either way. Have at you, Gerome!"
The cracking sound of wooden weapons clashing echoes in an ever-increasing tempo as I ramp up the pace. Even though Gerome can more or less perceive my strikes before they happen, I manage to even the odds through sheer speed. Sure, he's still keeping up, but the slightly tightened features around his mouth indicate that he's focusing hard this time.
On the other hand, I have to constantly mind where I strike Gerome's weapons with my own. That armament means a direct clash will leave my staff shattered due to how hard the axes are. But there's a way around it. My training staff is fine so long as I strike the flat of the axe blades at a right angle. Not only does this allow me to keep fighting with my current weapon, it also redirects Gerome's strikes and leaves openings for me to use.
Of course, pulling off such strikes consistently against an opponent who can practically read my every move is freakin' hard! That's why I have to go fast; to limit the window of time in which Gerome can respond to my tactic. All in all, I manage to even the playing field to the point that we're in a bit of a stalemate.
Or…is it Gerome who manages to even the playing field in his favor with his own abilities against my abundance of power? Can't really tell the difference.
Gerome puts his axes in a cross block as I swing down on him. The Wyvern Rider gets a good foothold and pulls both axes to lock my staff all around and then shoves harder.
My eyes widen as I realize what he's doing. Gerome's got both axe blades pointed at me while my weapon is locked between both of his. It's not an optimal position to push from, but I'm hardly in a position to push back that well either considering where our weapons are locked together.
So I crouch and use my lower position to shoulder tackle Gerome in the chest. Gerome angles his axes to take the brunt of the impact, but that frees my staff from the lock. I push against Gerome's block to take a quick step backwards before I twirl my staff into position and thrust it against him hard.
*Crack!*
Gerome blocks the thrust with both his axes and holds the lock a bit before he flexes his arms and breaks the stalemate. Then he surprises me by closing the distance in an unexpected burst of speed. With my balance slightly off, my only option left is to try to block the axes.
*Shing!*
As one might expect, that maneuver simply cut it in half. But that's okay. I made sure to have a hold on either half, which lets me dual wield the pieces immediately. From there, I rush Gerome with a flurry of strikes from two directions at once.
"Ah- Ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta!"
The sweat pours down Gerome's brow as he frantically blocks to the best of his abilities. The frantic pace allows me to eventually overwhelm him and knock one of his axes to the side. With the small opening provided, I flip one of the shortened staves into a reverse grip and jam it into the side of the other training axe. Then I jab my remaining short staff right at Gerome's face.
*Crack!*
The wooden weapon splinters slightly as Gerome stumbles backwards from the blow. When he regains his footing and faces me again, the black sheen of armament recedes from his face.
I smirk. "Clever. You couldn't block, so you just strengthened your face instead."
"Had to improvise when I realized I couldn't keep up with you." Geroem explains curtly. "You still want to continue with your weapon in that state?"
I look at the short staves in my hands. Both are cracked at the end due to the hard surfaces I thrust them both into. They won't do me any good in this state. So I shake my head and toss them aside.
"Nah. You've done well in this spar. We'll end it here today."
Gerome nods. "Good. Then that means I can go back to the training I originally had in mind."
I raise an eyebrow as I walk with him back to camp. "You still intend to train? And here I thought Yarne and Kjelle were the training fanatics."
"I train to become stronger, of course." Gerome replies. "But, have I ever told you what the ultimate goal of my training is, Sensei?"
I raise an eyebrow. "Considering I have technically known you for less than a day, the answer is "no"."
"It's to surpass you."
I blink. "That's it?"
"You're the strongest warrior I know. Even more so than my father." Gerome elaborates. "Make no mistake; Father was a renowned warrior before his passing. But as strong as he was, he would always admit that you were stronger. That's how I first decided to train under you."
I cross my arms with a frown and drum my fingers on my biceps. "I'll go out on a limb and assume I beat that out of you pretty quickly."
Gerome shakes his head. "Not really. You kept training me, but you always added lessons in between sparring sessions, such as the importance of caring for others. That wielding a blade has no meaning if it's only for my own sake. I haven't given up on my goal to surpass you. It's just…you've given me a reason to do it outside of the accomplishment itself. I have something I wish to do after I defeat you in single combat."
I smirk. "Bold words for someone who's yet to accomplish that much."
"You're not invincible, Sensei." Gerome points out.
I nod. "I'm aware of that. But that doesn't make it any easier to defeat me at full strength. Having a goal beyond your current one is a healthy outlook, Gerome. It's up to you to decide whether surpassing me – with or without Minerva's help – is something you want to achieve, or if you want to leave it be in pursuit of something else."
"I made up my mind years ago, Jack-sensei." Gerome replies. "Just promise you won't die on me until the day I defeat you."
I reply with a smile. "Fair enough. I welcome you to try, then. Until that day arrives, you are still my student, and I intend to resume what my future self started with you."
Gerome nods with his face still impassive. "I would not expect anything less from you."
We enjoy a moment of comfortable silence before curiosity gets the better of me.
"Say… I've been meaning to ask. What's with the mask?" I ask the Wyvern Rider.
"It has its uses." Gerome replies vaguely.
"Such as…?"
"It's harder to tell what I intend to do if my eyes are covered."
"And?"
"It provides a surprising amount of shade on sunny days."
"And?"
Gerome gives me a dry look. "You want to find out what's behind it, don't you?"
I shrug. "Guilty as charged. I mean, come on, who wouldn't? And if that's out of the question, I would at least want some backstory."
Gerome averts his gaze. "It's…not a topic I share in with just anyone."
"Meaning you never talk about it at all unless someone else brings it up." I deduce.
"If no one mentions it, fine by me." Gerome admits.
"But I did, so I ask your permission."
"And I reject it." Gerome shoots me down without mercy.
I cross my arms and grumble in mild annoyance. If I remember correctly, there's only a handful of scenes in the game that reveal Gerome's face. So few, in fact, that I can't remember the in-game portrait. I've got a curiosity to sate, people!
"But if you want to find out so badly, I suppose you could have a look." Gerome eventually relents.
I look at him surprised. "Wait, does that mean you'll remove it?"
"I've known for a while that you can see things beyond the scope of the naked eye." Gerome points out. You could take a peek through my mask that way."
I chuckle. "Awfully perceptive, are you? Well, don't mind if I do."
I let Mind's eye do its thing and peek beyond the enigmatic mask. What I find there shocks me.
"Gerome?! What in the-"
"I'd prefer not to talk about it." the Wyvern interrupts me tersely.
I take a few moments to stomach what I just saw. "But if that's what's behind your mask… Huh. Guess I now understand at least part of the reason why you managed to go so far in your training."
Gerome nods. "I trust you can keep a secret. After all, that's why I let you take a peek in the first place."
"But why do you not want the others to know?" I ask confused. "I thought you all worked together."
"I joined only at Lucina's and Minerva's insistences. We happen to fight for a common cause. Nothing more, nothing less. I am not obligated to share my life story with any of them. Not when we share such similar backgrounds."
It's only by that explanation that I realize how much trust Gerome puts in me.
"How many know?" I ask eventually.
"I can count the number of people in the know on one hand, you included. And you are the first one I showed it to on my own will alone."
Yep, that cements it.
I nod. "Alright, I'll respect your wish. I just ask that you find someone to confide in, should this ever become a burden for you, Gerome."
"And why should I?" the Wyvern Rider counters defiantly.
"Because carrying a burden is always easier when you have someone to share it with." I explain. "Be it physical or emotional, such issues will weigh you down. And we both know that unnecessary weight will only get you killed on the battlefield."
Gerome goes silent for a while. "I'll…think about it."
Your relationship with Gerome has improved!
"There's one other thing that's been bothering me, though." I point out.
"Yes?"
I scratch my head. "It might be because of past experiences in my life, but I somehow expected you to wield three weapons at the same time in battle."
The Wyvern Rider nods. "I do have a third weapon; Minerva."
I blink. "Come again?"
"Why do you think she has an axeblade attached to her tail?" Gerome elaborates. "It was not just to replace the spiked tip that she lost years ago from where I stand. You drilled into my head the philosophy that a warrior's weapon is their closest partner in battle. Minerva is my most valued ally whenever a battle breaks out. It only makes sense that she becomes one of my weapons, right alongside my axes. To me, they are equally important, and Minerva accepts it as that."
Huh… That's an unconventional version of three-axe style if I ever saw one.
"I…see." I reply. "Well, whatever floats your boat, I guess…"
"While I don't mind going here with you, I still don't understand why you didn't tag along during the first trip." I remark as I float beside Robin.
"I was busy keeping tabs on everyone in town when Cherche extended the invitation." Robin explains. "Keep a low profile, remember? We had only just been in town for a few hours, and everyone in our group had spread all over the place."
"I'd like to think our comrades had more sense than to raise a ruckus while we're in the middle of a giant covert operation." I point out.
Robin gives me a dry look. "We have Vaike."
That gives me pause. "Oh. Yeah. Good point."
"And that's not even the beginning." my wife continues sourly. "You know how several of our boys – yes, boys – tend to encourage each other into increasingly sillier acts once they get started? Now add Lissa's son into the mix and you've got a group with discipline so fragile that I have to assign at least one team mother per man just to ensure they keep a lid in their antics."
I wince. As much as I'd like to argue against Robin's case, I have no solid counterargument. For a militia led by Prince Chrom himself, the discipline and conduct from several of the members in our ranks leaves a lot to be desired. It goes so far at times that someone from outside could legitimately question if we're even an established military unit to begin with.
Don't get us wrong, though. We may not seem like the most coherent unit at first, but once battle breaks out, we tend to kick the asses of every enemy unit in sight in one way or another. I guess it's just in the nature of a Fire Emblem game that (almost) every character needs a quirky personality to make themselves more memorable to the player.
Why do I feel like there's a dozen hands pointing at me right now?
"So, I guess you managed to put things in order by the time we got back?" I ask.
Robin nods. "More or less. I had to load most of the responsibility on Frederick and Cordelia to have an opening big enough in my schedule to make this worthwhile."
I raise an eyebrow. "How in the world did you pull that off?"
Robin smirks. "I planned both their weddings, remember? There's more than one way to cash in on a favor."
And considering those weddings involved both pegasus specialists of our generation, with all their romantic preferences and their respective loves as the grooms, Robin was pretty much expected to pull something extravagant out of her hat both times. That's one big card to play, especially since, for all I know, she played it just to get a date with me.
Married couples can go on dates too, you know. People just tend to miss out on that opportunity, which is a shame. It takes work to build a relationship, and it takes work to maintain it too. Besides, there's nothing wrong with a married couple going on a romantic date. If anything, it's endearing to see how to people in love with each other keep up these things to keep the flame of romance burning.
Which is why I was all for joining Robin in this sudden second trip to Wyvern Valley. This one was done faster, since I have several means to cover distance far faster than most humans.
I peek out over the horizon, where the sun is setting.
"I'm pretty sure most people are settling down for supper right about now." I muse. "I don't mind spending some time alone here with you, Robin, but if we want to get some food before we go to sleep, we might need to cut the time here short."
My wife skips ahead of me and gives me a knowing smile. "Oh, I wouldn't worry about that if I were you, Jack. Remember who you're talking to."
I rack my brain as I try to figure out what she means. I swear it's at the tip of my tongue by the time we crest a hill.
And that's when I notice the picknick basket sitting right at the top.
I blink bemused. "Robin? Is that what I think it is?"
Robin's smile widens. "I thought we could have our supper up here. No interruptions, no need to think of the war. Up here, we can simply enjoy the view together with some good food."
I take another look from the top of the hill.
This… This view is amazing.
The first thing I notice is the massive landscape stretching across the bottom of the valley, with some parts obscured by fog. Then there's the wyverns flying out and about in their daily lives, almost like we're in a nature preserve (which it technically is). And lastly, the way the sun shines through among the peaks. The sunlight that makes it past the mountain peaks paint everything it touches in a warm orange glow, giving the valley a vibrant luster that seems to make it brim with life.
"This is beautiful…" I mutter in awe.
By the time I turn back to Robin, she has already spread out the blanket and is in the middle of picking out the contents in the basket.
"This was Cherche's favorite spot in the valley back when she still lived in Valm." Robin elaborates. "She told me about this spot when I told her I wished to spend supper alone with you. She was even kind enough to help me prepare this picknick basket and fly it to this spot before I set out with you here."
Oh, so that's who I felt fly over our heads on the way here.
"Robin, this arrangement is fantastic." I remark as I sit with her on the blanket. "But…what brought this on?"
Robin raises an eyebrow amused. "What? Is there anything wrong with a wife showing her husband a little appreciation?"
I give my wife a dry look. "I would hardly call this "little". The fact that you went through so much trouble just to clear your schedule for this speaks volumes of the preparations."
Robin fidgets a bit. "Well, you got me there…" Then she looks me right in the eyes. "I'm being completely honest with you, though. I did this to show how much I appreciate having you in my life, Jack."
"You do that every day." I point out.
"No, Jack. I don't." Robin protests. "At least, not in a way that I feel is meaningful. You've done so much for me ever since the day you confessed your love. You've always been at my side, you've found ways to lighten my daily workload, you've prepared moments when we could be alone with each other, both to show how much you love me and to just give me some time away from our hectic lives. And what have I done in return? I've just gone with whatever you planned with a "thank you" and maybe a kiss."
"That's enough appreciation for me, Robin." I assure my wife.
She shakes her head. "But it's not enough for me. You go through such lengths to make sure I'm happy with our lives together, but I hardly do anything in return. So I decided to change that. I know it's not much, but I thought I should start with something simple."
I lean forward and caress her cheek with a gentle smile. "I would hardly call this simple. If I remember correctly, the first meal we shared after I returned from my journey in the Outrealms was a picknick outside another town, with the sun setting in the distance. A perfect moment, with just the two of us. Sitting here with you with this arrangement takes me back to that time – a simpler time when we hardly had any concerns about battle or invasions. You may not think much of this, but to me, this picknick lets me think back on those happy times that led up to our wedding, and the bliss that came afterwards."
Robin blushes at my response. "I had something similar in mind when I first planned this. With so much happening in our lives and with the war in full swing, I wanted you to have at least a small moment to revisit those simpler, peaceful times with me."
I pull my wife into a hug. "Thank you. I will cherish this moment for as long as I can remember our time together, Robin."
No more words are necessary from that point. We enjoy our meal together in comfortable silence and spend the remaining moments of daylight enjoying the view of the valley together, with Robin leaning back against me as I embrace her from behind.
"I feel so warm…" Robin whispers with a hint of sleepiness. "I think I could fall asleep like this."
I gently rub her stomach. "Naga knows you need all the sleep you can get. I can get us back to town on my own, no problem. Just relax."
Robin shakes her head. "No, I much prefer to be awake on the return trip. I don't want our evening together to end like this. Not until we've returned to our shared room at the inn and fall asleep together in the bed." Robin stretches her arms with a yawn. "At least…grant me that…"
I smile and help her up before I gather the basket and blanket with some Telekinesis. "As you wish. I suppose now's as good a time as any to go back, then. Wouldn't want to go to bed too late."
Robin nods in agreement and is about to begin the trek when she yelps as I scoop her up in a princess carry.
"Jack, what gives?" my wife exclaims surprised.
"I'm not about to have you walk all the way back to town when you look like you could fall asleep the moment you hit the bed." I reply smiling. "Besides, now that the sun has set, I can think of a better way to end this evening."
I gently lift off the ground and then shift my positioning. By the time I'm done, I'm floating face up like I'm lying on an invisible, floating cushion. And Robin's lying faceup on top of me.
My wife glances back at me skeptically. "Of all the- Are you trying be my personal ride or something?"
I point up in the sky. "I thought we could enjoy the return trip with some star gazing."
Robin follows where I point. Now that the sun has set, the stars begin to appear in the sky, one by one.
"I can navigate our way back to town, no problem." I explain. "Considering the time of day, we may as well enjoy it. When was the last time you got to gaze at the stars?"
Robin settles against me and sighs in mild exasperation. "Fine, you win. And…I'd love to gaze at the stars with you. I suppose I'll just let you lead the way."
With that, our trip back to town commences. All the while, we point out various constellations, be they real or imagined. It's such a simple pleasure, but it adds so much to the date I got to enjoy with my wife. How I wish all our days could be filled with such simple happiness…
The town is slowly waking up by the time Robin and I leave our room at the inn we've been staying in. The bustle in the street as the townsfolk go about their daily business and merchants opening their shops for the sales of the day gives off a pleasant feeling. Might have something to do with this being far more peaceful than a hectic battlefield filled with enemy soldiers who want nothing more than to kill people for all manner of reasons.
It's among all this early morning traffic that I chance upon one of my students; Brady.
"Morning, Brady. Had a good night's sleep?" I greet my student.
Brady gives me a brief glance before he sags with a sour expression. "Mornin', Sensei. Could be better."
Huh. Didn't expect such a depressed response.
"Something on your mind?" I prod gently. "You don't look that lively compared to what I otherwise see of you."
"Probably wouldn't get what's buggin' me even if ya tried." the Priest grumbles irritably and turns to walk away.
Sounds a bit like a typical teenager response. Now, what's the best course of action here? I obviously can't leave Brady like this, but prying too hard will just make things worse between us.
The first step would be to stay with him, whether he likes it or not. After all, friends don't do what's wanted. They do what's needed.
"Brady, look. I can tell that whatever is on your mind is weighing heavily on you. I don't care how much you insist that you can handle it. No one benefits from a heavy mind, least of all those versed in magic." I explain. "I know revealing all your troubles willy-nilly to any old stranger on the street is a bad idea, but so is keeping everything bottled up."
Brady glances my way. "Personal experience?"
I sigh. "Like you wouldn't believe."
Brady grumbles as he scratches his head. "Shoulda known ya wouldn't leave me alone once you caught wind of things. Still, I admit you're better to talk to than most o' the others."
"Not exactly a stellar review, but I'll take what I can get." I reply dryly.
Brady leads me into an alley where we can talk away from prying eyes. I lean against a wall while I let Brady gather his thoughts.
"It's… Well…" Brady hesitates. "Dangit, how do I put this!?"
From my experience with the surprisingly emotional Priest, it takes a special kind of topic to make him feel uncomfortable. Based on what I know, what could it be that has him upset?
Brady scratches his head in frustration. "Aw, screw it. If it just wasn't so hard talkin' to her all the time."
Wait, "her"?
"Let me guess." I prod. "You're having girl trouble."
Brady gapes at me. "Wha- How'd you-" The Priest scratches his head frustrated. "Augh! Am I that obvious?!"
I shrug. "I'd say I simply know what signs to look for. Comes with life experience, I guess."
Brady mutters something unintelligible under his breath before he sighs.
"It's just…there's somethin' about her that I just can't get outta my head. Anytime I try to talk to her about it, I just freeze up. It's like the words get stuck in my head."
I nod sagely. "Par of the course. Speaking of such personal matters takes courage – especially if you're not family."
"So, I decided to stick to the sidelines. Mostly to keep an eye on her in case she gets into trouble – which happens a lot – which means I have to get her outta said trouble. But I can't just jump in front of her and take a hit. I'm not exactly the sturdiest guy around. So I settle for helping her from the shadows instead. You know; a fist made of dirt here, a few raised platforms there."
I give Brady a dry look. "The fists of dirt are kind of a dead giveaway in case this mystery woman happens to know how you fight."
The color drains from Brady's face as my words sink in. "Whu- But that means… She's… She's bound to figure it out eventually."
I nod. "Which means it might only be a matter of time before she'll bring it up with you. You'd better steel yourself, Brady – in an inviting way, that is."
Brady hugs his knees while shivering. "Augh, why didn't I just tell her straight from the beginning?! I'm such an idiot! I'm gonna screw this up bad! I just know it!"
I crouch in front of my terrified student. "Look, Brady, there comes a time when a man has to make a decision that will change his life forever. This might be that time for you, or it might not. Whatever the case, it's always wise to take a step back, collect your thoughts, and think hard on how you want to proceed from where you stand right now. That being said, you're in no state to take care of this matter. So, I will help your nerves with a little pick-me-up. My treat."
Brady looks up with a disapproving frown. "I ain't drinkin' mead, Jack-sensei. Ma would have my head if she found out."
"Who said anything about mead?"
"Huh?"
BGM: The fragrance of dark colored coffee, Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations music
I pick up my cup and take a whiff. "Darker than a moonless night. Hotter and more bitter than Hell itself. That is coffee."
Brady takes a sip before he glares at the dark beverage with a grimace. "You weren't kiddin' on the bitter part. How do you drink this stuff?"
I take a sip of my own. "It's an acquired taste. Where I come from, it's custom to serve this beverage in all manner of gatherings, from casual meeting and workplace breaks to weddings and official conferences. Some people jokingly refer to this drink as "the black gold"."
Brady gives me a dry look. "Remind me again how this is supposed to help my nerves?"
"The taste leaves an impression, doesn't it? You can just sit back and enjoy a cup of coffee just about anywhere and leave reality behind for that time." To exemplify, I tilt back the chair I'm sitting on just a little bit while taking another sip. "Well, enjoy as much as you can with regards to the flavor. I admit this isn't for everyone."
Brady nods and takes another sip. "Guess I'll take what I can get. Just don't tell Ma about this. She'd go on a rampage of she learned I drank somethin' other than tea while hanging out."
I chuckle. "I can imagine. There's no woman I can think of who matches your mother in her passion for tea. Clearly, Maribelle is a woman of principles. That being said; if you ever consider picking up coffee, there's one ironclad rule I must enforce on you."
Brady raises an eyebrow while he takes another sip. "And what's that?"
"You must never drink more than 17 cups in a single day. Should you ever exceed this limit, there's no turning back." I warn him.
Brady looks at me like I'm crazy (he might have a point). "Why the heck would someone drink that much of this stuff in a single day?"
"You'd be surprised." I reply. "I laid down this rule as a result of my greatest sin; introducing this drink to my wife. See, coffee has something of an invigorating effect. A few hours after you down a full cup, you'll feel like your mind is all cleared up and you can perform at peak condition."
Brady looks at his coffee like he just struck gold. "Coffee can do that? Why the heck don't we give this to all our soldiers then? It'd do wonders for our performance in battle."
"You would think that, yes." I reply before I shake my head. "But that's merely a trick of the mind. Remember the very first lesson in alchemy that I taught you, Brady?"
The Priest nods. "You can't gain anything without first givin' something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost."
I nod. "The same can be said about the effect coffee has on you. The reason why you feel invigorated is because you literally have more energy coursing through your veins for a short period of time. Now, where does this energy come from?"
Brady frowns a bit before his eyes widen. "Criminy…"
"Exactly; it comes from yourself. The reason why you feel invigorated is because coffee allows you to temporarily draw on more of the strength you already have. And herein lies the danger; excessive drinking eventually leads you to emptying what strength you have, and thus you needlessly tire yourself out."
"I take it that's what happened to Lady Robin."
I nod as I stare into the dark liquid with a somber look. "Robin has the kind of constitution that reacts quickly to coffee. She needed barely more than half an hour before she felt invigorated from the cup I gave her. Next thing I knew, she had shut herself in her office and only let the palace servants in on the condition that they tell no one what was going on. I figured she would leave her office eventually. Three days passed, with my worry growing ever larger. That's when I decided to throw whatever need for privacy she may have to the wind, and invited myself into her office. That's when I found her, collapsed over her desk with documents all over, her quill in one hand and a half-empty cup of freshly brewed coffee in the other. Imagine my horror when realization dawned on me. Robin hadn't slept in the past three days. It's probable that she hardly ate as well. She only used coffee as a means to keep herself going, just so she could get more work done."
Brady grimaces at my tale. "Why'd she do something as stupid as that?"
"If there is one major flaw that my wife possesses, it's that she tends to take her duties too seriously. She'll push herself to the point of collapse if that's what it means to get her work done in a satisfying manner. With coffee in hand, she had finally passed that point and plunged into the abyss." I sigh. "She was bedridden for a whole week before she could resume her duties. I spent the whole time nursing her back to health and tending to her needs, all while I made a small army of clones to pick up the slack in her absence from office. And as I sat by the bedside and helped her recover, I swore to myself; Never again shall someone fall victim to this trap."
A bitter smile grows on my face as my focus returns to the inside of my cup. "And yet, I find myself return to this accursed liquid time and again for more reasons than I can count. The silver lining in this debacle is that Robin now knows better than to skip sleep in favor of practically drowning herself in coffee just to get a few extra hours of work in." I snort to myself. "Though I still need to remind her of that incident from time to time whenever I think she's going overboard with her work."
Brady eyes his coffee warily. "Ya know, I think it's better if I just stick to tea. Less complicated that way."
"You may be right." I concede. "If anything, coffee should only be enjoyed in a relaxed manner with someone you care for, and only then in moderation. A moment of respite, if you will."
I raise my cup. "I think that's as good of a note to end this as we can get."
Brady mimics my gesture with a somber smirk. "Could be worse. At least I got to take my mind off some things. Helped more than I thought it would."
I return the smirk. "Alright, then. Bottoms up."
*Clink*
We both tip back our cups and empty their contents in one go before we grimace in sync.
Gah! Bitter!
Your relationship with Brady has advanced! Your relationship with Brady is now "Friends!"
The bond you've nurtured has given birth to a new ability! You can now perform the Union Strike "Rock 'n Roll" with Brady!
BGM ends
AN: Remember the coffee incident Jack mentioned way back at the beginning of chapter 13? That's what happened.
"Are you certain that peculiar looking merchant is already done with my sword?" Say'ri asks skeptically as I walk her back to the Moogle shop.
I nod. "He said he'd have it done within a day, right? Like I said; Moogles charge an obscene amount of money for their services, but the quality of their work and their work ethic are second to none. If they say they'll be done within the next day, they get it done. It's how they build a good business reputation."
I knock on the frame of the counter as we arrive. "Hey~. We're back."
"Welcome, kupo!" the white fluffy merchant greets us. "We have your new weapon ready, kupo."
I give Say'ri an amused glance. "Told you."
The Moogle floats into the back of his shop before he returns with a long, wrapped bundle. "Here you go."
Say'ri unwraps the cloth to reveal what looks like the same sword in the same scabbard as before. The real difference, however, becomes apparent as she draws the weapon.
The sound of the blade leaving the scabbard almost sounds like it sings. Where the blade was originally colored a steely gray, the best way to describe its color now would be ivory with a hint of gold. The wavy pattern that used to glimmer faintly on the flat of the blade now shines a vibrant green, showing how much power is pulsing through the blade like a heartbeat.
Ivory Gale, Sword, Base damage: 96, Unique
A Windcleaver that had mithril infused into the blade. The forging not only strengthened the blade, but also enhanced the wind magic it was enchanted with. In the hands of a master, the phrase "storm of slashes" becomes literal as this razor sharp weapon will not only cleave through even moderately tough armor with ease, but launching equally sharp blades of wind with each swing is almost as easy as breathing. If you have a dream, carve a path for yourself to achieve it. No obstacle in your path is too sturdy to remain in one piece.
Element: Wind
Skills available while wielded: Windblade, Twister swing
"Beautiful…" Say'ri mutters in awe as she takes in the sight of her new sword. "Is this a weapon…or a work of art?"
I clap her on the shoulder, which jolts the Swordmaster out of her trance. "You say it like they can't be both. That's Moogle craftmanship for you."
The Moogle nods pleased. "Glad you like it, kupo. Now, about the payment."
Say'ri nods. "Of course." The dynast places a small leather bag on the counter. "This is all the money I have on me at the moment. I hope it is enough to qualify as adequate payment."
The Moogle opens the back and rummages around among the gold within. The he lifts it up to test the weight.
"Mmm… Yep. This should cover the labor expenses, kupo." the fluffy merchant decides with a satisfied nod. "And since you provided me with the material, this job has been paid in full. Pleasure doing business with you, kupo."
I'm about to walk away, satisfied of a job well done, when I notice that Say'ri's not walking with me.
I turn around confused, only to see Say'ri look at the Ivory Gale in all its shimmering glory.
"Hm? Is something the matter with the sword, Say'ri?" I ask curiously.
My question snaps Say'ri out of whatever seemed to have pulled her in. "Wha- My apologies, did you say something, sir Jack?"
An amused smile grows on my lips. "Let me guess; you're so excited about getting your improved sword that you feel like you just have to test it out, am I right?"
Say'ri averts her gaze with a blush. "It- How do I put this? I thought that I might as well try it out so I can get used to it. I apologize if I offended you…"
I chuckle at her response. Honestly, she's like a kid who just got a new toy for her birthday – only significantly more dangerous.
"Nah, we're good. I felt the same on the day those Moogles handed me Harvest Moon after I had spent weeks gathering all the necessary materials and waited for them to forge the blade. Besides, who am I to stop you? I only joined you to make sure the craftmanship met my standards, and we can both tell it passes with flying colors. You're free to use your spare time however you want. Just make sure you don't cut something important in half."
Say'ri nods dumbfounded before she sheathes her sword and bows. "Thank you for everything, Jack. I am in your debt."
I wave off her compliment. "Save that until everything is over. And if you're so intent on repaying that debt, do it by showing me what you can do on the battlefield with that sword. I'll be honest; I'm probably as curious as you are over what you can accomplish with it. Well, have fun testing it, Say'ri."
We should have about another day before we finally set out for Fort Steiger. It's mostly to restock our supplies, and Anna's having a ball haggling the pants off the local merchants to get her hands on their wares. Honestly, the prices she can negotiate are so low, they border on legitimate stealing. Just imagine what would happen if the Anna family set up some kind of mafia organization.
Wait, perish the thought. It was bad enough hooking up those redheads with the Moogles. We do NOT need those moneygrubbing merchants trying their hands on organized crime!
My morbid thoughts are interrupted as I spot Inigo at a café, sulking over a cup of tea.
Curiously enough, there's only one cup and no handprint on his cheek.
"Inigo? What's got you so down?" I ask curiously as I approach the table.
"Hm? Jack-sensei?" The young male dancer gazes back into his cup downcast. "Ah, just lost in thought, is all."
I sit down opposite of him. "All alone? Sounds like girl trouble."
Inigo glances at me curiously. "Really? What made you think that?"
I give my student a dry look. "It's you we're talking about, Inigo. When are women not involved in your troubles?"
Inigo blinks before he chuckles. "Fair point." Then he shakes his head as the downcast expression returns. "But I'm afraid you're off the mark this time."
I lean back and cross my arms. "Well, this is new to me. Any chance you'd like to share what's weighing on your mind?"
Inigo finishes his cup before he too leans back and gazes out over the town. "Hmm… That might be a good idea, seeing as you helped train me and all."
"Go on."
Inigo sighs. "It's something that's been bothering me ever since we reunited with Owain and Gerome. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that the gang's back together again. But the more I see the others, the more I feel like I don't measure up. Nah and Yarne are getting stronger by the day. Lucina and Severa push themselves past their limits. Brady has kept us all alive more times than I can count. Gerome and Kjelle have training routines that are just ridiculous. Laurent and Morgan come up with ideas that no one else sees coming. Noire plain frightens me. And the less said about the shenanigans Rose, Owain and Cynthia pull, the better."
"You feel like you're falling behind." I conclude.
"More like I'm becoming dead weight." Inigo replies with a hint of bitterness. "Everyone trains to fight opponents way out of their weight class. And what do I have? A skillset geared towards fighting the undead, some vines made of my own soul, and a tendency to fly by the seat of my pants."
"Last time I checked, you can get a surprising amount of mileage out of that." I remark.
Inigo slams a fist on the table in frustration. "But it's not enough! Not against what we'll be up against at the end of all this fighting!" The Mercenary sighs. "Sorry. I didn't mean to snap like that. It's just…when I see the others get stronger so fast, I feel so powerless. Like I won't even matter when our real battle starts."
I look up in the sky as I muse over Inigo's words.
"You know, I can kind of relate to you in that manner." I eventually tell him.
Inigo looks at me in shock. "You?! But you're the most powerful warrior I know of!"
I give Inigo a knowing smile. "What, you thought I was always like this? It's the opposite, actually. I started out as nothing more than a humble traveler with no experience in combat and as weak as any ordinary man your age. Heck, it was more or less dumb luck that I survived my first battle. Both the Shepherds and my wife outclassed me in just about every way that mattered in battle. I felt out of place, walking beside them." I lean forward and look Inigo squarely in the eyes. "But do you know how that changed? I trained like crazy. I used what experience I had gathered since my childhood to come up with ways to fight, no matter what those experiences were. I may have had something of a toolbox to build my skillset, but how it would be built was all up to me."
"That's nice and all, but why tell me this?" Inigo asks perplexed.
"Because as far as I can tell, you're starting from a position better than my own." I explain. "You have far more training under your belt than I did at this point in your life. You know what you're fighting for. You have comrades that you're already familiar with and are ready to bleed for. And, of course, you have an awesome teacher to show you the way."
Inigo perks up at the last bit. "Does that mean you're going to teach me something new? Something I could never do before?"
I shake my head. "What I'm going to teach you is nothing new. As in, it's always been within your grasp, but you may never have been aware of it."
The excitement visibly dies on Inigo's face. "Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"
"What I am going to teach you is the origin of the power you're trained in, Inigo." I elaborate. "Do you know what Hamon was originally known as?"
"Of course I don't. I hadn't even heard of it before you taught me when I was a boy." Inigo huffs.
I smile. "The Ripple."
Inigo gives me a confused look. "Come again?"
"The power you obtained has a long history of practice, Inigo." I reveal. "While it is indeed effective in fighting against the undead, that's more of a side effect of how it was first harnessed. You see, as its original name implies, the art of Hamon is based on the concept of ripples. Ripples spread from a single origin point as a result of a single action. From there, change occurs. To master the art of Hamon is to master the ability to decide what results will occur from your actions. In other words, a Hamon master decides the shape and direction of the ripples they make."
Inigo scratches his head. "Sensei, I thought you were going to teach me something worthwhile, not hold a philosophy lecture."
I waggle a finger teasingly. "Ah, but therein lies your lesson, Inigo. The explanation I gave you is vague because of how versatile Hamon can be, so long as you can control it properly. While you can indeed use Hamon energy to enhance the power of your strikes, you can do so much more with it." I pour my student another cup of tea from the pot that was so generously served with the cup. "For example, skilled Hamon users can dip their finger into a cup of liquid and do this."
I dip my own finger and then lift if up, with the tea following my fingertip in the shape of a sphere. Inigo balks at the sight as I grin. Gotta love Telekinesis.
"Granted, this is just a replication of how it's done, and nowhere near as efficient as the real deal, but I think this gets the point across. I used my own ability to change how the tea will interact with my finger. In other words, the ripples I caused in the tea in the cup caused it to flow along with my finger instead of sliding off like it normally would." I let the tea back into the cup. "This is the kind of possibility that lies before you, Inigo. Legends speak of Hamon users who could fire corks from bottles with enough power to knock a person unconscious. Others tell of how the user formed a bubble from their Hamon energy to preserve anything, be it a precious object or a delayed trap."
Inigo looks at his hands in wonder. "I can do that?"
I nod. "And more. How you use your Hamon is largely up to you. Your power can make ripples in the world itself. Disrupt the calm surface, or calm the raging sea. Your ripples can dictate either."
Inigo clenches his hands with a determined expression. "I've still got such a long way to go. But I will go that distance."
I smile at my student. "Good to hear you've got your motivation back. But even as you train, there's one piece of advice I always want you to keep in mind."
"And what's that?"
My expression turns serious. "Always stay true to yourself. You don't possess the most amount of raw power in your generation, because raw power isn't your style. Your passions don't involve fighting, but that's because you're a lover at heart (for better or worse), not a fighter. You don't have to compete with your allies, Inigo, because the role you fill is different from the others'."
"What is my role, then, Jack-sensei? Please, tell me." Inigo pleads.
I give him a calming smile. "I thought it was obvious, considering how Lucina has described how you've helped your group in past battles. Who scouted the battlefield ahead to warn the others of the enemy numbers? You. Who provided Morgan and Laurent with intel on the terrain so they could come up with proper strategies? You. It all ties in with those vines generated from your soul."
Inigo calls up said vines. "Hermit Purple? Come to think of it, I never learned why it has such a weird name."
"The purple part is easy enough to figure out. The hermit part, however, is where things get interesting." I reveal. "In occult circles, the hermit is a symbol of wisdom and guidance. Just like an old and wise hermit can show the way for anyone traveling on an unknown road ahead, you show your allies what lies ahead so they can walk forward safely. When everyone else loses their way, you will be there as a wayfinder in their darkest hour. To make you fulfill any other role would be to reject what you do best. Of course, you can only guide others if you first guide yourself."
Inigo blinks surprised. "A wayfinder? Me?"
I nod. "Yes, you. You don't have to be the strongest, or the bravest, the fastest, the smartest or the most resilient. Just be you, Inigo. No one can ever ask you to be anything else, not even yourself."
A small smile grows on Inigo's face as he gets contemplative. "Just be me, huh? Never thought that's the answer I needed. But…who am I really? There's still things I haven't decided for myself."
"Give it some time to think over." I assure my student. "Discovering yourself is by no means an easy task. People have spent lifetimes trying to accomplish this for generations, only to latch onto one distracting detail or another and lose themselves in the process. Take one step at a time. I'll walk with you on this journey, if only part of the way."
The smile grows as Inigo's face brightens. "Thanks, Sensei. I think I needed to hear that. Rest assured, the day the world sees the new and improved Inigo will come faster than you may think."
I nod in appreciation. "Well, I look forward to it. If nothing else, it will make the future brighter both for you and the people around you."
A glint shimmers in the male dancer's eye. "That it will – especially for the ladies. Nothing to attract the cuties like a confident man."
My expression grows dry. "Though you could definitely lose that incessant flirting towards women everywhere."
Your relationship with Inigo has advanced! Your relationship with Inigo is now "Friends!"
The bond you've nurtured has given birth to a new ability! You can now perform the Union Strike "Breath of Light" with Inigo!
"Lookie here, Sully! My muscles are bigger than ever!" Vaike exclaims proudly as he flexes his biceps on one arm while carrying a crate using just the other.
The red-haired Paladin rolls her eyes. "How many times do I have to tell you, Vaike? Bigger muscles aren't better."
Vaike winks. "I heard a different story from your lips last night."
Sully's cheeks match her hair color in seconds. "D-mnit, do you want me to demonstrate my suplex on you again?!"
While the married couple have their little banter among the carts, Chrom walks over to the table where Robin and Anna are going over some documents.
"Do we have everything we need, Robin?" the prince asks my wife.
Robin checks through a couple of paper sheets before she nods. "Yes, that should be about it. Now we just need to load the last of our cargo onto the carts."
"Finally." Anna huffs. "Juggling all of those logistics while trying to run my business and keeping an eye out in case some of you guys start any trouble is giving me a headache. The faster we're done with this, the better."
I raise an eyebrow. "Is this really the time to do business?"
"What are you talking about?! There's always time for business!"
I shrug. "So long as it doesn't happen at the expense of your duties. Are there any notably big piles that have yet to be loaded, Robin? I might as well lend a hand."
Robin searches her document pile before she hands me one. "Morgan volunteered to sort out the spare armor. He's been at it for the last few hours. Could you check on him?"
I nod as I take the paper. "Will do. See you later."
I hear grunting and the sound of metal hitting wood as I close in on my son. I find him around three carts later, heaving pieces from a set of heavy infantry armor into a cart. The sheen of sweat on his brow tells how much effort he has to put into it.
"Looking good, son. Need a hand?" I greet Morgan.
Morgan looks in my direction and smiles. "Father? Great timing. I didn't expect the armor to be so heavy."
We do some quick strategizing before we agree to lift the armor pieces together in bigger chunks.
"You know…" I muse as we unload the top half of an armor suit designed for Generals. "…I half expected you to just lift those pieces with your mind if they proved too heavy for you."
Morgan shakes his head. "Can't. Not when I need to bulk up."
I raise an eyebrow. "You? Bulk up? Granted, you might not be the most muscular of your generation, but you don't have to go Donnel on us. As far as I can see, magic and tactics are your thing, not brute force."
"Want to be the whole package if I'm going to impress her." my son mutters before his eyes go wide and he clamps his hands over his mouth.
And right as we were in the middle of carrying the bottom half of that aforementioned suit of armor. Not cool, Morgan. Well, it's not like I can't follow my own advice. A little Telekinesis, and lifting this heavy armor is a cakewalk, awkward grip or not.
""Her"?" I ask curiously.
Morgan's face goes red. "I- I mean- Need to get stronger for her sake is what I'm saying! You know, so I can protect Mother!"
I frown. "Morgan, you'll have to try harder than that if you want to fool me. You never blush when you speak of your mother. You have someone else in mind."
Morgan fidgets as he averts his gaze. "It's, uh…. How do I put this?"
I soften my gaze. "Look, I don't mean to pry. If you don't want to talk about it, I can drop the matter right this instant."
Morgan sighs. "No. I might as well tell you, after everything that's happened."
I motion for Morgan to sit with me on some crates.
"Alright, I'm all ears, son."
The blush on Morgan's face grows a deeper shade of red as he fidgets on his seat. "Father, I think I- That I'm in love…with Lucina…"
I blink surprised before a smile grows on my face. "Well, well, well. You sure know how to pick 'em, Morgan. Nice going."
"You can't expect me to just take that at face value!" Morgan yells back anxiously. "I mean- How do I- I don't even…"
I nod sagely. "You're at a loss on what to do next, now that you realize your own feelings, don't you?"
Morgan looks away without saying anything.
I smile and pat his shoulder. "Look, I understand if this feels awkward for you."
"No, you don't!" Morgan shouts back.
I blink. "Okay? And what makes you think that?"
"Just think about how you are around Mother." Morgan elaborates. "You're both so comfortable around each other. You always support each other without hesitation. But whenever I'm around Lucina, I feel like even the smallest mistake would ruin everything she thinks of me. I just can't stop thinking about what she thinks of me." Morgan gazes at the ground as he clenches his fists. "It's scary."
I look into the distance as I gather my thoughts.
"Morgan, have I ever told you how your mother and I first became a couple?" I ask.
"You told me you two met on a field in the middle of nowhere." Morgan replies. "Bet it was love at first sight, at that." he adds with a hint of bitterness.
I grin. "That last part is way off the mark. If anything, I was as dense as a rock around her."
Morgan looks at me in disbelief. "You? But- How?!"
I shrug. "Might have something to do with me being busy just trying to make sense of everything that had happened in my life. For all I know, me meeting Robin was the result of so many coincidences lining up that everything is more likely an absurd story concocted in the head of some lunatic, rather than reality. But there I was, anyway. I had to play with the hand I was dealt. Growing any closer to your mother than simple friendship just wasn't up for consideration."
"But it had to have changed somewhere down the road, right?" Morgan presses.
I nod. "Did it ever. Unbeknownst to me, your mother had grown attached to me far earlier than I had to her. What with her strange amnesia and everything, I'm the first person she can remember meeting. I have literally been in her life for as long as she can remember. And not even a month after we met, the place I had gained in her heart had grown so big that she had fallen in love with me."
"So, Mother was the one who told you, right?"
I shake my head. "No. She kept it to herself until she learned of my own feelings towards her. Never learned why, and I've never cared about it either. What matters to me is that we love each other." I gaze into the distance. "As for me, it took a lot longer before everything clicked into place, including some help from your aunt and the reigning khan. They're the ones who made me understand why I had grown so comfortable around your mother. Before that, I was just plain confused about why I felt like I wanted to be so close to her."
Morgan looks at me skeptically. "It couldn't be that bad, could it?"
"The first time I saw her collapsed over a desk from overworking, I took care of her to the point that I even brushed a lock of hair from her face, and I couldn't figure out why I went through such lengths for her." I elaborate dryly. "What's more, I thought she slept through it all. Turns out she woke up somewhere in the middle of it all and brought it up at a later date. The revelation shook me far harder than it should have, and I didn't understand why."
Morgan's look grows equally dry. "Wow… It's even worse than I thought."
I nod. "So imagine the look on my face when realization finally hit me. Everything lined up in such a way that denying the truth was completely impossible. But that presented a new problem for me; did she return my feelings? I had no idea, and knew that the only way to find out was telling her."
"And here is my point." I stress. "Confessing my feelings to your mother might have been one of the most terrifying moments in my life. If anything, I believe there are few moments in a person's life when they're as vulnerable as confessing to someone else that they love them."
"Really? But how does that make sense?" Morgan asks bewildered. "You're the strongest warrior I know, Father. And you and Mother are on the same side. It's not like she could hurt you."
"No, not intentionally." I concede. "But that's the thing about love, Morgan. The stronger it is, the more vulnerable it makes you. Every person in the world longs to be loved – to be seen as who they are. Embraced in their entirety, flaws and all. But to find such love, you must first bare those sides of yourself to someone else. You willingly drop your guard around another person, because that's the only way for you to let them get close enough to give you that love you yearn for. Do you see now? The only way to truly find love is by making yourself vulnerable. No amount of training in combat or tactics can prepare you for that."
I give Morgan a lopsided smile. "Though I guess you've already figured out some of that on your own, considering the way you are now."
Morgan nods with his gaze downcast. "Yeah… It's just… What if she doesn't feel the same way? Things will never be the same between us. I don't want to risk ruining what we have already." Morgan hugs himself. "I'm scared, Father. Scared that I might lose a friend."
I nod as I pat my son on the shoulder. "It's only natural to feel afraid when you're in this position, Morgan. As far as I see it, you have two choices. You either stay silent about all this, or you simply tell Lucina how you feel. Or, more generally speaking, you either give in to your fear…" I clench my fist and wave it before my son. "…or you bend it over a table and make it your bitch!"
Morgan looks at me bewildered. "Why would I want to turn my fear into a pet dog?"
I blink. "No, that's not what it means. When I say you make it-" I rub my chin. "Wait, that manner of speech might not exist in this world. Look, what I mean to say is, you either let your fear control your actions, or you conquer it."
Morgan looks into the distance. "Conquer my fear… Is it really that simple?"
"Simple? Yes. But it's never easy." I point out.
Morgan remains still for a few moments before he turns to me with the most fierce resolve I have ever seen on his face.
"You're right, Father. I can't let my fear dictate how I live my life. I'll never get anywhere if I do. I'll tell Lucina how I feel about her. What happens after that will have to wait until it actually happens."
I grin and ruffle his hair. "That's the spirit, son! That, right there, is real courage! Remember this feeling Morgan. This courage will be the key to fulfill your dreams."
Morgan gives me a bright smile. "I will. Thank you, Father."
Say'ri glares at the massive building in the distance. "At long last, we have arrived. Fort Steiger."
Flavia whistles at the sight. "D-mn! Look at those walls… This isn't going to be easy."
"It's not the walls I'm worried about – it's the hordes of Valmese inside them." Basilio adds.
"Our best bet is a swift, surgical strike, right at their heart." Say'ri strategizes. "If we can strike down their commander, the fortress will be ours. So – Khan Flavia, your men will take on the forces surrounding the castle. That should create an opening for a smaller team led by Chrom and I."
Say'ri gives Chrom an apologetic look. "…I regret to say this will put you at the forefront of the battle, Sir Chrom."
Chrom nods while fingering Falchion's hilt. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
Say'ri smiles relieved. "Then it's settled. Other Resistance forces are on their way. With luck, they'll arrive in time to help." The Dynast princess draws her sword. "Let's cleave them a proud trail of imperial blood to find us by!"
Flavia grins in response and draws her own sword. "Sounds good to me. Ready to make a scene, oaf?!"
"Don't order me around, woman!" Basilio yells as he readies his axe. "I'll go out there and bust some Valmese heads whether you tell me or not!"
Quest alert:
Main quest: Inexorable death
In a daring strategic maneuver, Robin divides the Ylissen league's army into three parts to each meet one of the main factions of the Valmese imperial army, thus turning this war into a massive three-on-three battle. As part of the strike force attacking the smallest one, it's your mission to defeat the enemy general and capture the stronghold they command. This is where the war goes into overdrive. Bring your A-game, because anything less is just asking to get destroyed.
Objectives: Defeat the enemy commander. Don't let Say'ri die
Rewards: 17 000 EXP, 17 000 gold
Bonus objectives: ?
Bonus rewards: ?, 1 000 EXP, 1 000 gold
Failure: With the Valmese army now aware of Robin's grand plan, it's only a matter of time before the three factions merge into one massive army that will sweep through the continent and obliterate any remaining resistances.
With that, both khans storm Fort Steiger with the Feroxi soldiers that they brought with them. It's not long before the imperial soldiers stationed within retaliate and send out their own forces. The initial clash is so loud that we can hear it all the way from where we originally hid under cover. That changes as the battle goes on, as Flavia directs her forces away from the Valmese stronghold. And, just as we planned, the imperial forces pursue them, believing that it's the extent of our strike force.
"So far, so good." Chrom notes. "The front gates are opened and their numbers in the fortress are diminished! Shepherds! To arms!"
BGM: Battle for Storm Hill, Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat music
As we storm the open gates, we notice soldiers lining up on the wall above the front entrance. Most notably, they're all armed with bows.
"Archers!" Robin shouts over the noise of our charge.
We're spread out too far! Those imperial Snipers will nail at least one of our fliers unless we do something fast. Good thing I have a plan.
I stretch out my hands, grab hold of each of our fliers with Telekinesis and yank them all low to the ground near where we're running (to their collective shock, if the startled yelps are any indication).
"Brady! Cover!" I shout.
"On it!" the Priest replies and slaps the ground.
Sparks race across the ground before thick walls of dirt rise on either side of our group and close above us in a half-tube shape. This goes on all the way to the fortress gates, thus forming a tunnel that protects us from enemy arrows while we run straight for the front entrance. Our combined effort soon pays off as the dull sound of dozens of arrows impacting the top of Brady's improvised tunnel echoes through the structure.
I high-five Brady. "Nice cover!"
"Just don't make me do it all the time." Brady huffs as he resumes running.
Our moment of triumph is short-lived, however, as we notice a pair of Sages standing at the end of the tunnel with fire tomes opened and two massive red rune circles glowing in front of them.
"There's nowhere to run! We'll be cooked alive!" Vaike notes alarmed as he realizes that the tunnel cuts off any means for us to dodge sideways.
"I got it!" Nah shouts and runs ahead of us.
The Valmese Sages launch two massive streams of fire from their rune circles, each one charged with so much mana that we can feel the temperature rise, even when the spells are just halfway towards us. Nah catches the twin spells with her hands and grunts as they push her back a bit. Then she opens her mouth wide and sucks in the magical flames. Her stomach briefly swells from the sheer quantity and quality of the flames before her figure returns to its original shape and she lets out a burp.
"Sorry." the half-manakete apologizes while the imperial spellcasters gawk in shock.
"Don't let them inside! Move, move, move!" a General shouts as he commands his fellow soldiers to close the gate.
Nah smirks confidently. "Ha! As if that's going to stop me. Father, give me a boost!"
"Ya got it, Nah!" Donnel responds and pulls out his Imposing Axe.
Just as the fortress gates slam shut with a dull thud, Nah jumps back and lands horizontally against the flat of Donnel's axe.
"Git ready!"
Donnel swings his massive axe with a shout and sends his daughter flying like an arrow at the fortress gates. Nah flips herself in mid-air with some careful expulsion of flames from her limbs before she points both feet against her target and covers them in blue flames.
"Manakete's double stomper!"
*KA-BOOM!*
We have to put a brief stop to our charge to brace ourselves against the shockwave from Nah's explosive dropkick. I'm the first to resume my run and swipe the dust aside with a quick wind spell to clear out the dust. The first thing I note is that Nah's attack blew away part of Brady's impromptu tunnel. The second is that, where there were once mighty fortress gates barring our way, there is now an empty opening with said fortress gates blasted clean off their hinges and smashed into smoking pieces. Mind you, that fortress gate was reinforced with iron.
I zip forward and cast a wall of wind where the enemy Snipers could still aim for a clean shot at us.
"We're all clear to infiltrate Fort Steiger, people! Move it!" I shout.
It soon becomes clear that Nah did more than just blow the entrance wide open with her attack. Imperial soldiers lay on the ground unconscious and with burns of varying degrees from the explosion earlier. This gives us plenty of space to charge into the fortress and figure out how exactly we'll go about capturing the place. Of course, Robin already has a plan, crafted from hours of poring over information about the layout of Fort Steiger.
It's pretty standard in terms of fortress layout, what with the structure being a massive square with an open area in the middle to let natural sunlight into the place, allow outdoor activities within the safety of its walls, as well as provide a place for fliers to both enter and exit with ease. What sets Fort Steiger apart is the sheer number of open windows pointing to this open space. This allows any archers stationed on top of the walls to also aim inside at any would-be invaders with ease. So long as their comrades deploy a sturdy enough defense indoors, the attackers will have to try to fight their way through a wall of shields and armor while under constant threat of death by headshot.
Robin's answer to this design is to seize the outer wall and have our own bow wielders set up shop there to turn the whole design against the valmese.
"Jack! Assist the others in taking the outer walls!" Robin shouts as she runs for the eastern wing.
"On it!" I reply before I jump out a window-
*Thwip! Ping!*
-and immediately block an arrow aimed at me from a Sniper who most likely had me in his sights before I even turned to the outside. I quickly spot the Sniper in question and dash towards the stairs leading up to his position while keeping an eye out for any further arrow fire. Running out in the open like this practically turns me into a running target for any enemy bow wielder standing on the wall.
It's a good thing I have Gale step. Zipping out of the line of fire is a breeze as I dart left and right to make targeting me harder. And to make things a bit more interesting, I skip climbing the stairs in favor of simply scaling them by jumping over intervals. I clear the inner side of the wall right in front of the Sniper, startling him long enough for me to smack him in the face, double him over with a gut punch, take out his knees while I pivot around him and finally kick him off the wall.
*Insert Wilhelm scream here*
Huh. Never expected to hear that kind of scream here.
Whoops! Better save my Star Wars reminiscence 'til when an enemy General is not busy trying to skewer me on his Silver Lance. Sidestep, parry, jump, backflip, draw Harvest Moon, knock the Silver Lance sideways, kick to the che- Wait, shield's in the way. Fine then, jump over the shield, zip sideways in mid-air, slice his knees, yank off the helmet and slam down that sword on his skull!
I jump over the dead General and crouch in front of him right afterwards to take cover from the arrows flying in my direction. Considering the size of the wall we're trying to seize, I'd better work fast with the other Shepherds Robin sent this way if the others inside are to make any substantial progress.
"Gah! They are a persistent lot, if nothing else!" Virion exclaims as he makes it up the stairs I skipped earlier and makes it close to me.
"Huh? Where's your horse?" I ask, confused over the lack of that mount that Virion seems so proud of.
"Have you ever tried riding a horse up a flight of stairs?" Virion asks with a raised eyebrow. "While my dear Innes is a capable steed, having him run up to an area as narrow as this wall is simply not practical." The Bow Knight bites back a curse as he huddles closer behind our impromptu cover. "More importantly, I trust you have an idea of how we are to seize the walls?"
"Let's take it one step at a time, Virion." I reply and replace Harvest Moon on my back so I can grab the dead General with both hands. I toss him up a small distance and send the armored body flying at more imperial Snipers through way of triple-Reinforced kick.
"My thanks." Virion compliments and fires three arrows at the same time.
Triple headshot. Go figure.
"Can you find a good position to shoot from?" I ask as I look around for anyone else aiming for us.
Virion scouts the wall before his gaze lands on a watchtower. "That one will do. Mind giving me some cover?"
Harvest Moon is back in my hand in a flash. "Consider it done. Go for it!"
As Virion makes a dash for the tower, I run alongside him. Harvest Moon becomes a blur in my hand as I swat arrows out of the sky before they can even get close to the Bow Knight. The moment Virion enters the safety of the tower construction, I leap against the outside of the tower and springboard off it towards another section of the wall.
Donnel blocks a Warrior's axe with his own before he shoves the imperial axe wielder away and shoulder tackles him off-balance. Before he can capitalize on the opening, an Assassin slips in between and sends a flip kick right into the former farmer's jaw. The Assassin readies his Silver Sword in the same move and lunges for a stab through Donnel's chest.
*Clang!*
I manage to get in between the both of them in the nick of time and halt the thrust with Harvest Moon.
"You good to go?" I ask behind me.
Donnel shoulders his Imposing Axe and thumps his chest. "Aw yeah. Let's give 'em what for!"
I smile before I break the weapon lock and swing at the Assassin's midsection. He flips over the swing and reveals his partner right behind him trying the same swing against me. I grin and flow into crouching low. Donnel flips over my back and comes down with an overhead swing that pushes the Valmese Warrior back. I then zip past Donnel to cut down the staggered Warrior, only jump instead as the Assassin darts in and swings for my legs.
"Ready your bow!" I shout to Donnel as I use Gale step to position myself on the other side of our adversaries and gather wind magic in my hand.
"Not so fast." the Assassin retorts as he goes for Donnel.
That's when I send several orbs on wind magic in his direction. The Assassin stops on a dime and is forced to flip all over the place to dodge the wind orbs. Instead of a struck Assassin, the wind spell leaves gouges in the stonework.
"Forgetting someone?!" the Warrior roars as he charges in for a swing.
I fling myself back with a pulse of wind magic and meet his follow-up with a swing of my own. I manage to hold the lock quite easily thanks to my superior strength, but that Assassin is starting to get on my nerves. He's gunning for me this time, as he leaps over his partner with an arrow already notched on his bow. I click my tongue and relent on the weapon lock long enough to grab the Warrior by the wrist. Then I use a burst of Gale step to move both of us back, thus pulling the Warrior into the line of fire instead. Before said axe wielder can react, I slam a palm into his jaw, hop back a bit, shift Harvest Moon into glaive form and throw my weapon at the Assassin right as he shoots his arrow at me.
*Shink!* "Guah!"
Harvest Moon pierces his chest dead center, while the arrow gets deflected with a quick wind spell.
"Let's clean up." I declare and punch the Valmese Warrior in the gut hard enough to double him over. Then I jump, grab Harvest Moon – still impaled on the Assassin – drag him back down on the ground, kick him off my weapon and into his partner before I backflip over Donnel. By the time I do, Donnel has his massive bow out and a ballista bolt aimed at both Valmese soldiers.
"Bullseye!"
Donnel's demonstrates its enormous draw weight of his bow once more, as the bolt goes through both targets before it gets stuck in some of the masonry further down.
I whistle impressed. "Remind me to never be wherever you point that."
Donnel shoulders his bow with a proud grin. "'Ah wouldn't dream of shootin' any of them arrows through ya, Jack."
The sounds of battle elsewhere draws my attention. "Hope you're ready to shoot them at others, then. Think you have things handled here?"
The former farm boy nods as he notches another ballista bolt and aims it at one of the imperial Griffon Riders fighting in the sky against Cynthia and Sumia.
"Leave it to me. Robin's countin' on us to get this place under control."
I nod before I zip along the wall towards the next section. It's not long until I see masonry get blasted off the wall here and there. And in the middle of all the destruction is Kjelle frantically holding off attack runs from imperial fliers and infantry while Noire tries to line up proper shots from behind her armored ally.
I fly up into the sky and aim a crash course at a Falcon Knight while I shift Harvest Moon into scythe form. Due to her being so focused on my students, the imperial flier doesn't even know what hit her until I slice her in two and keep going until I hit the ground hard and swing everywhere around me to make the Valmese soldiers back off.
Noire ducks behind a crate nearby. "Sensei? Oh, thank goodness you're here."
"I take it you've been busy trying not to get hit?" I ask as I scan the adversaries before us. My inclusion into the fray caused the Valmese side to switch to a defensive formation.
"You could say that again." Kjelle replies while backing towards us. "These soldiers haven't stopped attacking us since we ran out into the open. They must know as well as we do how vital this spot is for defending the stronghold."
I nod and glance back at Noire. "How fast can you take them out?"
Noire already has a Traced Silver Axe-turned-arrow notched on her bow. "Shouldn't take too long. Just make sure to cover me. Hitting flying targets while under attack is hard."
I'm about to reply to that when the crackling sound of electricity reaches my ears. The Valmese fliers yelp in shock as they dodge a bolt of lightning from below.
"Aw, drat! Almost had them!"
I raise an eyebrow as my son flips up the stairs and lands beside me. "Morgan? What are you doing here?"
"Mother told me to help seizing the wall from the other side. I've worked with the others all the way here." my son explains.
I nod. "And what about Robin herself?"
Morgan gives me a reassuring smile. "No worries there, Father. I just told Tharja that the imperials are going for Mother."
An explosion of dark magic blasts a hole to the outside area. Among the rubble, I notice about half a dozen Valmese soldiers ranging from knocked out to blown to bits.
Morgan's smile turns into a satisfied smirk. "All according to plan."
I return that smirk. "That was one of the most underhanded tactics I have ever seen. I approve, son." I lift off the ground as I refocus on the flying enemies. "Kjelle, cover Noire on the ground. Morgan and I will handle the sky."
Kjelle is quick to assume a defensive position near the Archer. "Yes, sir!"
Union Strike: Storm Howl
"Morgan, get set!" I shout.
Lightning magic courses along Morgan's arms as he crouches. "Ready!"
I lunge straight at a Wyvern Lord and engage in a furious dance in the sky. Meanwhile, Morgan leaps off the wall and aims an Arcthunder spell straight up below the gathered imperials. The fliers are quick to dodge, save for the distracted Wyvern Lord who takes a nice amount of voltage through the back. While he's stunned by the lighting spell, I zip around the other valmese and home in on a Falcon Knight. The female flier thrusts her lance at me, only to miss as I shift into a barrel roll and startle her mount as I swing at its muzzle. Morgan pitches in at that moment and gets a direct hit with an Elfire spell.
"Switch!" I shout and dive to the ground.
Morgan responds by meeting me halfway with a flying leap. I grab my son's free hand and twist to toss him further up. My feet barely touch the ground before I conjure a dozen wind blades to launch and steer among the Valmese fliers. Morgan's lightsaber hums with power as it swings through the air in tandem with the flying wind blades. I use my wind spell to minimize the space the Valmese soldiers can fly safely in, and Morgan ducks in between the wind blades to strike them while they're busy dodging my technique. Or they could focus on Morgan and get blindsided by me instead.
"Get in position!" I shout as I shift Harvest Moon into a glaive once more and throw it over the battle in the air.
Morgan ascends straight up at my signal. I spin my body as I add more MP into my wind blades to turn them into a bladed miniature hurricane that envelops the valmese. At the same time, Morgan is positioned above the sphere of wind magic and in Harvest Moon's flight course.
In a maneuver usually only seen in kung-fu movies, Morgan interrupts the flight of Harvest Moon with a light tap from below. The glaive promptly halts in place while spinning rapidly from Morgan's tap.
My body stops spinning as I turn the hurricane sphere into a funnel of concentrated gale-force winds that holds the valmese completely at my mercy.
"End of the line!"
With a swipe downwards, I send the wind funnel crashing into the ground. At the same time, Morgan positions himself over the spinning Harvest Moon with his palm crackling with lightning magic.
"Amateurs!"
My son slams his palm on Harvest Moon's pommel right as the glaive points straight down at the funnel. The sound of a lighting strike tears through the air as Harvest Moon, coated in Morgan's lightning magic, slices right through the funnel and hits the ground in a blinding explosion of magic, all while the residual wind magic howls in a last cry before it dissipates.
The only thing left in the aftermath is a crater with charred corpses spread all over the place and sparks occasionally dancing along the surface, with Harvest Moon stuck in the center.
I pull Harvest Moon back to me with Telekinesis as Morgan lands by my side. Morgan grins proudly.
"Just as planned!"
I ruffle my son's hair as I return the grin. "That's my boy!"
BGM ends
Warning! Warning! Boss level enemy approaching!
Oh? Looks like the enemy commander finally decided to grace the frontlines. Now, where does it-
"Get back!" I shout as I place myself in front of Morgan and take a defensive stance.
A horizontal vortex of wind magic slams into me moments later with enough force to send me skidding backwards. I dig my feet into the ground and tense up before I dispel the vortex with some of my own wind magic.
"Father! Are you alright?!" Morgan asks concerned.
"Just fine, Morgan." I reply as I frown towards the doorway the spell came from. "On the other hand, this battle just got a lot fiercer.
The neighing of a horse is soon followed by the appearance of a blonde woman with a glowing emerald tome in her right hand, a glowing staff in her left and battle-hardened scowl on her face. Is that who I think it is?
Pheros Lvl 65 Class: Valkyrie
One of the three highest ranked commanders in the imperial army of Valm. Disciplined and patriotic to a fault, Pheros's loyalty to her emperor is only matched by her prowess in wind magic. Despite this, or maybe because of it, Pheros always offers her enemies the option to surrender, preferring a peaceful victory over conquest through bloodbath. This leads some soldiers in the Valmese army – even with their inferior rank – to believe her to be the overall weakest of the three commanders in the empire. Of course, such thoughts are silenced within moments after she demonstrates both her skills as a leader and her power as a mage.
Titles:
Sage of the Imperial Triad (+ 15 % CHAR)
Eye of the Storm (+ 17 % Wind damage)
HP: 9 700 / 9 700
MP: 6 000 / 6 000
STR: 58
VIT: 64
DEX: 73
INT: 110
WIS: 112
CHAR: 80.5 (70 * 1.15)
Items:
Forseti (equipped)
Fortify (equipped)
Rapier
Interesting… Most interesting. Last I remembered, Pheros's tome of choice is of the fire element in the game. But the tome she carries now is radically different. A different element, and a legendary-ranked tome to boot. She may be far more dangerous here than in the game, considering the difference in her equipment.
"Purple garb. A bone-white greatsword that can transform into a scythe. You must be Jack the Reaper." Pheros notes.
"Oh? Seems my reputation precedes me." I reply.
"No need for the false modesty. News of your exploits have spread among the ranks of the empire ever since you were first spotted on Valmese soil. Especially the way you wield such an unusual weapon, as well as your mastery over wind magic."
I nod. "I could say the same about you, General Pheros. Quite a few rumors surround this fortress. Some say it's impossible to conquer because the soldiers stationed here are protected by harsh winds flowing through the halls as much as the stonework itself. Not to mention that any wound they sustain vanishes within minutes, no matter where they are."
Pheros halts her horse. "We both have a reputation to live up to, it seems. In fact, it has come to my attention that some soldiers within the imperial ranks have speculated how a battle between the two of us would end up like."
I raise an eyebrow. "I couldn't care less about the speculations among your soldiers. But the main reason I came here was indeed to battle against you. It's obvious that part of the reason why this stronghold is so well defended is due to your direct efforts. If you fall, Fort Steiger falls alongside you."
"You say it almost as if you have already won." Pheros replies scowling. "Do you find victory against me to be such an easy task? I shall tell you this right now; just because I am a woman does not make me weak."
I roll my eyes. "Please. I'm married to the head tactician of the Ylissean League. I know full well how terrifying women can be, both on and off the battlefield."
"Ah, so the rumors were true after all." Pheros notes. "The greatest tactician in the halidom of Ylisse, married to its greatest wind master. Quite the couple if I do say so myself. A pity that neither of you lend your strength to His Excellency. You would both be great boons for the empire."
I scoff. "Sorry, not interested. After the stunt your little vanguard pulled when they first arrived at our home continent, any thought of having friendly relations with Valm were off the table. That is, unless your emperor is willing to negotiate peace with our exalt and the reigning khan."
"That would be the preferred outcome, yes." Pheros concedes. "Of course, that includes that you surrender yourselves completely to the reign of the Conqueror."
I tighten my hold on Harvest Moon. "You imperials are all the same. You lay claim on any patch of land you lay eyes on and expect the people living there to just roll over and submit. And if they don't, you take it all by force with no regards to the suffering you leave in your wake."
"It is for the best that all nations are united under one ruler." Pheros insists. "There would be no more war. Mankind would truly be united as one. Such is the grand ambition of our emperor."
"And at what cost?" I argue back. "I have seen what's left in the wake of Walhart's conquests. Imperial soldiers march the towns and watch the people like hawks. Freedom and possessions are taken in the name of the Conqueror on a daily basis. And it's even worse on the countryside. With the native military either absorbed into the centralized imperial army or wiped out, the people are left to the mercy of bandits everywhere. It's true that some places thrive under Walhart's rule, but those number painfully low. What justification could any ambition have to such consequences?!"
Pheros nods. "I will not deny that some of the nations that we conquered have experienced hardship in the wake of our campaigns. But do you not struggle with the same problems in your own homeland? Are the people in the countryside not subjected to the same ravages of banditry as here, even though you do have an established military? The townspeople toil under one ruler or another where you live, do they not? And all the while, you keep the very same people docile under the yoke of your so-called gods."
"What's your point?" I ask tersely.
"My point is that mankind has no need for deities that do not concern themselves with what happens in this world." the Valkyrie elaborates. "If the old ways are holding us back from striving forward, then better to cast them off than to drag such a burden with you throughout your life. That is the ultimate goal of the empire of Valm; to denounce the rule of the gods and place the power where it belongs; in the hands of man."
I scowl. "And your dear emperor is the one to shoulder this mantle?"
Pheros nods pleased. "Indeed. I see you are finally beginning to understand His Excellency's grand vision."
"Grand vision, my foot." I growl. "The more I hear about the Conqueror, the more I'm convinced that he's nothing more than a warmonger who strives for conquest for no other reason than the conquest itself, consequences be damned. I refuse to submit to ruler like that. And you! Can you truly claim your cause to be just when so little good is left in the wake of your warfare?"
Pheros scoffs. "I need not concern myself with what my actions bring. So long as I follow in the Conqueror's lead, I need nothing else, even if it is merely in his shadow. Such is his greatness."
I close my eyes. "I see…" I open them again and direct a glare at the imperial Valkyrie as winds begin to pick up around me. "For all we just talked about, it's clear to me that neither of us will budge from our positions. As such, the only option remaining that I can think of is to strike you down."
Pheros nods as she puts away her staff and uses her now free hand to take the reins of her horse. "So it would seem." A slight smirk plays on her lips. "While I would have preferred an absolute surrender before it came to any more blows, I must confess that I am a bit excited. It is not every day that I face a wind master as well-reputed as myself on the battlefield. I trust you to live up to the rumors."
I twirl Harvest Moon a few times and settle in a ready stance. "I'd like to hear you say that after I sever your head from your shoulders."
"Ready when you are, Father. Let's do this." Morgan declares as he sidles up to me.
I hold an arm in front of my son. "Not this time, son. For all your training, this is an opponent beyond your level. Stay back and help cover Noire."
Morgan gives me an incredulous look. "But-"
"Morgan, do not make me pull rank on you." I warn my son. "As things stand, you'll do more good by Noire's side than by mine. Hurry on. The sooner you leave my side, the smaller the danger that you get caught up in the ensuing chaos."
Morgan purses his lips before he nods reluctantly and hops back to protect Noire.
"All troops, stand down!" Pheros commands her soldiers in return. "And vacate this area now, lest you be caught in our clash!"
The Valmese soldiers look among each other uncertainly until a glare from their commander silences any doubt and prompts them to hightail it out of the open area.
BGM: Knight of the wind, Crush 40
I crouch slightly before I Gale step towards Pheros with Harvest Moon ready to cleave her neck in one swing. Right before striking distance, Pheros swipes her arm sideways and generates an updraft that makes my swing barely pass over her head. Before I can right myself in the air, the Valkyrie slams a heavy Arcwind spell right in my face and sends me skidding backwards.
Pheros smirks and kicks her horse into motion. As the Valkyrie circles the edge of our battlefield, she periodically sends spheres of condensed wind magic my way. I dash out of the way while observing the damage the spells cause. Huh. Those are no normal gouges. They're littered with cuts, meaning those spheres are more like grinders than balls of blunt force. Well, two can play that game.
I dodge a few more wind spheres before I cover my leg in wind magic and kick one sphere right back at Pheros. The move catches her off-guard and forces her to halt her horse. The Valkyrie uses a hasty wind spell do deflect my Rasengan fastball, only to be put on the defensive as I dash into the opening moments later with Harvest Moon at the ready.
And that's when Pheros finally draws the Rapier at her hip. The slim blade barely leaves the scabbard before it's coated in a layer of wind magic.
*Clang!*
The clash between our weapons is strong enough to send Pheros's horse skidding backwards a step. The Valmese Valkyrie uses that tiny amount of distance to kick her horse into gallop again. I'm right behind her with Gale step blasting from my soles. Pheros glances back briefly and frowns before her tome opens and glows green. The wind around her sword grows stronger and more prominent.
Pheros has her horse pivot on a hoof. She adds that momentum into a slash that sends an emerald-colored wind blade my way. I manage to block it with a grunt, only to find that my opponent used that opening to chant for a stronger spell.
The earth submits as the sky
declares the natural order.
Zephyr of kings, howl thine majesty
and scatter the unworthy like dust!
Rexcalibur!
An emerald tornado erupts from the tome and homes right in on me.
I toss Harvest Moon up in the air and cross my index and middle fingers in front of me.
"Emera Baram!"
The potency of both wind spells is so strong that sparks fly from their clash. The struggle goes back and forth a bit before they disperse in a powerful shockwave. As the dust settles, I return the smirk earlier while Pheros looks at me in slight surprise.
I rear back my arm as Harvest Moon comes back down and slam my palm on the pommel. The bone-white glaive flies at Pheros so fast that I'm surprised she managed to react in time to just have a bit of hair sliced off. Oh well. It at least gives me the opening to tense my arms at my sides and concentrate enough wind magic to generate miniature twisters behind the elbows. Double Hurricane fist, you say? Think again! This setup lets me use the wind magic as thrusters to travel even faster.
I whip up a dust cloud as I launch myself at Pheros. Right as she aims an Elwind spell at my face, I point an elbow to the side and turn on a dime. Careful arm movements let me switch directions like a pinball in a bumper cluster as I zip through the air.
Right, up, diagonal, forward, feint, bounce up, axe kick, jet to the left, backwards, close in, jump and roundhouse kick Pheros off her horse!
The Valkyrie rolls over the ground before she flips herself back up.
"Neat trick. But that won't matter in the face of this!"
The air around Pheros seemingly comes alive as a bright glow envelops her tome.
Guardian of the skies,
erase the blight of the earth
and wipe the lands clean of malice.
Breath of the divine,
bring down the wrath of the heavens
in a single, sublime roar.
Forseti!
A beam of green light shoots into the sky and disperses. A massive, green funnel of wind forms and descends on our battle. Pheros points her Rapier at me. The wind funnel reacts accordingly and twists in a way that it directs its deafening vortex right at me.
If I am to match what's coming my way, I'll need to pull out the big guns. First comes the mana sphere. Then comes the wind element. And then I dump an equally high amount of MP into the skill to make sure it makes the cut.
"Here goes nothing. Rasenshuriken!"
I hurl my strongest wind-element skill at the incoming funnel. The clash between the two massive wind spells drowns the battlefield in a cacophony of noise. If I didn't plug my ears with some wind magic, my hearing might've taken a beating. Like in our previous clash of wind magic, the stalemate ends with a massive boom.
The Valkyrie stares at me in disbelief. "My strongest spell…surpassed. How…?"
I grin as I pull Harvest Moon back to me. "Welcome to the real world, Pheros. You imperials are not on top of the world!" I shift Harvest Moon into scythe form. "And if that's the best you have to offer, you never will be."
Pheros grits her teeth and tightens her hold on her Rapier. "Don't you dare…" The winds coil around the blade once more as Pheros gives me a murderous glare. "…mock our empire!"
The Valkyrie dashes straight at me with her weapon poised to run right through my chest. I meet her midway, duck underneath her thrust while spinning and bring around Harvest Moon to slice her in two. Pheros casts a Wind spell on the ground to propel herself in the air, lands behind me and pivots to deliver a backhand swing. I block with the shaft, break the weapon lock with a twirl and shove the butt end into Pheros's gut. Pheros digs her feet into the ground and blasts me with a point-blank Arcwind spell. The move blows my guard wide open.
"This is the end!" Pheros declares as she uses one more wind spell to propel herself forward and thrusts her wind coated Rapier right through my chest.
Only for me to vanish before her eyes.
Pheros stares in disbelief. "An afterimage?"
"It is the end – for you." I reply from behind her. "Zantetsuken!"
*SHING!*
BGM ends
I slide to a stop with my back facing Pheros.
The Valkyrie stares at me in shock. "Such…power…"
I flick the blood off Harvest Moon's blade. "Let this be a message to everyone living in Valm – especially your emperor." I glance back at Pheros. "You may be the strongest ruling power on this continent, but that means little the moment you leave your home soil. You picked the wrong continent to invade."
A line of red a shade darker than Pheros's uniform reveals itself across her abdomen. The Valmese commander comes apart along the line and falls to the ground in two halves. My last attack cleaved her in two.
Pheros has been defeated! You gain 10 000 EXP! You gain 10 000 gold!
You obtained Forseti!
Shocked silence reigns in the open area.
"He- He defeated General Pheros?" one Valmese soldier asks in disbelief.
"No way… Our general…fallen." another tries to deny.
Similar reactions can be seen throughout the Valmese side.
I point Harvest Moon at some of them. "Next."
The Valmese soldiers drop their weapons one by one.
"Oh? So quick to surrender, are we? What, oh what will His Excellency say when he hears of this?" a slimy voice asks over the clatter of weapons hitting the ground.
One of the Valmese soldiers turns in the direction the voice came from. "L-Lord Excellus!"
A lone figure marches out to the open area.
Excellus Lvl 63 Class: Sage
Rotund physique, thin, oil-slicked hair, gaudy robe with even gaudier jewelry and a grin that radiates smugness. Yup, that's Excellus, alright.
The Valmese Sage gives the imperial soldiers a condescending look. "To think that all it took for some of Valm's finest soldiers to surrender was that one commander fell in battle. To think you would surrender at all." Excellus shakes his head and shrugs. "My, how you disappoint me."
"Wha- How can you say that when you didn't even see what he did to General Pheros?!" one Valmese soldier shouts indignant. "He's not human! He fights like a demon!"
Excellus follows the direction he points at…
*Bam!*
…and gets a faceful of my fist. Excellus skids over the ground on his back.
"Ugh! Gah! My face! How dare you?!" Excellus shouts in shock as he gets back up with a hand to cover his face.
"Sorry, I mistook you for one of those ugly beasts I met during my travels." I reply dryly. I scratch the back of my head. "*Sigh* Great. Now I have to apologize to the Moblins for comparing them to this hideous tub of lard."
"Hideous tub of- Now see here, you peasant!" Excellus snaps while pointing a shaking finger at me. "If you knew who was standing before you, you would be groveling on the ground and begging for mercy for your transgression! The nerve of punching my face! MY face!"
"Like I give a duck's droppings." I scoff. "Yours is a face only a mother could love, and even that's debatable. I couldn't make your repulsive mug any uglier, even if I tried. Really, I do the world a favor if I slug you in the face a few more times."
Excellus looks like he's about to hit his boiling point before he takes a deep breath and exhales. "Phew. No, this won't do. It's obvious he is just some ignorant muscle head. He will perish sooner or later anyway. They all do."
"I'm right here, you know."
"And you will not get much farther than that. I let some of Say'ri's oh so precious fellow dynasts loose in here." Excellus declares smugly. The imperial Sage giggles creepily. "I can only imagine the shock on her face when she learned that they all fight for the empire now. Not to mention how heartbroken she must be that she must cut them down herself if she ever wishes to survive. A shame I am much too busy to witness it myself."
"You say that like that will stop her from fighting. If I know her correctly, you just motivated her all the more to see the day Walhart bites the dust."
Excellus's grin gets even smugger. "Ah, but that's where you are wrong. After all, who said the dynasts were the only imperial forces who made their way here? As shrewd as your dear tactician may be, even her best schemes are nothing to my superior tactics and the overwhelming force of the Valmese empire."
I brandish Harvest Moon with a murderous glare. "Insult our head tactician one more time while I'm within earshot. I dare you, fatso."
Excellus snickers. "Oh, struck a nerve, did I? Well, no matter. I admit, fighting an enemy head-on is not my preferred plan of attack. I much prefer to stay a safe distance away and enjoy the show. And with that, I bid you a good day. Ta-ta!"
A rune circle comes to life underneath Excellus's feet before he vanishes in a flash of light. Sigh. Why do so many villains have some sort of teleportation magic on deck? I think it's high time we looked for more Rescue staves next time we resupply the convoy.
Quest alert:
Main quest: Inexorable death
Many nights of planning and marching have finally borne fruit in the form of seizing Fort Steiger, one of the great strongholds in the empire of Valm, as well as the defeat of one of the empire's strongest military factions. Yet even as you celebrate your victory, the ominous words of one imperial officer rings in your ears. There's more imperial company to come shortly, so you'd better keep your celebration brief.
Objective: Defeat the enemy commander. Don't let Say'ri die
Objectives completed!
Rewards: You gain 17 000 EXP! You gain 17 000 gold!
Bonus objectives: Win the battle without killing any dynasts.
Bonus objective failed!
Guess that last message means we had to cut down at least one of those dynasts Excellus brought here. If there was ever a moment when I wanted that guy dead, it was the moment he revealed that he got a bunch of Say'ri's own compatriots to act as meat shields while fighting in this place. Practical tactic? Sure, but he's probably the only one in this war who would approve of such a plan in the first place. I'll leave his inevitable battlefield execution to Say'ri. After all, she's got a personal reason to carve up the imperial tactician.
And his tactics are inferior to Robin's, Naga d-mn it! No one can convince me otherwise!
With the remaining Valmese soldiers rounded up and put in the convenient prison cells in the basement, we can finally reconvene and discuss our next move.
"Steiger has fallen." Say'ri declares. "…But I'm afraid our new enemy has the fortress surrounded."
""New enemy"?" Chrom asks concerned. "You mean the rest of the former Resistance?"
"What about the Resistance?" I ask. "Did something happen to them while I was outside fighting the enemy commander?"
Say'ri holds Ivory Gale in a tight grip to keep her emotions in check. "The worst I could have imagined. One moment we saw them ascend the stairs from below, believing them to be our allies. Yet before I knew it, they turned their blades against us. Had it not been for Sir Chrom's intervention, I may lay slain on the floor alongside them. I had…no choice but to cut them down like any other imperial soldier."
"The Resistance soldiers that we expected to be here fought under the empire's banner. And now they have the whole fortress surrounded." Robin explains grimly. "Yet there was something strange about it all. It was as if they wanted to fight alongside us, but couldn't for some reason."
I rub my chin. "Huh. So that's what that ugly tub of lard meant when he said he let dynasts loose in here."
Chrom raises an eyebrow. "Tub of lard?"
I nod. "Yeah. Shortly after I defeated Pheros, some ugly guy in gaudy clothing strutted around the place, belittling the imperial soldiers, even though he clearly was with the empire himself. Said something about the Resistance fighting for the empire now and that it would demoralize Say'ri to fight them. Too bad he left before I could bring him in for interrogation."
"Excellus." Say'ri growls. "I should have known that snake was behind this. Knowing him, he no doubt threatened those Resistance members to turn their allegiance to the Conqueror, lest he kill their families and loved ones."
Flavia blinks in disbelief. "Hang on. No one would stoop so low, would they? Not someone in the empire."
Say'ri shakes her head. "I'm afraid there is but one exception in the imperial ranks – Excellus, the Conqueror's head tactician. That loathsome wretch knows nothing about honor. No trick is too dirty for him to employ if it means it makes it easier for him to seize victory."
Basilio grimaces. "And now you believe he's the one who pulled the rug under our feet with the Resistance."
Say'ri purses her lips. "Aye, sir. Words cannot express my shame for not considering that he would pull such a trick. My regret…that I did nothing to ensure that my fellow countrymen could be at ease, knowing that their families would be safe. Finally, I succeeded in uniting the Resistance, but only against us."
At that moment, a soldier comes running towards us. What's concerning is the number of wounds on his body.
"Milord! Dire news!" the soldier shouts to Chrom before he stumbles.
It's a good thing Brady's fast on catching the poor guy. "Whoa, slow down, man! You ain't in any condition to exert yourself like that. Now lie still and let me get to work."
As Brady administers some much-needed healing aid, Chrom kneels in front of the soldier.
"What news are you bringing us? And how in the world did you get those wounds?" Chrom asks.
The soldier swallows and takes a deep breath. "Our forces to the north and south have been decimated by Walhart and Yen'fay! What's worse, most of the survivors have turned coats for the empire!"
The news sends a shockwave among us.
"B-but our troops numbered in the hundreds of thousands!" Say'ri exclaims in disbelief.
Basilio clicks his tongue. "The empire must have had more."
"Or perhaps better trained and equipped…" Flavia adds after some thought.
"Blast!" Say'ri frowns in thought as she paces back and forth. She eventually stops and faces the soldier. "Walhart and my brother – where are their armies now?"
"Marching towards this fortress, milady." the soldier reports grimly. "It's only a matter of time before they arrive."
"So much for fortune favoring the bold." Basilio sighs in resignation. "This war was lost even before it began."
Chrom slams his fist against a wall. "All our efforts until now, and we've yet to so much as dent the empire…"
BGM: Confrontation with the Enemy, Xenoblade Chronicles OST
I swallow as I finally manage to force down the feeling of dread that's been welling up in my stomach since the news arrived.
"Hold on… I think I recognize you." I tell the soldier. "You were among the soldiers who marched against Yen'fay's faction, right? When you said that our forces marching in that direction were decimated, did that include…my team…? Tell me, what happened to my teammates?!"
The soldier tips his helmet over his face. "We… The battle was in our favor at first. We were capable of holding off their forces. Your troops in particular managed to push the imperial forces back and gave us much-needed ground. But…everything changed the moment the enemy general took to the field. His forces alone were far stronger than any other opposition we faced, but he… Gods, it was like staring into death itself. Anyone who got even close to him was cut down without mercy."
"There is no doubt…" Say'ri interjects perturbed. "That was Yen'fay."
The feeling of dread twists into itself inside me. "Well, out with it then! What happened to my team?!"
Robin pulls on my shoulder, making me realize that I leaned closer and closer to the stressed soldier without even noticing.
"Jack, calm down! Can't you see how terrified he is?"
The soldier takes a deep breath. "After we saw their general in action, most of us abandoned any hope of making it out of that battle alive, let alone win. But your troops – no, your team… They stood their ground and fought. Even against someone like Yen'fay, they fought to the last man and woman. Only Lieutenant Lon'qu managed to hold his own, but only for a short time. I was told to flee alongside some of my fellow soldiers and report what happened shortly before the last of your teammates were cut down."
I take a stumbling step back. "No…" I place a trembling hand over my face. "No, this can't be happening…"
It feels almost like the ground's collapsing under my feet. That dreadful feeling that kept twisting around in my gut has transformed into a bottomless pit. I feel like…like I'm about to collapse from the inside out.
"All the time we spent to get stronger… To protect each other…"
I can barely hear Robin's voice in the…distance? She's…right here, isn't she?
"Jack? Jack, look at me!"
"I…" I step back with trembling legs. "I…failed them. I abandoned them in their hour of need. I should have been there!"
"You couldn't have known this would happen." Robin consoles me.
I shake my head. "No. No, you're wrong. I knew this would happen from the start. I knew they were marching to their deaths. I failed to stop them."
My teammates…gone… Each one of their lives, snuffed out. Their dreams forever unfulfilled. Their names are nothing more than memories.
Hawke. Jake. Olaf. Grit. They all ultimately wished for a peaceful life.
Barras. Edea. Khint. Artemia. Fighting was their passion. And I turned that passion into their death sentences.
Linebeck. Cyrus. Ventus. Pit. They all wanted to explore something vast in their lives. Those journeys will never happen.
Lon'qu.
My closest ally on the battlefield. My rival. My friend. He wished to master the sword. He was about to get married. He had finally made peace with his past. He had a son, and he didn't even know it.
And now, his journey with the sword has reached its end. He never made it to the altar to exchange wedding vows. He will never meet his son. Gerome has lost his father – for the second time.
I sink down to my knees. I let them down. Every single one of them.
Your squad has fallen in battle. With none left to command, you have lost the title "Commander of 100".
I grit my teeth as the tears stream down my face.
"Damn it…"
I slam my fists on the floor.
"DAMN IT ALL!"
To be continued (BGM ends)
Jack's encyclopedic corner
Valkyrie, Class
Like the brave warriors of myth, these horsebound spellcasters fearlessly ride straight for the frontline to support their allies in any way that's needed, be it immediate healing aid or magical cover fire. Records even tell of Valkyries who put themselves in harm's way to protect a wounded ally. This would be a reasonably accurate account, as Valkyries are just as famous for their arcane prowess as their resilience to all things magical in general. That's about as far as their strengths go, though. Despite having the constitution to ride for extended periods of time, Valkyries tend to lack the endurance to withstand physical blows, which makes their modus operandi as effective as it is dangerous. Jokingly referred to as "Sage on a horse".
The cost of all spells, except for the light or dark elements, is reduced by 10 %. Healing magic restores 10 % more HP. Damage taken from all spells is reduced by 10 %. Damage taken from all physical attacks increases by 15 %. This unit counts as mounted.
Forseti, Tome, Legendary
An ancient tome said to have been created by the divine dragon who embodied the very spirit of wind. While originally believed to only be wielded by the descendants of Ced, one of the Twelve Crusaders of the Miracle of Darna, this tome can be used in the hands of anyone who is skilled enough in the mastery of the wind element. Legend has it that the soul of the dragon who created this tome still slumbers within the magic written in the pages, waiting to once more be picked up by a wielder who will guide mankind into a new era of peace.
All wind-element skills deal 18 % more damage. Increases movement speed and attack speed by 20 %.
Skill available when wielded: Forseti
Requirement to wield: Wind mastery Lvl 73
Now, now, before you good people start to rant about how horrible I am for letting the whole team in general, and Lon'qu in particular, die in the battle against Yen'fay, hear me out first.
It was never my intention that Jack's team would survive beyond the war against Valm. In fact, the death of the team is an important part of how I want to shape Jack's character. Jack is not just someone who takes his responsibilities seriously, he's also very caring towards anyone he holds dear (which I believe I have made very clear already by this point). The death of Jack's team will affect him permanently. Traumatic loss does that to people. And even though he is basically a videogame character, Jack is still 100 % human – with everything that it entails.
Needless to say, his meeting with Yen'fay will be anything but pretty.
I was a bit on the fence about Lon'qu's death, though. On one hand, killing him off – and off-screen at that – didn't feel right at first. On the other hand, letting him be the sole survivor of the team after that battle just felt unrealistic. The latter argument won out in the end for a very simple reason. In order for Lon'qu to survive a losing battle against Yen'fay, remain loyal to the Ylissean league, and return safely to the Shepherds, I would have to put so many coinciding factors in place for the guy to pull it off that I would practically slap a deus ex machina on him. That, and I was running out of ideas on what Lon'qu could contribute to the story with that other characters could not.
And for those of you who are concerned about Gerome, he'll stick around. I even have a sort-of explanation to how that will be possible.
That will be all for now. Until next time.
VipeR out.
