Greetings, dear readers. This is CrossVipeR316 here with the latest chapter of Gamer Emblem Awakening.

I must say, I didn't expect the response to the ending of the previous chapter to be so positive. Seeing your reviews, I am more convinced than ever that I made the right choice. For that, you have my thanks.

Be prepared for a lot more POV: General in this chapter than the previous ones. It just made the story easier for me to write in this instance.

Copyright disclaimer: I only own the plot of this fic. For a full copyright disclaimer, please read chapter 1.

If Say'ri falls here, then it means she never had a chance to defeat the empire in the first place. – Yen'fay


Unbending heart, unbending blade.
Confrontation in the infernal crater.

POV: General

With both Walhart and Yen'fay marching towards Fort Steiger, Robin realized that the Ylissean league's only chance to even survive was to leave the stronghold they had just seized and divide what forces they had left to confront the remaining two divisions of the imperial army of Valm. Knowing that the army marching to the north would fight practically impossible odds, Basilio stepped up to the task for the sake of Chrom and the Shepherds. Lucina tried to dissuade the bald khan from heading to that front with a warning that this was a battle he would not return from alive. Basilio, being Basilio, simply waved off the warning and marched to the battle with the defiant resolve that everybody knew him for. Just for the sake of some peace of mind, Flavia volunteered to accompany him.

And so, the two khans left, taking what soldiers could be spared to perform what was essentially a suicide mission, all so the main force of the Ylissean league, led by Chrom and Robin, could confront Yen'fay without the threat of Walhart joining in for a pincer strike.

It was with a heavy heart that the Shepherds abandoned Fort Steiger mere hours later, having packed up what they could gather within their urgent schedule and marched south. Normally, neither part of the Ylissean league would have left the stronghold unscathed, what with the armies of the Resistance that had turned coats to the empire of Valm had Fort Steiger surrounded on all sides. But where one would have expected an attempt to put the fortress under siege, the Resistance soldiers barely did anything to stop the Ylissean league from leaving.

That was two weeks ago. Two weeks of frantic marching in the hopes of meeting Yen'fay's forces as far away from Walhart's as possible.

That marching has led the Shepherds all the way to the southern part of the Valmese continent, where they have set up camp for the evening.

Chrom finds Robin and Say'ri standing by a small table with a map of the general area. Due to the urgency of the situation, the head tactician of the Ylissean league decided to forgo setting up the war tent and settled for planning strategy outdoors instead.

"How does it look?" Chrom asks as he approaches.

Robin scowls at the map on the table. "If my calculations are correct, Basilio should have helped us at least get enough distance from the Conqueror to let us fight Yen'fay without any worries about the other army breathing down our necks. We have a fighting chance this way – if we can even call it a fighting chance at this point…"

Say'ri nods with a grim expression. "Aye. What complicates matters is the stance which the dynasts adopt towards us. Be it attacking us or simply letting us pass, they will choose whatever suits their purpose. Such was the case when we fled Fort Steiger."

Chrom's expression grows equally grim. "In other words, we can't count on their support. Not in a situation like this."

Say'ri shakes her head. "And if they decide to attack us from behind as we battle Yen'fay, it would be an easy victory. They would curry favor with the empire without risk for injury. This is how they think." The Dynast Swordmaster sighs as she scratches her head and regards the map on the table. "Lady Robin and I have been trying for the past hour to find a suitable battlefield for when we confront Yen'fay's forces, but any spot we choose either gives Yen'fay too big of a tactical advantage or leaves us open in case the dynasts decide to stab us in the back."

Robin rubs her temples. "We have to remove the dynasts outside the imperial armies from the equation. If we don't, I can't see any way in which we can make a solid stand in the next battle. If you have any ideas, Chrom, now would be the perfect time for them. We're running out of ideas."

Chrom rubs his chin as he looks at the map. Not for the first time, the prince silently curses not taking Robin up on the offer of spending a few spare days to brush up on battlefield tactics back before their first clash with imperial soldiers.

"I can't figure anything out from this map." Chrom concludes resigned. Then a thought occurs to him. "Hmm… But what about something that I can't see on the map? Fredrick often remarks (with a hint of disapproval) that I'm usually not one for protocol or doing things by the book. In that case…"

Chrom lifts his gaze from the map and starts scanning the geography that he can see directly instead. His attention gets caught on a certain mountaintop in the distance.

"Say'ri, that mountain over there…" Chrom asks as he points at it. "I've seen it smoke for hours, but I see no trees on it anywhere."

Say'ri follows where Chrom is pointing and sees the mountaintop with smoke and ashes practically spewing from the summit.

"Ah. That is no forest fire, sir. It's a volcano." the dynast explains. "Have you never seen one? That one is called the Demon's Ingle. It is known and feared by all people of Valm. Few dare even get close, lest they anger the wicked fire god believed to be sleeping within."

The gears turn in Chrom's head. "Is that so…? Robin, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Robin smirks as she catches on. "Only if you're wondering how fast we can reach that volcano."

Say'ri gawks at the pair in disbelief. "Are you two out of your minds?! Go to the Demon's Ingle?! Do you even know what you're saying?!"

"I'm saying your opportunistic former friends wouldn't dare risk following us all the way there." Robin replies confidently. "And we can use the flames as barriers to limit how your brother's army approaches."

Say'ri stares at Robin. Then she turns to Chrom. Then to the Demon's Ingle. Robin, Chrom, Demon's Ingle.

The Swordmaster frowns in deep thought. "Mmm… And yet, my brother will still come after us. His stubborn pride will force his hand."

Chrom nods. "Then it seems we have our strategy."

Say'ri puts a palm on her forehead as she shakes her head. "*Sigh* 'Tis a risky plan, but I can devise none better. I still have yet to decide whether you ylisseans have a peculiar talent for performing miracles, or simply defy common sense to the point that everything works out in the end, because no one thinks of a way to counter your madness."

Chrom directs a worried look towards Robin. "Speaking of madness… Robin, how's Jack?"

Robin's expression turns somber. "He's…taking the death of his squad hard. I've tried to find some way – any way – to comfort him, but I can't seem to reach him. He's completely inconsolable."

Chrom raises an eyebrow. "Really? But he's helped setting up and breaking camp just fine for these past two weeks."

The Grandmaster shakes her head. "Chrom, you don't understand. That's just Jack going through the motions. He may look fine at first glance, but his eyes tell another story." Robin clenches the sleeve of her coat. "Each and every one under his command was a dear friend to him, and he blames himself for sending them all to their deaths. The guilt is crushing him. Right after we set up camp, he only leaves our tent for meals. The rest of the time, he just spends sitting inside, like the outside world doesn't even exist anymore."

Say'ri nods in understanding. "To think that Khan Flavia's wisdom would be demonstrated in such a tragic manner."

Chrom frowns. "Come to think of it, it's practically a miracle that none of the Shepherds have met their demise on the battlefield, no matter how fierce the fighting."

"No, one did, Captain." Miriel interjects as she walks in on the conversation. "Lon'qu. Jack's second-in-command."

Robin sighs. "And out of everyone who Jack blames himself for, Lon'qu is by far the worst case. The bond they shared was special. More importantly, Miriel, how is Cherche doing?"

"She grieves him deeply." the Sage replies. "In the short amount of time they spent together, it is clear that they formed a strong bond of their own with each other."

"Was there any comfort you could offer her?" Chrom asks hopefully. "If I remember correctly, the two of you got along well."

The Sage purses her lips as she adjusts her glasses. "I fear emotional support is beyond my field of expertise. At the most, what I could offer was to sit down and provide something for Cherche to lean on. Most of her grieving is spent with her son from the future and Minerva."

Chrom rubs his head. "*Sigh* Both of which are grieving as well for their loss. This is bad. They're all integral to our fighting force. If they don't get on their feet soon, our next battle will become much harder."

Miriel frowns. "I must ask you to exert a measure of tact, Captain. Asking someone to fight while they are mourning is not a matter to take lightly."

"I know." Chrom replies tersely. "But this battle is too important. If we lose here, everything ends, regardless of whether we grieve our loved ones or not."

Robin thinks for a bit before she turns to leave.

Chrom gives her a curious look. "Robin? Where are you going?"

"I don't think I can expect neither Cherche nor Jack to be in any state to fight with us in this battle." the Grandmaster replies. "I'll work on a strategy if that's the case."

Say'ri looks at her surprised. "You would strategize without such powerful allies in mind?"

"Like Chrom said, this battle is too important." Robin points out. "I have to plan in case they can't make it."

None of the others notice the tear sliding down Robin's face as she steels her features and heads for the tent she and Jack share.

"Jack… I know this is hard for you, but please… We need you now more than ever."


POV: Jack

I stare at the menu floating in front of me in silence. The title "Commander of 100" really is missing.

I failed them…

I switch over to the "Relationships" menu. Lon'qu's name is still there, except it's greyed out with the word "Deceased" beside it.

I let them down…


Flashback

I put my hand on Lon'qu's shoulder. "If I go along with this plan, it means I will put the fate of the team in your hands, Lon'qu."

"Do you trust me with that task, Captain?" my lieutenant asked coolly.

I frowned as I weighed my options – not that there was a lot to go on.

I tightened my hold on Lon'qu's shoulder by the tiniest bit. "Send this message to Hawke; I'm counting on you both."

Flashback ends


I put my head in my hands.

It's all my fault… They're all dead because of me.

The sound of the tent flap moving reaches my ears. Footsteps echo through the silence until I notice someone sitting beside me.

"It's strange." I hear Cordelia muse. Oh, so she's the one who entered.

I turn my head a bit to glance at her.

"Do you remember the first time we met, Jack?" Cordelia asks.

I turn back to look in front of me. "…"

"I had just fled from the battle that robbed me of my knight-sisters, all so I could warn Her Grace and Chrom about approaching enemy reinforcements." Cordelia recalls. The Falcon Knight shakes her head with a somber smile. "In the urgency of it all, I barely had time to grieve. I was such a wreck. I'm over it now, though. I've had plenty of time to mourn their deaths and move on. I avenged them by my own hand, married the man I love, became a mother, and now I pass on the legacy of the very unit I once served in. But all of that only became possible because there was someone who supported me when I was too weak to stand on my own – you."

"…Why are you telling me all this…?" I ask.

Cordelia shuffles closer to me. "Because, for all I can tell, our roles have become reversed. Or, at least I think they have. Just like you became a rock for me to lean on when I was at my lowest, I want to do the same for you now."

Cordelia hugs me to her chest (gently this time, thank Naga). "You once told me that I could take as much time as I needed to mourn those I had lost. And you told me that I wasn't alone in my mourning, that everyone would help me through my pain. Now it's your turn."

The tears slowly start flowing from my eyes as I hear Cordelia's comforting words. I return her hug as I slowly sob into her chest.

I'm not alone… There are still so many people in my life who care for me, and whom I care for in return…

"Oh. Cordelia?"

Cordelia and I look up to notice Robin stand at the tent flap.

The Falcon Knight blinks before she frantically waves a hand in my wife's direction. "R-Robin! Um… This isn't what it looks like! I was just- I thought I might be able to help Jack get back up, since I believe I can relate to him in some way. You…don't mind, do you?"

Robin sighs and sits by her desk. "Don't worry. Tiki brushed up against Jack in her sleep, and he didn't even bat an eyelash. If there's one thing I can count on, it's that Jack's loyalty to me is absolute. More importantly, I have to plan how to organize our forces for the next battle – which will be soon, as we've decided where our next battlefield will be."

Cordelia purses her lips. "I see. I'd better prepare as well. I'd better leave you and Jack alone in case you have anything to discuss before then."

"I have decided to make this battle voluntary for Jack and Cherche." Robin cuts in bluntly.

That catches my attention.

Cordelia looks at my wife in disbelief. "Voluntary? Is that even a good idea?"

"If I remember correctly, we offered you the same opportunity back when you had just joined the Shepherds." Robin points out. "We couldn't expect you to be ready to return to the battlefield so soon, after what you had just gone through, despite how urgent our situation was back then. And neither can we expect something like that from Jack and Cherche either."

Robin…believes it's better for me to sit a battle out…? When she and the others will be in the thick of it all, risking their lives?

Cordelia sighs. "I suppose you're right. Though before I leave, is there anything else you need to tell me first?"

"…fight…" I mutter before my wife can answer.

Robin blinks. "Hm? What was that, Jack?"

I get up from my seated position and look Robin in the eyes with a determined glare. "I'll fight. I will stand right beside you on the battlefield, Robin."

"Are you sure, Jack?" Cordelia asks concerned. "You don't have to push yourself so hard for our sakes. No one will blame you for staying and mourning your fallen comrades."

"I can't fight for the dead, Cordelia." I reply as I clench my fists. "But I can and will fight for those who still live. I have lost too many that I care for already in this war. I refuse to stand by idly and let it happen again."

Robin shakes her head. "*Sigh* I know better than trying to dissuade you, now that you've made up your mind." Then she gets up from the chair and pokes me on the chest while smiling. "And to clarify, you're not standing with me on the battlefield. This time, I will stand beside you."

I'm stunned by Robin's words. I slowly wrap my wife in my arms.

"Thank you…" I whisper in her ear.


Okay, so telling my wife that I'll join her on the battlefield is one thing. Going through the whole camp to tell the same to everyone else? Kind of repetitive after the tenth time. It's a good thing the news are well-received…

Severa turns away with arms crossed. "Hmph! Well, good thing you're back up on your feet." Then she throws me a concerned glance. "Don't scare us like that again, got it? I thought I'd never see you smile again."

…As well as news can be received, depending on the recipient, that is.

I sweatdrop. "You know, talking to you is easier if you just tell me straight out what you want to say. I'm not one for convoluted mood swings."

"I do NOT have mood swings!" Severa yells.

I give my redheaded student a dry look. "Really? Could've fooled me."

Severa pouts. "Here I try to show some genuine concern, and you respond by being a jerk! Fine! You just keep going! See if I care!"

I watch the fiery princess leave with a bemused look. Of all the things about Severa, her mood seems to be the one thing I can't read.

Seriously, tsundere characters are weird.


"Begone, SIMP!" *Wham!*

Was that Inigo flying past me?

I glance in the direction he flew from and spot Rose holding Kirby by the plush toy's foot, right as it seemingly shrinks down to its normal size.

I give my daughter a dry look. "I smell a back story, and I doubt it's amusing."

Rose huffs. "Inigo stood me up."

I blink. "Come again?"

"He's kept asking me out on a date ever since the Mila Tree. Mind you, he's not my type, but I decided to humor him anyway. And what does he do?" Rose shakes her fist in the dancing Mercenary's general direction. "The jerk goes off to have tea with Noire! NOIRE!"

"In my defense, Noire and I had agreed on the same day before you picked it." Inigo replies as he gets back on his feet. "And between the two of you, I'd rather take my chances with you rather than Noire."

Rose's expression is anything but amused. "Uh huh… That's your grand excuse for being a player? You know, you'd probably have better luck with women if you just picked one and stuck with her, rather than chasing after every female alive within sight and hope for something to stick. That's the last time I agree to having tea with you, buster."

"Aw, come on, don't be like that, Rose. I can make it up for you, honest!" Inigo begs. "Er, if you don't mind, Sensei?"

I'm about to give the guy a piece of my mind when someone else beats me to it.

"The only thing you should do is to give Rose a genuine apology!"

The three of us turn in the direction the voice came from and spot Laurent approach Inigo with the angriest scowl I have ever seen on the Mage.

Inigo blinks. "Laurent? Well, I guess what you're saying is only fair, but do you have to- Guh!"

Color me surprised. Laurent just grabbed Inigo by the collar, and their faces are mere inches apart.

"It is one thing that you flirt with whatever maiden we may come across in the towns we visit during our campaign. I do not mind, since those women have the good sense of rejecting you for fair reasons." Laurent tells Inigo sternly. "But I will not tolerate the same behavior towards our comrades in arms, let alone that you lead them on for whatever reason you can think of!"

"Whoa, what's with you all of a sudden?" Inigo asks bewildered. "I get that you're not amused by what I did, but how is that your business?"

"It is not so much my business as it is showing proper manners to a woman!" Laurent retorts before he pushes Inigo away. "Consider this an act of mercy. Do you truly want to discuss this topic while Master Jack is right next to you?"

Inigo freezes up as I place a hand on his shoulder and squeeze.

"You know, Inigo…" I tell the Mercenary in a conversational tone while leaking copious amounts of murderous intent. "…listening to what Laurent has to say could save your life. Standing someone up, no matter your reason, is just mean. Surely you were raised to understand that much, right?"

"Uh… Well… I won't deny it, Jack-sensei…" Inigo replies nervously. "In fact, I wholeheartedly agree. Ah ha… Ah ha ha ha…"

I nod sagely. "Ah, we're all on the same page, then. Good. Now, make sure to apologize to my notably and reasonably annoyed daughter, or someone might become very unhappy in the very immediate future."

"She's the one who smacked me with a super-sized plush toy, you know…" Inigo points out weakly.

I nod again. "Good point. Rose, make sure to apologize to Inigo for that. Violence is not always the answer."

Rose gives us a dry look. "*Sigh* Fine. Sorry about smacking you with a boulder-sized Kirby. At least I didn't go for your face, right?"

Inigo nods fervently. "Ah, of course! Thank you for that small mercy. And, uh… I'm sorry for standing you up, Rose. Really, I am."

Rose inspects her nails with a bored look. "Sure. Got it. You're off the hook."

I give Inigo a cheerful smile. "See? Everyone gets happier when they admit their faults and make up. That's how adults settle their disputes – in theory, at least."

Inigo nods while sweating. "Yes, yes, that's good and all. By the way, Sensei…"

"Hm?"

"Would you…mind letting go of my shoulder now?" Inigo asks while pointing a trembling finger at my hand. "I'm not really comfortable with men holding me like that."

I slowly turn to where the male dancer points at. Then I stare back at his twitching face.

I let up on the murderous intent. "Ah. Sure. My bad."

The moment my hand leaves Inigo's shoulder, he bolts like death itself is on his heels.

Which might be accurate, depending on your perspective.

And now for the other weird issue that just popped up.

I turn to Laurent. "You know, Laurent, I never expected you to act with so much emotion. Don't get me wrong, I see this as a good sign. It's just that I've always had the impression that you're more…reserved."

The Mage nods. "I would say that is normally the case, yes. After all, an objective approach typically yields more valid results. But this situation is…special."

I raise an eyebrow. "I fail to see in what way."

"Master Jack, do you remember the first conversation we had after I joined the Shepherds?"

I nod. "Yeah, we covered a few interesting topics. By the way, I'm still curious about how you've changed up your fighting style since last time."

Laurent adjusts his glasses. "I am afraid that will have to wait for another time. I wish to discuss something else. It is a most…personal matter."

"Oh, guess I'm not needed here anymore, then." Rose remarks.

"Actually, this concerns you as well, Rose." Laurent points out before my daughter can leave.

"Okay…?" I reply uncertainly. "Laurent, I think it's high time you got to the point."

"One lesson that you have attempted to remind me of more than once is the phrase "Let your heart be your guiding key". No matter how much I have contemplated your words, the meaning behind them have eluded me." Laurent elaborates. "Seeing as searching on my own yielded little progress, I decided to seek the council of others, with Mother being the prime candidate."

I nod and motion for Laurent to continue.

"My request initially left Mother somewhat bemused. But after she had some time to contemplate the context, she smiled and sat down to talk to me."

"And?" I ask curiously.

Laurent grimaces with a light blush. "She gave me the Talk – again."

I blink. "Hold on… This is Miriel we're talking about here. Was it the "normal" version or the physiologi-"

"The normal version!" Laurent interrupts with his cheeks glowing a deeper shade of red. He takes a deep breath as the color goes back to a more normal hue. "Good intentions or not, I failed to see the purpose of her choice. That is, until recently."

"Still haven't gotten to the point, or why you need me here." Rose points out dryly.

"I was getting to that." Laurent sighs. "Master Jack, I believe I have found my answer to your lesson."

I smile. "Great. Let's hear it then."

Laurent purses his lips. "I decided to follow my heart…and it led me to Rose."

I blink. Rose blinks. Laurent's face goes a deeper shade of red again.

Laurent bows. "Master Jack. With your blessing, I wish to court Rose, with the possibility of asking for her hand in marriage in the future, should the desire arise."

I blink. Rose blinks.

"…Come again…?" I ask blankly.

"You want to date…me?" Rose asks.

Laurent nods. "To be frank, you have been on my mind for a long time, Rose. While not all of those thoughts were fond, I cannot deny that noticing your absence before we were reunited after traveling back in time left me…wanting. The more I think about our childhood years, the clearer I remember when you were nearby for any number of reasons, be it when you tried to drag me outside when I was immersed in a good book, or when you came crying when you failed to cast a spell."

My daughter gives the Mage a sour look. "Don't remind me. Having that Elfire spell go off in my face hurt. Still don't get why Henry thought it a good idea that I attempt it at the age of six."

A small smile grows on Laurent's face. "I remember that day in particular. You came running to Mother while covered in soot. When you explained what happened, Mother simply scolded you for trying something so reckless. As good as her intentions were, you took it poorly and ran away while crying and calling her mean."

Rose sighs and facepalms. "Yeah. Hadn't learned to take constructive criticism yet, and your mom's as blunt as a hammer."

"I should have you know she was more thoughtful back then than you might think. Not long after you had left, she asked me to go comfort you." Laurent points out.

Rose blinks. "Wait a sec. That's why you came looking for me?"

Laurent nods. "Indeed. Mother did regret admonishing you in such a stern manner, but she felt such remorse that she could not bring herself to apologize to you. Not immediately, at least. So she entrusted me with the task of comforting you."

"I remember that." Rose reminiscences. "You just sat by me while I was crying among some bushes. You wouldn't say anything at all – not that I cared at that moment. And then, right out of nowhere, you asked if I wanted to practice magic with you."

"And your response was simply to yell that I leave you alone."

"But you wouldn't budge. You just stayed and kept insisting until I agreed. By sunset, we had worked out that Elfire spell together."

Laurent grimaces. "Truth be told, the reason why I stood my ground was because I could not think of any better option. I figured that the cause of your distress was your inability to cast the spell, so I reasoned that the best way to cheer you up was to help you until you succeeded."

Rose gawks. "You what?! I thought you stayed because you cared about me!"

"I did." Laurent confirms. "Just not in the way you might have expected. Well, misunderstood intentions aside, I realized that we grew a lot closer after that day."

Rose puts a finger on her cheek. "You're right. If the adults were too busy with anything, you were always the first one I turned to whenever I wanted to ask anything about magic."

"But you had more reasons than that." Laurent points out.

Rose shrugs. "I couldn't just leave you in a stuffy old library or workshop all the time. You needed some fresh air. Why else do you think I kept dragging you outside to play?"

Laurent sighs. "To my great annoyance, I might add. It was only after your father took me under his wing, that I came to understand the significance of your actions. By that time, you had become a natural part of my life, as vexing as I occasionally might have found your company."

Rose nods cheerfully. "You always made it a point to be nearby in case I needed help with anything. I actually felt kinda lost after I had arrived back in time, only to realize we had been scattered all over the place."

"And all over time in my case." Laurent adds. "When I met Mother and Master Jack in that desert town, a part of me felt upset that you were not in the group. I believe…that I grew concerned for your wellbeing."

Rose smile grows into a smirk. "Aw, you worried for me? How sweet. I always knew you cared. You try to look stone faced to the world, but you're such a worrywart on the inside, Laurent. Can't leave you for five minutes without you fretting over something."

"And in your case, I dare say those worries are justified, Rose. The gods know whatever shenanigans you come up with when no one is there to supervise you." Laurent counters. "We may have only been apart for a few weeks at most from your point of view, but for me, I spent five years wondering what had befallen of you. And I never want to go through such a thing again." The Mage pinches the bridge of his nose. "When I was reminded of that experience, I was surprised. I understood that I cared for you, but I could not piece together the reason why."

"Until you had a good talk both with me and your mother." I add with some realization.

Laurent nods while adjusting his glasses again (this time with a trembling hand). "To put it simply, I cannot bear the thought of you living on your own, Rose. Someone has to be there for you and make sure you do not get in over your head whenever you decide to set anything into motion. But the only one I could accept to shoulder such a role is…myself."

Rose blinks before she walks up to Laurent, grabs the back of his head, and pulls him in for a kiss right on the lips.

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Back up! Slow down there!

"Rose?! What the heck?!" I shout in disbelief.

"You know, Laurent, there are more romantic ways to confess to a girl." Rose casually remarks as she lets go of Laurent and pulls back.

In response, Laurent does a fantastic impression of a red fish.

"You're not the strongest guy around. Or the most handsome, outspoken, charming, proactive or even witty, for that matter." Rose continues. "But you're reliable, and you understand me – far better than most of the other guys in our generation. And I know I can drive others up the walls, simply by being myself (I blame you, Author). But you? You have the patience to put up with it, even when you don't have to."

"Loath as I am to admit it, I have come to appreciate your personality, quirks and all." Laurent confesses after he manages to reboot his brain. He shakes his head with a smile. "For better or worse, I find no attraction to women with any less personality than you, Rose. And I blame you for that."

Rose waggles a finger in his direction. "You make it sound like it's a bad thing. A guy like you needs more color in his life."

"And I believe you are the one who can provide me with it." Laurent declares. The Mage swallows. "Do you…accept?"

My daughter gives the bespectacled Mage a dry look. "I think that kiss was a big enough clue. That was my first one, you know. Even as crazy as I am, I'd never give that to anyone on a whim."

Laurent nods smiling as he takes Rose's hand in his own. "Good. Then I shall devote my life to paint a picture befitting your beauty, no matter how long it takes."

Rose smiles back. "Now that's more like it. You know, I think we can skip the whole dating thing and go straight for the marriage part. I mean, we've already decided we want each other."

"I do hope our parents approve." Laurent adds nervously.

Rose turns to me. "You'll go along with it, right, Dad?"

I cross my arms and close my eyes. "Hrmm…"

I place a hand on Laurent's shoulder.

"Laurent, I'll be blunt. While I have always expected that my daughter would one day find a man she wishes to marry, the thought of her actually doing it has been one that I had tried to push away for as long as possible. And even then, I had decided that only someone who can meet my standards should be allowed to even court Rose, let alone propose to her." I tell the Mage. "That being said, you may be the only young man I know of outside my family whom I could entrust my daughter to. I'm putting a lot of faith in you, Laurent."

Laurent blinks. "Are you saying what I believe you are saying, Master Jack?"

I smile. "I do. Rose, Laurent, you both have my blessing. I ask only that you make your marriage with my daughter a happy one, Laurent."

The Mage nods resolutely. "That is my intention. And if I need to devote the rest of my life to accomplish this task, then I shall do so gladly."

I pat him on the shoulder. "Then go inform Robin and your parents, Laurent. After all, I'm convinced that they will accept this far easier than I did."

Rose grins. "All right! Let's tell the others while we're at it! Race you, Laurent!"

As my daughter runs off, I look at her fondly. "She's one of a kind, that girl."

Laurent nods. "I could not agree more. I never thought I would hold a woman more dearly in my heart than my mother. Clearly, I have been proven wrong."

I chuckle. "Yeah, that's pretty much what happened when Robin and I became a couple."

"Did she also kiss you when you were unprepared?" Laurent asks curiously.

My chuckle turns into laughter. "She sure did! Melted my brain from the inside out in the process too, just like in your case. Guess that's one more thing I can chalk up that Rose inherited from her mother."

Laurent smiles. "I am not one for passionate moments, though something tells me Rose will change that in the near future. If you would excuse me, Master Jack."

"Oh, one more thing, Laurent." I tell the Mage before he can leave.

"Yes?"

*Shing!*

I have Harvest Moon out in scythe form and pointed at Laurent's privates in a flash. The look I give him is empty of all manner of empathy.

"If I learn that you broke my daughter's heart, I will break your pride as a man. Do we have an understanding?" I warn Laurent with a voice that could set off winter over the whole continent.

As the old saying goes; If you don't have a shotgun to threaten the guy who tries to get fresh with your daughter, a big-ass scythe to the crotch makes for a decent substitute.

Okay, I might have made that one up.

Before Laurent can reply, I get beaned by what quickly reveals itself to be Kirby wrapped in a shell of mana.

"Dad! Stop harassing my boyfriend, or I'm telling Mom!" Rose yells as she catches the deadly plush toy with practiced ease.

Rose and Laurent are now "Lovers"!

Your relationship with Laurent has advanced! Your relationship with Laurent is now "Friends!"

The bond you've nurtured has given birth to a new ability! You can now perform the Union Strike "Death Note" with Laurent!


POV: General

Since the Shepherds couldn't possibly haul the entire convoy into the crater of an active volcano, it was decided that some of their numbers would be stationed outside the battlefield and hide/guard the convoy until the fighting ends. Convincing them to stay wasn't easy, mind you, but it had to be done.

As for the rest of the unit, they basically played the role of live bait the moment the enemy ranks became visible and led them to the heart of the Demon's Ingle.

This is where they are now, lined up in the sweltering heat from the boiling lava, all while waiting for the inevitable battle on a field where anyone could die, not by human hands, but due to the power of nature itself.

On the other side of the crater's bottom, Yen'fay has arrived with a handful of his most trusted soldiers. Only the most loyal ones had the bravery to join their commander into the heart of the Demon's Ingle, and even they feel apprehensive of this move. Even as his troops grimace from the intense heat at the bottom of the volcano's crater, Yen'fay stands tall and unshaken among them. Though whether to boost morale or because the heat simply doesn't bother him is anyone's guess.

As tensions rise on the Dynast side of the battlefield, a rune circle lights up near Yen'fay. A brief flash of light heralds the arrival of Excellus, in all his…rotund presence.

"Why, General, such a melancholic air about you today. Whatever is the problem?" the imperial Sage asks Yen'fay in a conversational tone dripping with mirth. Excellus snaps his fingers. "…Oh, is today the day you face off against your beloved sister? Dear me, of course it is! Well then, of course you'd be in a foul mood…"

"She is a rebel and traitor to the empire." Yen'fay cuts him off tersely. A scowl forms on his face. "I have no sister."

Excellus nods in approval. "Oh, very good, very good – right out of the book, General Yen'fay!" The Sage leans closer to whisper. "And I commend you acting ability…very convincing. I think your men all heard you."

Excellus's glee only grows as he notices Yen'fay's right hand twitch ever so slightly towards his sword. Moreover, a quick glance reveals that every last one of Yen'fay's soldier glances at the two officers in trepidation, almost fearing what should happen, should the Dynast Swordmaster be too provoked.

"In any case, I'm SO glad I can trust you not to take it easy on her ragtag little troupe." Excellus continues unperturbed.

A low growl escapes Yen'fay's lips. His whole arms trembles from restraint at this point.

Excellus giggles. "Yes, we BOTH know why you'd never let any of her comrades escape, don't we? Oh, I know it must be so difficult, General. But think of it this way; You still have a family. A big one! The whole imperial army is your family now!" The giggling turns into full-blown cackling for a brief moment. "*Ahem* Well, I should run. Do tell your little sister I say hello? Ta ta!"

With those words, Excellus exits the area the same way he arrived. The Dynast side grows silent, save for the bubbling of the magma. Yen'fay has grown still, but his soldiers look at him in fear as his murderous intent manifests itself as a dark blue aura that seemingly distorts the air.

"When I am finally free of this yoke…I shall personally feed that maggot to the hounds of Hell." Yen'fay silently swears to himself.

"L-Lord Yen'fay… Is this the right thing to do?" one brave Dynast Sage asks the sword wielding general. "You have heard the news already. If Lady Say'ri has amassed an army strong enough to capture Fort Steiger, then surely-"

"That is enough, Bien'fu." Yen'fay interrupts tersely as his murderous aura dissipates. "We are not the ones to decide on such matters. If Say'ri falls here, then it means she never had a chance to defeat the empire in the first place."

The Sage swallows thickly. "I… Yes, my lord."

Yen'fay draws his sword. "More importantly, can you not feel it?"

At the questioning looks of his soldiers, Yen'fay elaborates.

"There is a storm brewing among the rebels' ranks. Unless you steel yourselves…it will bring about your deaths."

The ominous warning causes Yen'fay's soldiers to line up with trepidation. None of them can feel what their commander talked about, but they know better than to question his judgement.


POV: Jack

Even with my little ventilation trick, I can still feel the sweat forming on my brow in the blazing heat of this volcanic crater. If anyone falls into the lava flowing around this conveniently placed giant platform on solid stone we're standing on, it's practically instant death. To make matters worse, some rumbling to the side alerts us that another chunk of the platform just crumbled and fell into the lava. And we're going to fight an elite force of the imperial army while standing on this shrinking battlefield.

Say'ri draws Ivory Gale with a steely glare. "It is time. To battle!"


Quest alert:
Main quest: Sibling blades
Stuck between the Valmese empire's two remaining main military factions, Robin and Basilio pull a tactical maneuver that is suicidal at best, in a desperate attempt to keep the Conqueror at bay while you're off to confront Yen'fay. Said maneuver jumps into the territory of lunacy as you decide to even the odds by choosing a crater full of boiling lava and an ever-shrinking stone platform as your battlefield. Only Yen'fay himself and his most loyal soldiers would dare face you in such a dangerous place, which is exactly why Robin's plan has worked like a charm up to this point. The very air burns as Say'ri draws her blade, ready to face her brother in a battle to the death.
Objectives: Defeat the enemy commander. Don't let Say'ri die
Rewards: 18 000 EXP, 18 000 gold
Bonus objectives: ?
Bonus rewards: ?, 1 000 EXP, 1 000 gold
Failure: Defeat inside the Demon's Ingle means that the volcanic crater will become your grave. To even hope for ashes to remain of your corpse is a stretch.


The hairs at the back of my neck rise as I read the quest alert in front of my eyes. Wind picks up around me.

Robin glances at me worried. "Jack? What's the matter?"

Yen'fay… Yen'fay!

I blast across the battlefield with a supercharged Gale step. As my target comes into my line of sight, a Traced replica of Lu Bu's Heavenly Halberd appears in my hand amid a shower of sparks.

BGM: Lu Bu's theme, Dynasty Warriors 8 music

"YEEEN'FAAAAAY!" *KRANG!*

Sparks fly as Yen'fay skids backwards. His arms briefly shake as he holds my initial attack back with his sword.

"You will pay for the lives you have taken, you cur!" I snarl as I keep pushing. "You will pay with your BLOOD!"

Yen'fay manages to disengage our blade lock right before the lance of wind that I channeled through my weapon spears through his previous position. I skid back a bit, glaring blazing murder at the man responsible for the death of my whole team.

The shocked gasps of the Dynast soldiers around us is of little consequence to me. On the other hand, getting between me and Yen'fay is a whole different matter.

*Shink!* "Guah!"

"You're in my way." I mutter coldly as I flick a Griffon Rider off the end of my halberd.

Yen'fay crouches into a ready stance. Without a word, his soldiers follow suit, all eyes focused on me.

"I said…" I growl as the winds pick up around me again. "…that you're all in my way!"

The wind pressure is enough to give me a slight opening to go directly for Yen'fay. I lunge at him with a battle cry, halberd ready to pierce him through. Yen'fay ducks under my thrust and deflects it with his sword before he pivots and swings as I pass him by. I stab the Heavenly Halberd into the ground and vault myself over the swing before I pull the polearm with me and land in a ready stance.

Yen'fay takes the initiative this time, feinting to the side as he approaches me in quick bursts of speed. Our weapons clash in a frenzied dance as I try every move I can think of to either deflect Yen'fay's fluid swordplay or find an opening to skewer him. In the middle of the dance, I raise my weapon to block a kick from Yen'fay. While it prevented any follow-up attacks from him, it also put a bit of distance between us.

And that's when I notice an ethereal blue sword floating in the corner of my vision, moments before it darts towards me like an arrow.

"What the-" *Clang!*

Was that Vergil's Summoned Sword?! How did he-

No, I don't have time to think about that. If Yen'fay can use a move like that in combat, his threat level just skyrocketed.

I twirl the Heavenly Halberd a few turns before I settle in a low stance. Yen'fay answers with a stance of my own before we both charge each other. Sparks fly as our weapons meet in a mutual thrust. While the tip of my polearm slides along the blade of Amatsu, I crouch and lower my position to shove Yen'fay's sword upwards while I wind up for a follow-up swing. Yen'fay puts his foot on the pole while I'm mid-swing, jumps over my swing and comes down moments later with his sword ready to split me in half.

*Clang!*

I grit my teeth as I go down on a knee. I managed to block the swing, but that block was sloppy at best. Yen'fay jumps back moments later, revealing dozens of ethereal swords hanging in the air above me, all pointed down. Yen'fay swings his free hand down, commanding the swords to rain down on me. I spin the Heavenly Halberd above me in response, Reinforcing myself to make sure I can stop the onslaught of blades threatening to turn me into a pincushion.

Right as the last sword shatters, Yen'fay charges in. My balance is still a bit off after I blocked all those swords, so I can't form a proper block against Amatsu. The branched sword swings upwards, knocking the Heavenly Halberd spinning out of my hands and into the air. I go with the momentum from the shock and backflip away from Yen'fay's follow-up before I send a kick right at his torso. Yen'fay blocks the kick with the flat of Amatsu, but is sent skidding back from the force. I take the breathing room I'm given and charge wind magic in my right palm. That's when the Heavenly Halberd comes back down. A little bit of Telekinesis lets me line up the butt end of the pole right as it aligns with my shoulder.

"Hah!"

I slam my palm on the back of the weapon, causing it to fly at Yen'fay like a bullet. Yen'fay manages to lean out of the way with an inch to spare. By the time his attention returns to me, I have already crossed half the distance between us with a Hurricane fist at the ready. I let loose a battle cry as I close in-

*Flash!*


-and send my fist against Lissa's face.

Whoa, hold up!

BGM ends

*Fwoom!* "Eep!"

I manage to stop my fist right in front of Lissa. Thank goodness I can apply Telekinesis on myself.

More importantly…

"Lissa, why did you pull me back with a Rescue spell?!" I ask bewildered.

Before Lissa can answer, Maribelle swings her parasol hard enough at my head that my vision gets filled with stars. Seriously, what is that thing made of?

"What you should be asking yourself is what business you have, charging straight into enemy lines with no backup, you reckless fool." the Valkyrie counters sternly.

I round on the blonde aristocrat. "What the heck, Maribelle! I was in the middle of something here!"

Maribelle points her parasol in my face. "I will not tolerate you taking such a tone to the one who just saved your life. It is one thing that you cause us all stress, but an ungrateful response is unacceptable."

"I had the enemy right where I wanted him!" I yell back. "You didn't need to pull me back!"

"Jack, will you just calm down for a second and look yourself over?!" Lissa yells back at me.

I blink confused and do just that, wondering what Lissa could be referring to. Wait, why does my chest sting?

I notice a red stain about where my heart is. That's also about where the stinging pain seems to come from. And that's when I notice a stab wound. It's shallow, but I can't figure out when it was inflicted on me. I mean, the only one to point a sword at me was Yen'fay, and I managed to block everything he threw at me up until I got pulled ba-

My eyes widen in shock as my mind goes back to the moment before Lissa cast her Rescue spell on me. Even though Yen'fay's form was a little off from dodging my improvised halberd launch, he could still poise his sword to strike. And that sword was pointed…right at my chest.

Dear Naga… Had Lissa pulled me back just a split-second later, Yen'fay would have pierced my heart before I could hit him.

I gulp as I bring up my hand to the wound.

"Now do you understand the folly of your actions? We did not even need to see you to realize that your life was in danger." Maribelle chastises me. "And it only gets worse by the fact that the enemy seems to have a means to attack us all the way from where they stand. They almost hit Nowi with a lance. A lance, of all things!"

My introspection stops as I hear what nearly befell my sister figure. I look around for the young Manakete and find her sitting on the ground with a spooked look on her face. I notice the source of her fear a short distance away. There, imbedded halfway into the stone, the Heavenly Halberd sticks out with cracks spreading from the entry point.

A chilling feeling grips my spine as I realize what just happened. When I sent the Heavenly Halberd flying at Yen'fay, I didn't just narrowly miss him – I nearly impaled Nowi through the head.

I sink down on my knees and look at my trembling hands in horror. "…No… I just- What did I-"

It's one thing that I nearly lost my life in my anger, but to have someone I love suffer the same fate, even when they had nothing to do with it? Nothing could justify that.

I place my face in my hands as the guilt washes over me. "I… I'm a monster. A danger to all around me…"

"Wait, you're the one who did that?!" Lissa asks in disbelief.

"I- I didn't want this." I plead desperately. "I only had my eyes on avenging my team. What good am I if it means being the death of the ones I care for? I can't stay here. If I don't leave, it's only a matter of time-"

*Smack!*

Everything stops as the stinging feeling of a slap on my cheek pierces through my mind. I slowly look up to find Robin glaring at me.

"Don't you dare act like you're the only one regretting their decisions, Jack." my wife tells me sternly.

"Robin?"

Robin clenches her fists. "I have regretted the plan of attack that I drafted for our assault on the main force of the imperial army ever since we were forced to flee from Fort Steiger. I thought I had planned for every eventuality. I believed I had taken every necessary step to make sure we would at least achieve a stalemate on the other two fronts. The only time I truly doubted my plan was when you hesitated in agreeing to it. But when you did agree, I convinced myself that we truly stood a chance against the full might of the empire all at once." A tear slips down her cheek. "And when news arrived of the complete defeat on both fronts, how do you think I felt? I felt like a failure! That I had let the entire army down! Our allies! Our home!"

I get back up, even as I stare at Robin in disbelief. "You've carried this burden all on your own all this time? Why didn't you tell me?"

"How could I tell you?! How was I even supposed to reach you when you closed yourself off from the whole world?!" Robin shouts back as tears stream down her face. "I could have done the same as you; run away from it all and stew in my guilt. But I chose not to. And do you know why?"

"Why…?"

Even through her tears, I see an unbending resolve in Robin's eyes. "Because I knew, that if I gave up and admitted defeat now, everything we have done up until this point will have been for nothing. If I surrender now, I would spit on the sacrifices our allies made when they marched towards what would be their final battles. More importantly, giving up means that I surrender everything I hold dear to a tyrant that I would never accept as a ruler. And who is to say that any of us would even live beyond that, without facing execution for defying him? So, no. I refuse to surrender now. I will fight, no matter the odds, to protect our home, our freedom and our lives."

Robin closes her eyes as she starts trembling. "But I can't do it alone. I am not strong enough. If I am to ever stand a chance in this battle, I need you, Jack." The look in her eyes has become pleading by the time they open again. "So please… Don't throw your life away. Stay with me."

I take a deep breath and exhale. She needs me. That's all that matters right now.

I draw Harvest Moon while my eyes grow steely. "No matter what happens in this battle, I swear I will never too far away to protect you."

A relieved smile grows on Robin's face. "Thank you, Jack." She quickly takes my free hand. "But I already told you, I'm the one who will stand by your side in this battle."

"Will you even be able to keep up with me?"

Robin's smile turns into a confident smirk. "You know just as well as I do how hard I have trained, even before this war."

Say'ri approaches me with a nervous look. "Sir, Jack, I-"

"We can talk later, Say'ri." I interrupt her. "I'm sorry to say we're out of time before the battle. Think you're ready for this? This is Yen'fay we're talking about."

Say'ri nods determined. "As ready as I'll ever be. Leave him to me. Please."

I nod. "Then you'd better make sure to lead the charge. I know I'll back down, but I can't say the same for the rest of us."

Say'ri turns towards the imperial side and readies Ivory Gale in a flourish. "I am well aware. Rest assured, I will not falter."

BGM: Volcanic rim, Street Fighter 4 music

The screech of a griffon reaches our ears. A pair of Griffon Riders are headed our way. Looks like the imperials decided to take the initiative in this fight. Virion rides ahead while he readies his Silver Bow. A Paladin charges at him at full tilt to intercept the Bow Knight, only to hit air as Virion hops onto his saddle and then off his horse to line up a shot at one of the Griffon Riders at an even height. The Paladin almost gets bowled over by Panne moments later, forcing him to focus on the agile Taguel. Meanwhile in the air, the Griffon Rider manages to swerve out of the way of Virion's arrow while Virion himself is left defenseless in the air. The second Griffon Rider swoops in to chop him right out of the sky, only to ascend at the last second to dodge Sumia's Arcwind spell. The Dark Flier flies in and grabs Virion's free hand before she helps him up on her pegasus. The Bow Knight makes a quick gesture in thanks before he jumps off the flying mount and manages to line up a perfect headshot on his target this time. The second Griffon Rider loops back for another attack run.

Back on the ground, the Paladin carefully maneuvers his horse while trying to find an opening to stab Panne. The Taguel manages to sidestep the thrusts easily enough, but can't lunge without running the risk of getting stabbed mid-jump.

"Allow me!" Virion shouts as he jumps onto the Paladin's horse.

The maneuver startles both the Paladin and his mount. Panne notices the incoming Griffon Rider behind the thrashing horse and catches on to Virion's plan. She turns and builds up speed for a bigger jump. As Panne swerves back into the fray, Virion gains a good enough foothold to jump over the confused Paladin and snipes a headshot straight down. As the Bow Knight lands back down, Panne leaps at full speed…

*Squawk!* "Augh!"

…right into the second Griffon rider and knocks both rider and mount to the ground.

"My turn!" *Brzzt!*

And then Sumia finishes the job with a well-placed Arcthunder spell, frying the Griffon Rider to a crisp.

Nah backflips away from an Assassin's sword before she gets back up in a stance while bouncing on her feet. The Assassin crouches low while he flips his Killing Edge into a reverse grip. The Dynast sword wielder takes the initiative and feints a diagonal slash before he smoothly transitions into a thrust. Nah frantically jumps away, noting with annoyance that a bit of her left braid got cut off. As the Assassin presses the attack, the half-manakete notices that she's approaching the edge of the platform fast. Her feet are almost at the edge when the Assassin steps in low and aims a kick at her stomach.

That's when Nah catches the Assassin by surprise by jumping off the edge. Translucent pink dragon wings appear on her back, allowing her to fly over the molten stone.

"Ha! You can't catch me from here!" Nah taunts.

The Assassin switches out his sword for a bow without a word.

"Oh, come on! That's not fai- Eep!" Nah exclaims before she's forced to dive out of the way of the arrows.

The Assassin shows remarkable aim as one shot grazes a wing. The hit is enough to disrupt Nah's flying, letting the Assassin line up a killing shot.

"Not happenin'!"

Sparks travel over the ground the Assassin stands on before a portion of its tilts up towards the edge. The Valmese soldier reacts quickly and jumps back from the rising platform, only to land right where Brady waits with his armored hand ready.

*Wham!*

The haymaker causes the Assassin to see stars as Nah dives in while covered in flames.

"WIDE open!" *Boom!*

"Ever heard of friendly fire, Nah?! You almost toasted me!" Brady yells as the dust settles.

"Whoops! My bad." the half-manakete apologizes half-heartedly before she rushes off in search for more opponents.

"Orah!" *Clang!*

The Warrior growls as he pushes down his massive axe against Harvest Moon.

I smirk back in return. "What? That all you got?"

The Warrior smirks. "Maybe. But there's more where that came from."

I notice a red rune circle glowing beneath my feet – and only my feet.

"Have fun burning in Hell!" the Warrior gleefully shouts before he makes a sudden push and dives away.

*Fwoom!*

As flames erupt from the rune circle, the Warrior gives his ally Sage a thumbs-up.

"Works every time." the Sage confidently claims.

"Gotta say, that's one heck of a team combination you two have going." I commend from behind them.

The Dynast soldiers turn to me in shock.

"How did you-"

I brush my fingers against my robe while smirking. "What can I say? You guys are way too slow for me. More importantly, I have a team combo of my own to speak of. Things are about to get toasty for you two."

An even bigger rune circle lights up underneath the two dynasts' feet before they're consumed in a towering inferno.

I give Robin a thumbs-up. "Nice way of capitalizing on that distraction, honey."

Robin snaps her tome shut with a pleased smile. "Too easy."

The victory gets short-lived as a Swordmaster and a Hero lunge in to double team my wife. Robin dodges the Hero's sword, but the Swordmaster manages to reach slashing range faster than Robin can run.

*Clang!*

"It takes two to tango." I comment smirking as I block the Swordmaster's slash.

The Dynast sword wielder breaks the weapon lock and jumps back to his ally.

Robin pulls out her Levin Sword. "A two-on-two, is it?"

I shoulder Harvest Moon and form a sphere of wind magic in my free hand. "Oh yeah. Let's dance."

The Hero charges in first, shield raised to bulldoze through anything Robin or I respond with. Robin's answer is to charge and meet him head-on. I follow suit right behind my wife. As the two reach striking range, I cast the wind sphere at Robin's feet and propel her over the Hero. My wife descends on the Swordmaster with sparks dancing over her Levin Sword. At the same time, sparks fly as Harvest Moon's blade slides along the Hero's Silver Sword. The Hero angles his sword in our blade lock and pushes me away with his pauldron. I duck under his shield bash and shove Harvest Moon's pommel at his gut in response. The Hero staggers back a bit and grits his teeth before he goes back into the fray.

On Robin's end, my wife keeps the Swordmaster on his toes with carefully aimed Fire spells mixed among the swings and lightning bolts from her Levin Sword. While it keeps her opponent at bay, the Swordmaster proves too agile for her to land any decisive hits. The Swordmaster times a moment when Robin switches between sword and magic, using that slight opening to rush in and attempt to end it in one blow.

I slide along the ground and swing Harvest Moon at the Hero's ankles. The Hero, naturally, jumps over my swing, allowing me to slide under him and towards Robin. I grab my wife's shoulder and pull her back right as the Swordmaster thrusts his Silver Sword. While I hold my ground against him, Robin pivots and halts the Hero's advance with a close-range Arcwind spell.

The Swordmaster takes a step back and readies his sword in a low stance before he lunges in with a barrage of slashes. Left, below, thrust, parry, feint, overhead, right, duck low, right again. I manage to catch him on that second right slash and force a stalemate that finally keeps him in place. While the Swordmaster's arms shake from trying to push my sword back, I smirk.

"Hah!"

I push back with my full strength and send the Swordmaster flying back. By the time he lands, I'm already in front of him with Harvest Moon in full swing. Right, thrust, jump kick, overhead, cartwheel, butterfly kick, low sweep, rising slash, random T-pose, snap kick, pull him back with Telekinesis, flip Harvest Moon into reverse grip and slash him as he flies past.

*Krk… Kling!*

That last slash splits his Silver Sword in two while I also score a hit in his side.

On the other end, Robin enters a battle of switching tactics as she alternates between her Levin Sword and spell tome while the Hero switches between shield blocks and bashes and quick swordplay. The stalemate breaks as Robin strikes the Hero's shield on purpose while channeling enough mana through her sword to cause his whole left arm to spasm. This allows my wife to slip into his guard and, to his surprise, shove her spell tome into his face.

My wife smirks. "Predictable."

Robin casts even more lightning magic from her tome. The point-blank spell sends enough magic voltage through the Hero's body to make his whole body shake in uncontrollable spasms. Robin uses that opening to springboard off his shield and vault over him.

Robin opens her tome and chants an aria as a red glow shines from the pages. A rune circle of the same color appears above the two Dynast soldiers, now shoved together from our combined efforts. At the same time, a green rune circle spins over my raised palm while a second one, matching Robin's in size, appears above it.

I grin. "Ready and…"

Robin matches my grin. "Go!"

I swipe my arm down just as Robin snaps her tome shut. First, a boulder-sized fireball appears from Robin's rune circle. Then, a vortex spews from mine and propels Robin's fireball at breakneck speeds towards our opponents.

*BOOM!*

Our spells explode in a swirling inferno that swallows up both Dynast soldiers. By the time it dies down, I can't even see the ashen remains.

"How did we pull that off without any pre-planning?" my wife asks bemused.

I shrug. "Guess our teamwork's just that good. We rock."

And that's when Severa comes rolling in. The redheaded Mercenary pushes herself up with a defiant glare. I notice the scuff marks littering her body, as well as how labored her breath is.

"Severa? What happened?" I ask concerned.

"We could use some help here." Severa groans. "Hate to say this, but those dynasts are kicking our butts." She points her sword against an approaching Berserker. "As for you, I'll make you pay for getting my face smudged in dirt. Do you have any idea how hard it is to keep a face clean while on the field?"

Sigh. If Severa can complain about her looks while in a battle, it means she's pretty much fine. More importantly, I notice several of the others struggle in their confrontations against Yen'fay's soldiers. This is bad. With the ever-shrinking battleground that we're standing on, getting stuck in a stalemate works against us. Better find a way to even the odds fast.

It's a good thing Inigo seems to still go strong. That could give us the edge we need.

I glance at Robin. She nods back, even though I have yet to say anything.

"Go. I know you will make it work."

I nod in thanks before I dash towards Inigo. Jump over a Wyvern Lord's lance, slide under a Thoron spell, sidestep a few arrows and dropkick Inigo's opponent in the face!


Union Strike: Breath of Light

"Inigo, get ready!"

The male dancer smirks. "Let's dance."

Inigo summons Hermit Purple and lashes out with the ethereal vines in every direction. While it does deter any Dynast soldiers from pressing on, the main purpose is to bring our wounded allies close. Meanwhile, I zip in between the vines while alternating between reinforcing Inigo's parameter and pushing our allies closer to Inigo. Any dynast who gets too close first meets a fierce lashing of thorny vines before they run into a wall of wind that knocks them back. Said wall of wind slowly becomes more visible, revealing itself in the shape of a dome.

I clap my hands together. "Almost done. Get ready!"

The air inside the dome gets infused with healing magic as I activate Pure breeze and fill the whole space with it.

A sparking golden glow envelopes Inigo's arm as he raises it with a grin. "I'm a man of passion!"

The Mercenary slams his fist into the ground. Inigo channels his Hamon energy through the entirety of Hermit Purple, giving them the same golden glow as his arm. The ethereal vines lunge at our allies like snakes and pierce every single one of them through the solar plexus, thus knocking the air out of their lungs. As Inigo pulls Hermit Purple out, there's no wound left behind – just the Hamon energy that he shoved into their chests. And as our allies quickly suck in new air into their lungs, the healing magic provided from Pure breeze gets inhaled alongside it. The result is an area-wide healing from two sources at the same time.

As our allies marvel at their wounds disappearing, Inigo and I high-five.

"Solid job."

"You work fast."


I dispel the wind dome to let our allies get back into the fray. With the worst wounds healed, we're pretty much set for the final push.

*Shing! Click. Shing! Clang!*

I look behind me and see Say'ri go at it with Ivory Gale. For someone who got a new weapon quite recently, she's gotten quite adept at using it. One thing that I note is that she seems to incorporate more iai-themed moves into her fighting style. One such instance has her do the draw-swing-sheathe in the general direction of a Falcon Knight who's clearly out of range.

*Vvm! Shing!*

BGM ends

…Or so I thought. That swing sent a trail of displaced dust towards the Falcon Knight before an orb of displaced air pops up right at her position and the sound of a slash echoes through the air. By the time the orb disappears, the Falcon Knight falls to the ground with at least three deep gashes across her torso.

You're telling me that's the Twister swing?! That's Vergil's Judgement Orb, for crying out loud!

"How did you learn to do that?" I ask surprised.

Say'ri calmly puts Ivory Gale into its sheath again. "I practiced whenever I found an opportunity while we were rushing to the southern half of the continent. One difference I noticed with this new sword was that the wind blades that I could launch from it felt easier to control than before. So I tried to see how far my control of them could extend. I am quite pleased with the results, if I may say so myself."

I nod impressed. "That's some dedicated training, if I ever heard any of it."

To my surprise, Say'ri doesn't seem particularly happy about my response.

"Something the matter?" I ask.

"It's just… I too feel guilt over having a hand in the plan that split our army and turned this war into a battle on three fronts." Say'ri elaborates. "Seeing the sorrow you lost yourself in after news of your team's demise and the rage you flew into right before the battle made me understand how hard all this is for you, Jack."

Right as Say'ri moves to bow, I stop her with a hand on the shoulder.

"There's a time and place for everything, Say'ri." I tell the Swordmaster gently. "If you feel any remorse regarding what's happened these past few weeks, we can talk about it afterwards."

Warning! Warning! Boss level enemy approaching!

I scowl in the direction of the enemy ranks. "Right now, our biggest concern is headed right towards us. It's time."

The battlefield falls silent, save for the bubbling lava, as the footsteps of a lone man echo through the air. A slim, yet sturdy body approaches our position with resolute steps, while a long ponytail of silver hair swishes in time with the rhythmic steps. An impassive face gauges both me and Say'ri, as impossible as that may sound, considering the fact that the eyes of the man are closed. And, most eye-catching of all, is the sword in his hand. A simple hilt marks the beginning of a golden, straight blade. Six smaller blades protrude and bend out of its length like branches, giving the sword a rationally impractical, yet otherworldly aesthetic appearance.

It's the image of a man on a mission. And his objective is standing in front of him. This is the man I was foolish enough to attack without a plan beyond reckless frontal assault. This…is Yen'fay.


Yen'fay Lvl 75 Class: Swordmaster

One of the three highest ranked commanders in the imperial army of Valm, as well as the ruler of the land of Chon'sin. Yen'fay is renowned as the greatest swordsman on the continent, having proven an exceptional skill with the sword since a young age and only getting better as time passed. Adding to his fame is the feat of being the first warrior to ever be struck by the Conqueror and live to tell the tale. It was after this clash that he pledged loyalty to the empire, with most Dynast lords following suit soon after. Though his face rarely betrays any emotion, Yen'fay cares deeply for his homeland and his sister, Say'ri. Because of this, few know of the deep conflict raging inside him.

Titles:
Blade of the Imperial Triad (+ 15 % Attack speed, + 10 % damage with swords)
Ruler of Chon'sin (+ 10 % CHAR)

HP: 12 400 / 12 400
MP: 4 800 / 4 800

STR: 75
VIT: 98
DEX: 140
INT: 42
WIS: 50
CHAR: 70.4 (64 * 1.1)

Items:
Amatsu (equipped)


I glance at Say'ri. "I'll ask again; are you sure you want this?"

The Dynast princess nods. "Yes. Forgive my selfishness, but this fight is mine."

"Fair enough." I relent.

I turn to any Dynast soldier behind us while I shift Harvest Moon into scythe form. A single glare has any mook standing in my sight halt in hesitation.

"Anyone who dares interfere in this battle will meet their end at my blade." I warn them coldly.

Robin shakes her head as she catches up. "Jack, you can't be serious! You're letting Say'ri go up alone against one of the strongest warriors in the imperial army!"

I nod. "I am. More importantly, I'm letting her settle a matter that is long overdue. This is more than just two sword wielders crossing blades, Robin."

My wife shakes her head. "If you think I'm just going to let this stand-"

I put a hand on her shoulder. "Robin, this battle isn't about victory anymore."

My wife looks at me in disbelief. "Not about victory? Jack, our main priority from the start was just to survive!"

"Yes, in the sense that we had to survive to this moment. But right now, we're not in a war. This is now a family feud about to be settled. We have no business stepping in. We're only allowed to watch. If any one of us step out of line, I doubt either sibling will forgive the offender."

"Do you even listen to yourself!? It was bad enough that you let your emotions get the better of you in this battle, and now you want to put the life of one of our most valued allies on the line for a personal matter!"

"It's because this is a personal matter for Say'ri that I allow this to happen, Robin, and you should as well. Don't you see? The very reason why Say'ri chose to join us – the very reason why she's fighting in this war at all – is standing right in front of her. More importantly, it's because I believe in Say'ri that I can let her have this battle. I have faith that she will walk away from this battle alive. Do you?"

Robin purses her lips. "…What makes you believe in her so much?"

I turn back to the impending conflict between the siblings. "She has fought tooth and nail to get this far. She won't back down from any decision she has made at this point. That tenacity is her single greatest edge. Besides, she knows Yen'fay better than any of us."


POV: General

The Dynast siblings come to a halt half a dozen paces from each other. Neither show any emotion, but the atmosphere is thick with tension.

"Brother. I won't ask you why… We are well beyond that point now." Say'ri tells Yen'fay as she draws Ivory Gale. "I will speak it plain: I cannot forgive you, and neither can I let you live."

"I've asked you for nothing, Sister, least of all your forgiveness." Yen'fay replies coolly.

Say'ri's impassive mask is the first to break. "But you will have my justice, like it or no! You, who stood by in silence while everyone around you suffered! While villages and fields burned, you watched but said nothing… While Mother and Father were murdered – you said nothing! Nothing, before you ran to the arms of the one man responsible for all of it!" The hand holding Ivory Gale trembles as Say'ri's grip tightens around the hilt. "Your silence was deafening. Maddening. Even now…have you nothing to say?!"

Yen'fay's answer is complete silence. No emotion, no words. Nothing.

"Damn you, Yen'fay!" Say'ri shouts. "If you refuse to say anything, I will make your sword answer for you! Ready your blade, and let it sing your final words!"


AN: The following scene will contain moments that I imagine happened between both siblings back when they were still children. Whenever you see the transition "Flashback" and the text goes italic (like this), imagine Say'ri and Yen'fay to be at least ten years younger than their present selves.


BGM: Last one standing, Simple plan

As Say'ri and Yen'fay clash, a boulder plunges into the lava and lights up the moment of battle in a timeless silhouette. Sparks fly as their respective swords grind against each other. The siblings break apart from the weapon lock before they briefly retake their stances and get ready to begin their deadly dance of blades.

Yen'fay opens with a thrust that gets parried by Say'ri. Say'ri responds with a sidestep and goes in for a horizontal slash, only to be stopped cold as Yen'fay pushes his shoulder against her. The brother follows up with an overhead slash. Say'ri manages to jump aside before the blade makes contact, though the swing still leaves a sizable gouge in the stone. Say'ri leaps into the air and comes down with an overhead swing of her own.

*Clang!*

Yen'fay's legs buckle by the slightest amount as he blocks his sister's attack. But that's about as far as Say'ri can go in this clash, as Yen'fay's strength proves superior. Yen'fay pushes Say'ri back and lines up a thrust at her heart. Say'ri manages to block-

Flashback

-though the force behind the blow knocks young Say'ri on her back.

As the princess looks up, she sees her brother offer his hand with a kind smile.

"Come now, Say'ri. I know you can do better than that. Want to spar another round?"

Say'ri nods happily and accepts her brother's hand.

Flashback end

-and remains standing on her feet, though she still slides back a few steps. Say'ri glares at her brother as she lowers her guard and charges in for the next engagement.

Yen'fay's movements become more aggressive this time around, opting for extending his slashes further. Just as Say'ri adjusts herself to slip into the gaps in Yen'fay's guard, an ethereal sword shimmers into existence behind his shoulder and darts at her like an arrow. Say'ri parries, but is also denied her chance as Yen'fay regains his balance and steps in with a brutal horizontal slash that-

Flashback

-Say'ri dodges at the last second. The younger sibling retaliates with a rising slash that forces Yen'fay to step back-

Flashback end

-which provides Say'ri the opening to briefly sheathe Ivory Gale and send an iai slash at her brother.

Yen'fay instinctively tightens his guard, though it matters little when the very space around him seemingly turns into a sword slash. A small measure of satisfaction fills Say'ri as she notices a bit of blood leaking from the corner of Yen'fay's lips. Yen'fay frowns before he moves back into the fray with half a dozen ethereal swords in his wake. The spectral blades overtake him halfway through and force Say'ri into a frantic series of blocks. By the time the onslaught ends, Yen'fay is in swinging range while Say'ri has yet to take a proper stance. Yen'fay's overhead swing is heavy enough to force Say'ri down on a knee.

Say'ri's arms tremble as she struggles to hold back Amatsu. Yen'fay adds on the pressure as he leans closer to his sister.

"Even now, you are too weak, Sister. With no strength, you accomplish nothing." Yen'fay berates Say'ri.

Say'ri's mind goes back to that fateful day when her whole life crumbled to pieces. The burning mansion where her parents lay dead in a pool of their blood. Destruction littering the streets of the capital as far she could see. And Yen'fay walking towards Walhart – the man responsible for it all – only to take a knee before the armored giant and plead his loyalty.

Say'ri grits her teeth. "Those words…only reveal your hypocrisy, you traitor!"

Say'ri angles Ivory Gale enough to make Amatsu slide along the curved blade and have Yen'fay lose his balance. Say'ri darts in with her head and slams her forehead into Yen'fay's face, causing the elder Swordmaster to stumble back.

Say'ri rushes in and unleashes a flurry of swings with Ivory Gale in one hand and the sheath in the other. The combo ends with Say'ri sheathing Ivory Gale again as the air around her shimmers with power. "Submit!"

The Dynast princess vanishes in a blur that darts around Yen'fay. She comes to a stop with her back facing him a few seconds later, while sliding Ivory Gale back into its sheathe.

*Clink*

The moment the sword is all the way in, dozens of streaks of light cut through the air itself before they manifest as deep, bleeding gashes across Yen'fay's body.

BGM ends

As Yen'fay falls down on a knee, he uses Amatsu as a crutch to maintain what little balance he can. Even while bleeding through several slash wounds and panting from exhaustion, the former ruler of Chon'sin smiles at his sister.

"Say'ri… You have grown…so strong…"

Say'ri turns to face her brother, though there is no triumph in her expression – only disbelief and anger mixed in her own tired state.

"…Do… Do you mock me? I have seen you best swordplay. That was not it. You went easy on me…but why?"

Yen'fay takes a deep breath as the very act proves challenging in his state. "What I could not tell you in life…I say with my death."

Say'ri starts to tremble as she realizes that her brother has less than a minute left of his life. "But, Yen'fay…"

"You have found…strong comrades…" Yen'fay wheezes out. "I no longer…need fear for you… I die…in peace…"

With those final words, Yen'fay collapses. As Amatsu slips from his grip and clatters to the ground, Yen'fay lies lifeless, a pool of blood forming under him from his numerous wounds.

"Yen'fay, wait! What do you mean? Why?!" Say'ri shouts with growing desperation. "Don't leave me with more silence – not this time! Yen'fay!"

But silence is the only answer she gets, save for the ever-present flow of lava in the heart of the Demon's Ingle.

Yen'fay has been defeated!

Say'ri has leveled up! Say'ri has leveled up!


POV: Jack

I sweep my gaze over the soldiers who were under Yen'fay's command. The moment they realized he had been defeated, they all stopped fighting. To cement that fact, Say'ri faces them with a stern expression.

"I do not intend to slaughter my own fellow countrymen. My brother has fallen. Lay down your arms, and I give my word that none of you shall suffer the same fate."

The enemy soldiers drop their weapons – with surprising speed and barely any reluctance at that.

"It seems it's finally over." I remark among the clatter of weapons hitting the ground.

"Thankfully." Robin sighs relieved. "The battle at Fort Steiger felt like a warmup compared to this one."

"You sound concerned." I note.

My wife nods. "Say'ri told us that Yen'fay's host rivals Walhart's. We only fought a portion of that host today, and it still pushed us farther than any battle we have fought before. Just imagine our struggle if we have to face the Conqueror's full might."

"We'll have to grow stronger as we go, then." I propose.

Robin shakes her head. "Jack, people don't grow significantly stronger in the span of mere weeks of marching. Well, unless they're you. If only there was a military force that could bolster our own ranks…"

"What's to say there are not?" I ask. "When word of this battle comes out, I'd imagine there will be at least a few local lords who would consider joining our cause – if only temporarily."

"Let's hope that is the case."

I walk up to Say'ri and put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, you okay?"

"I- I will be fine. More importantly, our victory is secured. Yen'fay has fallen." Say'ri replies. The Dynast princess lets out a shaky breath. "I will never understand why he joined Walhart… His reasons die with him."

"But oh, what a death it was!" a slimy voice echoes through the burning air.

A rune circle appears close to us before it emits a flash of light. It dies down to reveal Excellus, in all his pudgy gaudiness.

"Did you see the grief etched on his face? The mix of longing and pain in his eyes?" the smug Sage asks gleefully. "He had become such an accomplished actor, but that was all too real, hee hee!"

*Bam!*

Excellus gets floored by another sucker punch to the face, courtesy of me.

"Gah! Who would- You! This is the second time you dare strike my face, you…you peasant!" Excellus shouts indignant.

"And I would keep pummeling you into the ground if I didn't fear that you could infect me with your ugliness due to excessive close contact, fatso." I counter dryly.

Before Excellus can throw out a reply, he finds Ivory Gale pointed at him. The sharp blade is only matched by the sharp glare that Say'ri sends his way.

"You have some nerve, speaking of my brother in my presence, you loathsome toad." Say'ri tells him coldly. "What would you know about him?"

The smug grin returns on the imperial Sage's face. "More than you, princess of Chon'sin. And I would watch that mouth of yours… I am honoring Yen'fay's sacrifice by not killing you now. But even I have my limits."

A brief flash of confusion crosses over Say'ri's face before the steely anger returns. "…What? What do you mean "sacrifice"?"

Excellus grin widens – more than I thought was humanly possible. "Oopsie! Did I just spill the beans? Hya ha ha ha ha! I'm so sorry, but I promised your dear brother I'd never tell…"

Say'ri tightens her grip on Ivory Gale as the blade is enveloped in razor sharp wind magic. "Explain yourself, snake – or die!"

"Bah! As if YOU could harm ME!" Excellus fires back with a sudden mood swing towards incensed cruelty. "YOU only live by MY grace, you ungrateful WRETCH! I could have had you killed countless times! And I would have gone through with it too, if it wasn't for that meddling fool!"

Say'ri's arm shakes as her restraint approaches its limit. "Enough talking around it – say what you mean!"

Now that I look around, I notice that just about every single dynast around us look like they're a hair's breadth away from dogpiling Excellus and turning him into paste. I thought they looked determined before during the battle, but now they look hellbent on their task.

Excellus's shoulder shake as he chuckles. The chuckles turn into laughter. The laughter turns into a cackling that remind me of nails on a chalk board.

"Oh, did Yen'fay not groan out the truth as you cut him to bloody pieces? No, I suppose not. He was always so quiet. And proud…honorable, I think they call it?" the Sage explains when he finally catches his breath. Excellus shrugs while shaking his head. "Yet he swallowed his pride and cast aside his honor – all to protect his beloved kin." Excellus gives Say'ri a condescending grin. "That's right, Little Sis; he did it…to save you."

For the first time since we stepped into this hellish pit, I see doubt on Say'ri's face.

The Dynast princess shakes her head as she subconsciously takes a step back. "What?! Lies… You're lying!"

"No, I'm telling the truth, which I admit is a rare treat, so you better shut up and enjoy it." Excellus huffs. "Before you met the ylisseans, I could have had your head with a word. In Chon'sin, at Valm harbor… Did you really think yourself so elusive? You were my leverage for Yen'fay. Unwitting and unbound, but a hostage all the same. I let you live; he fought for us. That was our deal. And he kept his end, right TO his end!"

The doubt on Say'ri's face turns into horror as Excellus's words sink in. "No… NO!"

The imperial Sage exhales with a satisfied smile. "Phew… Well, I don't know about you, but I feel MUCH better having that off my chest. Maybe I should give this "truth telling" a try more often. Yes, I shall resolve to do so!" The rune circle that signifies his teleportation spell lights up under his feet again. "In any case, goodbye, friends! I wish you safe travels, and so sorry about Yen'fay… Oops! I broke my resolution twice already! Tee hee hee!"

The rotund Sage vanishes in a flash of light moments before Harvest Moon's blade impacts the ground on his position.

"I hate it when our enemies pull those accursed teleportation spells out of their sleeves." I mutter annoyed as I pull my weapon back with Telekinesis. "Why do they get to fast travel all over the place while we have to hoof it?"

"N-no, this isn't… This can't be… Y-Yen'fay, no…" Say'ri mumbles horrified as she slowly turns towards the unmoving form of her brother.

It is at this moment that Chrom and the others arrive.

"It's over." I tell the prince. "Say'ri won. And yet, it came at a cost I wish no one will have to pay."

Say'ri looks at her trembling hands in horror. "Gods… The things I said to him… The things I did… I have wronged him beyond imagining. If only Yen'fay had spoken! Told me! I could have joined the ruse. I… I…! I am wretched! I've repaid my brother's kindness with death!"

I shake my head. "You can't expect yourself to have known of this, Say'ri."

"The same way you could never have expected to lose all of your subordinates in a single battle?!" Say'ri snaps back.

"Y-You- What-"

Only then does Say'ri realizes her mistake. She shakes her head. "I-I'm sorry. I did not mean to-"

I look to the sky and place a hand over my eyes in an effort to hide the tear forming in my eye. "Say no more… Discussions of their fate…will have to wait."

Well, it does nothing to hide the other hand clenching and trembling from the pain I still feel from the memory. The guilt, the sorrow, and everything else.

"To think I would come to understand your pain in such a way…" Say'ri remarks with remorse.

The Dynast princess falls to her knees in front of her collapsed brother. "Oh, Yen'fay, forgive me… Please, oh please…"

As Say'ri weeps for her brother, I notice the other dynasts weep with her. To me, that is enough to prove that none of them were loyal to the empire. They all followed Yen'fay, no matter what it took.

I cannot let this injustice stand. No matter how much the part of me that screams for vengeance objects, leaving things as they are will make me regret doing nothing later down the line. And besides, I did originally plan on doing this the moment I realized we would have to battle against the Valmese empire.

I walk up to the Dynast royal siblings. "Say'ri, could you let me see your brother?"

Say'ri shakes her head. "What good would such a thing do?! My brother is dead! All because of me!"

"Do you trust me?" I ask her softly.

Say'ri stills upon hearing my question and gently moves a bit to the side.

I kneel next to her and flip Yen'fay on his back. Then I rummage in my bag. To think the object I needed for this little plan contains so much power, yet can be bought in Traverse Town for the same amount of money that I need for a Concoction in Valm Harbor.

"You're one heck of a lucky man, to have such a loving sister and loyal subjects, Yen'fay. Just know that none of this has to do with you. I only do this for your sister." I tell the dead man as I pull out a shimmering orange feather.

Say'ri eyes the curious feather. "What is that?"

I gently place it on Yen'fay's chest and back away. "The first step in setting things right."

Flames engulf the feather before it turns into a glowing orb with bird wings. The orb flies into the air and circles a few times while releasing several small feathers that gently flutter to the ground. The moment those feathers align over Yen'fay's chest, the orb dives straight down through them all and into Yen'fay. The impact jolts the Swordmaster as a small flash of light emits from him. Smoke rises from his wounds as the light dies down. Not enough to close them completely, but I can tell that they are no longer lethal.

And then, Yen'fay sits up and gasps for air.

Every single person looks at him in shock.

"Y-Yen'fay…? But how?" Say'ri asks in disbelief.

"…Say'ri…" the elder brother rasps out before he groans in pain and puts his hand on his wounds.

"You may have been brought back to life, but your wounds still run deep." I tell him tersely. "Find a healer and regain your strength, Yen'fay, lest you fall back into the grave mere minutes after I pulled you out."

Yen'fay looks at me. "You… You would show such care for-"

"Save it." I reply as I walk away. "You've been given a second chance at life. Get some medical aid before you squander it. Might as well get Libra on his case while we're at it."

Say'ri bows as her tears stream down her face again. "Sir Jack… Thank you… From the bottom of my heart…thank you…"


Quest alert:
Main quest: Sibling blades
Only after he falls in defeat, the truth of Yen'fay's loyalty to the Conqueror is brought to light by none other than the Valmese chief tactician, Exellus. The gravity of Say'ri's actions nearly drive her to despair. But a single action has brought her brother back from death – a fact that no loyal imperial soldier knows of yet. With your victory secured and the danger of Yen'fay attacking removed, only one major faction of the imperial military remains. The Conqueror awaits.
Objectives: Defeat the enemy commander. Don't let Say'ri die
All main objectives completed!
You gain 18 000 EXP! You gain 18 000 gold!
Bonus objectives: Complete the main objectives without killing any other enemy soldiers.
Bonus objective failed!

To be continued


Jack's encyclopedic corner

Heavenly Halberd, Polearm, Base damage: 105, Legendary
The weapon wielded by the warrior Lu Bu, nicknamed "The Flying General". With it in hand, the legendary warrior is said to have slain over a thousand enemy soldiers every day he was involved in battle. While this weapon requires a significant amount of skill to be wielded well, it makes up for it by granting the wielder a wider range of options in combat due to the twin crescent moon blades attached near the tip. In the hands of a master, enemy soldiers will fall in droves as the wielder hacks their way through the battlefield. Bright red beetle hat not included.
Requirement to wield: Polearm mastery Lvl 65

Amatsu, Sword, Base Damage: 100, Unique
A sword that is passed down in the royal family of Chon'sin as the family's heirloom. The wielder of this sword is not only considered the head of the family, but also the ruler of all of Chon'sin. The branched blade represents the belief that, though life can take many different paths, all are connected to a common origin; a philosophy that is adopted by all members of the Dynast royal family. Amatsu is believed to have a mind of its own, rejecting anyone not completely devoted to the path of the sword.
Can only be wielded by a unit of the Myrmidon line.
Skill available when equipped: Spirit blade

Phoenix Down, Consumable, Rare
A feather believed to have fallen off the phoenix; a legendary bird said to set itself aflame, only to be reborn from the ashes of its body. Truthful rumor or no, these feathers are infused with a powerful magic spell that acts like a beacon for the souls of the dead. When the light of the feather shines, the soul is guided back to the body it once left, allowing the dead to rise back to life. Note that this only works within a short timeframe after the death, as a decaying body is no suitable vessel for a soul. What should also be noted is that many shops sell these things like a common commodity, despite the immense power they contain and their supposed legendary origin. The universe is weird like that.
Can revive a unit whose HP has reached 0. The affected unit will be revived with 10 % of their maximum HP restored. This item can only be used within 5 minutes of a unit's death.


To clarify, Jack is not on Lu Bu's level. If the two were to fight, I'm convinced Lu Bu would come out on top. I mean, sure, Jack has a significantly more varied skillset, but this is freaking Lu Bu we're talking about here.

Oh, I can practically see the look of disbelief on your faces. I let Lon'qu die, but brought Yen'fay back to life with an item that doesn't even exist in the world of Fire Emblem – an item that would be considered absolutely OP in that series? Scandalous! Now, hear me out before you point the flamethrowers at me and pull the trigger. This was by no means an easy decision. I have already explained my reasons regarding Lon'qu. As for Yen'fay… Well, my reasons are a bit simpler.

Basically, I just want a confrontation between Yen'fay and Excellus. After everything that rotund clown has put Yen'fay through, I can imagine that there's some sweet, sweet vengeance to be had for the former Dynast ruler. That, and I want more good things for Say'ri. I mean, you can recruit a parallel counterpart of Yen'fay through a side quest, but Say'ri has no interaction with the guy, save for some random dialogue in the barracks? Sacrilege! Sacrilege, I tell you! And lastly, Jack and Yen'fay will have a few talks down the road. Just because Jack decided to bring the guy back to life doesn't mean he has forgiven Yen'fay – far from it. Confronting the man who murdered your friends is never easy, yet that's part of what Jack will have to go through before he can truly move on from the death of his team. It won't end with the two of them having a fight to the death, mind you. Just…very awkward and tense conversations.

That will be all for now. Until next time.

VipeR out.