"All I am saying is that we might just be wasting our time here. We might be better off going back to the realm of the dead." Anna huffed.
"And all I am saying is that we'd be missing out on a potential lead. Líf knows something and tracking him will get us closer to our goal of slapping Hel out of existence!" I argued.
"Ughh… Alfonse can you get them to stop? I am having the worst migraine right now" Sharena complained.
Al sighed, watching the commander and I argue over what to do next. Both of us turned around to face him, our eyes looked at him expectantly.
"I think that Anna's concerns are reasonable… However, there is one place I want to check before we leave this world."
"And what might that be?" I asked
"I want to check the castle library. I have a feeling that we might find out why everyone in this world died."
"I doubt that we'll find anything new on Hel there but… if we understand what happened here, we can learn from it and avoid a similar fate. I will leave the planning to you this time, Al. Honestly, you're just as good as I am at tactics. It makes me wonder why I'm even the official tactician."
"It's different when you do it. Besides, I prefer to focus on the battle."
"I never thought you would say that, Al. I've always thought you've enjoyed the process of coming up with strategies. I know that you enjoy a good mental challenge."
"You are correct, but there is just something about you… well I when I first met you and watched you give out orders without flinching, I knew you were a natural."
"That's not true, Al. I was terrified! One moment I was a college student preparing for midterm exams, the next I was witnessing Anna chop up an Emblian soldier in half. That was the first time I witnessed the brutality of war first hand."
Alfonse winced. I'm not sure if he ever truly understood what my life was like before I was summoned, but I think at that moment, something clicked in his head.
"You never saw a battlefield before then…" he muttered.
I nodded. "My father was a colonel but I was never really trained for that sort of thing. Back home, you cannot enlist in the army until you're eighteen and then they train you after you get recruited. My father taught me how to use a gun in case I ever needed to defend myself. Incidentally, he also taught me how to do that right hook punch I did on you earlier. I'm still sorry for that by the way"
Alfonse chuckled. "I was very impressed. I had no idea you could do that. I'm not even upset about it now. Your father sounds like a good man."
I frowned. My feelings towards my dad have always been mixed. As a small child, he was my hero and I thought he was the coolest person that ever lived. When I grew up, I was furious at him for never being there for me when I needed him. He was always at war or at work. It's only now that I have begun to understand the choices he made when I was growing up.
"Yeah. Looking back… he was just trying to do his best to give me a good life. Perhaps, if I ever get to go home, even if it's just to visit, I will thank him."
"Then that's one more reason we need to win this. Let's pack up the campsite and head over to The Order of Heroes. If we pack now, we'll be able to reach Fort Gungnir in a day."
"Oh I love that fort! So many good memories." Sharena chimed in.
"Indeed. We spent many hours training with Zacherias in that fort. You practically begged him to teach you how to use a lance." Al grinned wryly.
"Ha! If I didn't know better, I would've thought both of you had a crush on him. I wouldn't blame you though. You were both close to him and he's a good looking man. Er… but not as good looking as Al though." I joked
"Yup! I totally did at one point! He turned me down when I told him. It was a real downer but we all remained friends. How'd ya guess?" Sharena giggled.
"I was only kidding, Sharena. It's just the way you guys talk about him makes him sound like he's saint or something. I suppose though… he did save me. I can kind of see why you like him so much, even if he turned out to be Prince Bruno."
"I'm not going to lie, I thought that Alfonse was in love with Zacherias once. I've written a little black book on it and everything." Anna grinned mischievously.
"That's hardly true. We were never like that!" Al panicked.
"I don't see an issue with it either way. I mean whether or not you've had a crush on him in the past, it doesn't change our relationship with each other. I know that my past relationships won't affect your feelings for me either." I said.
"Th-thank you Kiran. I appreciate it, but I'm not actually…"
"I know, Al. I'm just saying that if you were, it wouldn't change anything."
"R-right… I'll mobilize the rest of the Order to pack up. You stay here and rest for now. Th-that's an order, my dearest." Al then ran off to start packing up.
"Did he just…?" My jaw dropped. It seemed very unlike him to call me by a pet name. He has also never flat out given me orders before. I felt oddly flattered that he would call me "my dearest " but I was also very confused. I decided that I would humor his demands... this time.
"Yeah that was weird… but it's probably for the best if you just go along with it. You still need to recover from Líf's attack, after all. He really did a number on me a while ago. I have a big scar on my chest now, but I am grateful that I made it out alive."
"Yeah. As long as you remain my number one fan and Al keeps on being adorable I'll go along with it. Of course, I will have to talk to him later. It's odd for him to actually order me to do something. I'm worried that we touched a sore spot for him. You know how he gets sometimes"
"Of course. He sometimes gets a little grumpy when we talk about the old days, you know? He didn't take to Zacherias' disappearance very well. Nobody did because until you came along, we all thought that he might have been dead but… it was especially hard on him. Alfonse doesn't take too well to his friends leaving him like that. He's very sensitive about these things. He got very upset when Marth left the Order with no warning. I was sad too but… it was on that day, that he closed himself off to the heroes. He only really opened up again when you set him straight. That's one reason I'm so set on seeing the two of you stay together, I guess."
"I don't plan on leaving him soon. I do want to visit my homeworld one day but… Askr is like a second home to me. Plus… If I leave, I… it's just… Askr is always being attacked or invaded in some form. Someone has got to stick around to ensure it stays safe, right?" I still felt odd saying that.
Like if I finally admit to myself that maybe, just maybe, I really do have the talent that everyone says that I have, then something terrible will happen.
"That's really great to hear! It's a relief to hear that you'll be staying. Everyone needs you in the Order but it's especially true for Alfonse. I really can't say this enough but, he's less of a stick in the mud when you're with him."
"And what about you Sharena?" I asked
"Me? I'm as fabulous as I've ever been. Better than even before, because you became my friend. You support me… I just feel slightly stronger when I'm with you. It's kinda weird but true!"
"Well everything about me is weird at this point. I mean… I was summoned by a gun to a land ruled by rulers who can open up gates to different dimensions, I can size people up just by looking at them, and we are running from a death goddess who currently hates my guts more than anything else in the worlds. Somehow, you getting stronger just by standing next to me doesn't seem like a stretch."
"Haha! When you say it like that it doesn't sound as weird."
"Thanks for keeping me company, by the way. You are really good at picking up when I need someone to talk to."
"Well duh! If you only talk to my brother, then you'll become just as boring as he is. He's such a dweeb"
"I think it's cute and endearing."
"Only you would find it endearing, Kiran."
Eir then walked up to the both of us. "We are almost finished with the preparations. Prince Alfonse has requested that I take you with me. We will be riding on Lyfja's back of course."
"Ah yes, of course. Lyfja seems to have taken a liking to me and I do find flying by pegasus to be quite liberating." I smiled.
"Kiran… can I ask you something?"
Eir wouldn't look me in the eyes, as if she were afraid of what my reaction would be to her query. She appeared to be worried about something.
"Is there something bothering you, Eir?"
"Am I your friend?" She asked quietly.
"The short answer is yes. The long answer is that it's a bit more complicated than that." I answered honestly.
"I don't understand what you are trying to say…"
"I actually find myself enjoying being around you and I want to support you in every way I can. I've seen you come out of your shell little by little and I have counted myself lucky to have witnessed it."
"I… don't deserve your kindness. I want to repay you one day but I-"
"You don't owe me anything, Eir. I am kind because everyone deserves at least some kindness until they prove themselves otherwise. I understand that should the occasion arise, you will turn on us. I also understand that you won't have much choice in the matter." I sighed.
Eir avoided looking at me as if she were ashamed. It appeared as though I had hit the nail right on the head. It troubled me seeing her like this. It was obvious that she didn't want to bend to Hel's will on what was likely going to be an assassination attempt on one or all of us. The only way I can think I can stop is if… I return the favor.
"...I wish that it wasn't true. You and the Order have treated me like a friend but if you know that I was going to betray you then… why?"
"That is because it's not your fault. My request is that if you must absolutely kill me… make it as painless as possible. If I have to die here… I would rather it be by your hand and not hers. I don't want to die but… I know you will be much more merciful than your mother."
Eir actually began to cry. It was surprising to see her like this, considering how she tended to hide her emotions behind a mask of apathy. She was holding the tears back but they still managed to escape. Did she truly not want to kill me then?
"I don't want to… it's unfair… I don't understand why I feel this way…"
I pulled her close to me and gave her a comforting hug. "Just let it all out, Eir. Keeping it all bottled up inside will only hurt more. It's ok for you to feel the way you feel. I can only guess how hard this is for you. I will continue to lend you my support for as long as I am able to"
Eir cried even harder. I held onto her tightly. She's a victim of Hel and I refused to see it any other way. Just as Eir weeps, so too will Askr and the world if we do not defeat Hel. If… by some miracle we do find a way to defeat Hel, it will take time for Eir's emotional wounds to heal. I don't even know if she would ever fully recover. She had suffered several lifetimes worth of abuse, and we are only just starting to unravel it.
Al came back to check on us only to find Eir sobbing into my coat with my arms wrapped around her. He was visibly confused and concerned for us. Bless that man's soul, please.
"Is everything ok?" He asked awkwardly.
"Shhhh… we're having a moment here. We'll catch up with you soon enough, I promise."
"I understand… I'll tell everyone else to move forward then. I only ask that you stay safe."
"I will be fine, Al. I've followed your orders to the letter this time, so it's my turn to give you yours."
"What might that be?"
"Stay safe."
"As you wish" Al said with a slight grin, before leaving us.
"Eir, I have another favor to ask of you."
"I'll do whatever you want"
"Please don't tell Al or anyone about the contingency plan we discussed. I realize that keeping secrets is not a very good thing to do, but I hope… that it won't come to that"
"Death cannot be avoided. It is inevitable and if Mother wants you dead, then it is certain that you will die sooner rather than later. Even so, I… I don't want you to die yet! You are the first person who has treated me nicely… you are the first friend I've ever made."
"It's an honor then. Making your first friend is always a special event. I will do my best to continue to live up to that"
"And I, you. Thank you...Kiran"
"It appears that almost everything is going to plan" Líf muttered
"This plan wouldn't have been necessary if you had just finished them off last time. Our goals and desires cannot be achieved if you keep letting your sentiments get the better of you" Thrasir scolded.
"Forgive me for my weaknesses… it was much harder than I had initially thought it would." Líf sighed apologetically.
"I will make my attempt when they leave for Fort Gungnir. You should just focus on the trap you've set for them at the castle."
"Yes… that would be for the best. My emotions will only get in the way."
"Just because Kiran coddled you when we were alive, that doesn't mean that you should expect me to be her replacement. I am not your babysitter"
"I wouldn't expect you to. You don't seem like you would have been a good babysitter. Not even back then."
Thrasir scowled at Líf. She of course knew she wasn't great with people and especially children, but it still irked her.
"Perhaps Kiran did spoil me too much. It took me awhile after she died to realize how much I relied on her. I nearly did kill the other Kiran… she tried to talk me out of doing this, but this is the path I chose long ago. I intend to see it through to the end."
"Good. We've come this far already and I refuse to go back. You're not the only who lost someone important. I hope you remember that."
A/N:This chapter was kinda difficult for me to write. I had to scrap half of the chapter because it was starting to get derailed by Kirfonse fluff and Kiran explaining the concept of gremlins to Alfonse. It was upsetting at first, since the fluff was really good imo. Either way I'm glad I got a second opinion and redid it. It came out much better for it. I did save the section into my scrap document so i may either reuse it somewhere else minus the gremlins thing or I will post my scrap doc at the end of the fic as a "bloopers reel" type deal. Idk tbh.In other news, I convinced my boyfriend to give me 100 bucks so I could summon Líf on Mila's banner... I ended getting all of the focus summons on that banner except for Líf. So now I'm salty and my ftp account is no longer ftp. Plus I still don't have any of Al's Alts. End me plz. Jk I actually like living lol.