After the grim graveyard conversation, Lucina asked Morgan if he could take a few people out and scout the surrounding area. It was a weekly, if not daily routine; people who were especially brave went into all of Ylisse to say that the capital was now undeniably safe, but Morgan was usually tasked with leading several people significantly closer to Ylisstol to search for Risen or people seeking refuge. He picked out Yarne, Severa, Inigo, Owain, and Gerome to come with him and left the others at Ylisstol just in case something happened while they were gone.
They were off with little to no delay, but they weren't necessarily quiet. "It's amazing how well this place seems to be recovering," Morgan said.
"It was little more than ash when we left," Gerome noted. "The flora and fauna are returning in time for spring; I don't think I've ever seen such colors in this landscape."
"Not just that—it feels more peaceful," Yarne added. "Peaceful enough that a taguel can stop fearing extinction."
"There's still Risen, though," Severa pointed out.
"Plegia's still a mess," Inigo agreed. "When do you think Lucina will send someone out there to see if anyone's still alive?"
"She will eventually," Morgan replied. "Right now, I think we're all focused on making sure Ylisse recovers smoothly. After a while, we can see how many people volunteer to search Plegia and Regna Ferox—Lucina wants to reach Valm, too, because it's possible that Grima didn't completely annihilate them like he did us."
"Hard to believe that we're the only ones left," Owain mused. "I, for one, see hope for humanity! Grima could not possibly destroy all of us!"
"I'm not as sure; he almost did," Severa pointed out skeptically. "But either way, I agree that Lucina should stay focused on Ylisstol for now. If anyone else is out there, they'll reach her somehow—assuming they aren't idiots."
They continued walking and watching for any trouble, but it was only quiet for a little bit. "Say, Morgan?" Yarne asked.
"Yeah?" Morgan said, looking at him.
"Well, I've been wondering something," Yarne began, a bit sheepish, "About how you and Lucina stayed in the past longer than we did—at least, you returned last." Morgan nodded, letting Yarne know he could continue even though Morgan wasn't quite sure where he was going with this. "Since you were there longer…did you talk with Panne at all? Or the kid Yarne?"
Ah; asking after lost parents or younger selves. It was the most common questions he received from the fellow time travelers, yet they always danced around the subject at first. Morgan could only guess it was because he was more attached to that time then anyone—it was the only time he knew, after all, and he stayed with his parents for the longest time out of all of them. Still, Morgan answered honestly, "The last time I saw Panne was…over a decade ago. Robin and Chrom liked to invite soldiers to the castle every summer and winter, so Panne came with a really young Yarne. She looked to be doing well, and lil' Yarne was too."
Yarne nodded, although he seemed a little disappointed. "…What about the rest of us?" Owain said after a few seconds of delay. "How do our parents and past selves fare?"
"Well, I've seen Lissa and lil' Owain more recently than anyone else," Morgan admitted. "I passed Lissa while I was there, and Owain is a member of the group the littles formed, so he came with us to Mount Prism. Cordelia and Severa were in Ylisse according to Owain, and lil' Morgan said that Olivia and Inigo traveled around the continent. Cherche and Gerome are in Valm, as far as I'm aware."
"At least they're doing well," Inigo said. "You might not know every detail, but hearing that they're not on their deathbeds is reassuring. Thanks."
Morgan offered a smile. "No problem. Everyone else asks the same thing; I don't mind sharing stories of what I know."
They continued on with a separate conversation, and they started heading back to Ylisstol when the sun began to set. They didn't find any Risen nor people, but there were a few signs of life—a burnt out campfire or an abandoned tent, recently left in favor of someplace else. The group continued chatting about one thing or the other, never quite falling silent. When they returned to Ylisstol, the conversation was joined by the others, and eventually Lucina was coaxed into joining them as well. A delightful dinner followed, with the group reluctantly parting after a while.
Morgan stayed up a little later than usual, helping prepare the meals for tomorrow and take a few things off of Lucina's mind. After that, he made his own trip up the castle path, except he didn't go to the graveyard. He instead went to the castle, and sat inside the ruined front door. He thought about things he had already decided he shouldn't ponder; he reflected on his earlier conversation with Lucina. His mother, more likely than not, wished for death…Robin, more likely than not, had feared her death or the death of someone else at least once. His mother died possessed, while Robin still lived on with her true son.
He felt like he should be guilty—guilty that he honestly favored Robin over his actual mother, that he didn't feel much in regard to knowing that his mother likely died in some sort of pain. Robin had been there for him, cared for him, and loved him. But that wasn't his mother's fault; it was Grima's. All Morgan had to do was blame Grima, and all his problems would be solved. Was he at fault for caring more for Robin than his mother? Or was he justified, since Robin was the only mother he really knew? He also wondered if Lucina felt the same, and if she felt closer to Chrom than their father—although he knew he'd never get an answer out of her. These thoughts, however, weren't meant for him; he couldn't properly address them and he therefore couldn't fully consider it his place to think of them. Standing up and looking up at the stars above him, he sent a silent prayer to whoever was listening that his family would be safe—whoever and wherever they are, whether they be biological or not.
