The Three Winds of Fodlan
I'd like to thank those who are interested in this fic. I was worried people may not like this idea, especially with me using Mark from Blazing Sword. Also I was asked an important question. I have no experience with the DLC so the Ashen Wolves are not a part of this fic. I apologize if you wanted them to be. Also a question: should Robin already be married to someone from Awakening? If yes type who and Original Generation only. No Future Children. Also if Robin is married, he will not get a Three Houses Pairing. Anyway without further ado:
Disclaimer: I do not own Fire Emblem in any capacity. Just the OCs that will replace the faceless students if I deem it needed.
Chapter 2: White Clouds: Welcome to Garreg Mach
"Goodness it's been ages! Don't you recognize me? It's Alois! Your old right-hand man! Well that's how I always thought of myself anyway. It's been twenty years since you went missing without a trace but I always knew you were alive!" Alois boasted loudly as Robin sighed and slapped his palm against his face.
"Great. Another loud axe user. I just pray to Naga he doesn't refer to himself in the third person or call himself something ridiculous." Robin moaned in slight despair prompting looks from Mark and Byleth. "Just trust me, it is not a pleasant experience to be around. No matter how well intentioned they are. Especially when they ruin perfectly good plans by forgetting their axe or trying to look 'cool.'"
"Ouch. Does sound like a pain." Mark said as he thought back to a few times Hector would ignore his plans due to his rashness and figured Robin must have experienced worse. "Still you know this guy Byleth?"
"Not at all." Byleth said before walking over to her father.
"You haven't changed at all Alois. As loud as ever. Also drop the 'captain,' I'm a mercenary nowadays not your damned captain." Jeralt said, clearly not wanting this conversation. "Besides I have work to do. So long old friend."
"Right. Good-bye, Captain." Alois said with a happy smile before something seemed to click in his head and he scowled. "Wait no! This is not how this ends. I insist that you return to the monastery with me." Jeralt sighed as he seemed to have seen this coming.
"Garreg Mach Monastery. I suppose this was inevitable." The wise mercenary said, almost sounding defeated which worried his daughter slightly. She had never known her father to sound defeated in any capacity. Generally he only sounded like that when she cut him off from drinking. While distracted from her thoughts, Alois turned to her.
"Oh and who are you? Are you perhaps the captain's daughter?" Alois asked, looking Byleth over. She was familiar to him in a way but he couldn't put his finger on how.
"Clearly I'm a bandit." Byleth said with her deadpan delivery. A few solid seconds passed before Alois howled with laughter.
"A wonderful jest! Indeed you are clearly cut from the same cloth as the captain and Lady Sitri." Alois said between laughing fits, causing Byleth's heart to seize slightly.
"You knew my mother?" Byleth asked, tears welling in her eyes. Jeralt often did not talk of his deceased wife so Byleth cherished what little she knew of her. As Byleth fought back her tears she felt two weights on her shoulders. When she looked she saw Mark and Robin smiling at her, Mark offering a handkerchief. Byleth took the cloth and nodded at the two of them as she dried her eyes.
"I knew her indeed. She was a great woman. Please come to the monastery with us. That's where she and the captain first met after all." Alois said gently, like a kind uncle. Byleth looked to her father and when he saw the puppy like look in her eyes he knew there was no way he could talk his way out of this.
"Fine, we'll go. Be crazy to try and run from the Knights of Seiros anyway." Jeralt said before looking at the two new young men. "As for you two, thanks for the help with those bandits. Might I get your names?"
"Robin Zephyr, a traveling tactician." Robin said calmly extending a hand to Jeralt. The two shook hands firmly before Jeralt looked at Mark Frey.
"Mark Frey, just a traveler living one day at a time." Mark shrugged before he too shook hands with Jeralt. When they released each other's hands Mark turned to Alois. "Hey big guy, mind if the two of us tag along?"
"Of course! The more the merrier. And you seem to be fast friends with the captain's girl. Besides, I can tell you two are the good sort. I have an eye for this thing." Alois said with a boastful chuckle before he went to go and talk more with Jeralt. Soon the three youths walked up to Byleth, Mark, and Robin.
"I appreciate your help back there. The skill you three have is without question." The girl with white hair said. While it was clear she was grateful, her tone was rigid. Soon the girl's focus honed in on Byleth. "And your father, is he truly Jeralt the Blade Breaker?"
"That's him alright, though he prefers it if people don't use that old title of his." Byleth said. "Never understood why. I've always liked the sound of it. Sounds better than a lot of possible alternatives." A shadow crossed Byleth's face as she thought of her own title.
"Does sound fitting for a man like him." Robin said, as he felt Jeralt's strength in the handshake they shared. He somehow got the feeling it was stronger than normal, as if to warn him about getting too close to Byleth. Robin enjoyed eating bears, not angering men with the strength of bears. The tanned young man took his chance to speak.
"Hey you're coming with us to Garreg Mach right? I'd love to bend your ears as we head there. Oh yeah I should mention the three of us are students at the Officers Academy there." He said which seemed to fit a few things in place for the trio.
"That explains the uniforms." Mark said as he played with one of his knives, a habit of his while he was thinking. "I guess you might be out here for training exercises if I had to hazard a guess."
"Got it in one." The tanned young man said with a chuckle. "Though I got the worst of the attack."
"That's because you tried to run off." The white haired girl said with steel in her voice.
"Too true. I made a strategic retreat first. If these two had not followed me, everything would have worked out. Instead all of the bandits followed them as they ran after me, ruining everything." The tanned young man said, unaffected by the girl's tone. The blond male seemed to have an "ah ha" moment upon hearing this.
"Oh is that what you were doing Claude? And here I was thinking you were acting as decoy for the good of us all." The blond said with a laugh.
"His intentions were clear as day. You will make a lacking ruler if you cannot see the truth behind a person's words." The girl lectured harshly causing her companion to look at her unhappily.
"And you will prove a lacking ruler if all you do is search for lies and do not learn to trust those you are meant to rely on." The blond said severely causing the tanned youth, Claude, to sigh.
"Oh look, another debate by Their Highnesses." Claude said in an almost comical way, as if to call out his companions. "I wonder how being painfully predictable makes you a good ruler. Personally, as the embodiment of distrust, I think your exchange smacks of naiveté."
"Me? Naive?" The white haired girl asked before she and the blond suddenly felt someone behind them. They turned to see Mark had somehow gotten behind them.
"While not exactly right, he isn't exactly wrong either." Mark said simply. "Blind faith in your companions is ideal but this can easily be used against you. However on the other side, if all you do is look for lies and deceit, you isolate yourself which makes you a far easier target to be manipulated." Mark went back to his original position next to Byleth after he had said his piece. "Also before you ask, I got behind you to make a point that as leaders you need to be aware of all things around you."
"I see. Actually this works out perfectly for what I was about to say after our digression. If you'd spare the moment." The blond said. "Your skills are incredible! The way all three of you held your ground against the bandits without ever losing control of the situation showed me just how much more I have to learn." This got a nod from the white haired girl.
"That skill is why I must ask for the three of you to consider lending your services to the Empire. I might as well tell you that I am no mere student. I am the Adrestian Empire's-" The white haired female started with conviction before she was cut off.
"Halt, Edelgard. Please allow me to finish my own proposition." The blond youth said getting a slight pout from the now named Edelgard. "The Holy Kingdom of Faerghus is in need of exceptional individuals such as yourselves. Please, do consider returning to the Kingdom with me."
" two sure are hasty." Claude mocked causing the two others to at least look sheepish. "The two of you should be ashamed, Edelgard. Dmitri. I at least was hoping to develop a deep and lasting relationship with them before bothering them for favors like maybe coming to the Leicester Alliance."
"Ouch. I feel as if Claude just shot my decency with a well placed arrow." Dmitri said with a laugh.
"Indeed. That was rather rude of us. Please forgive us. Perhaps it would be best if we exchanged legitimate greetings." Edelgard said as she recovered from Claude's words. She had to admit he was in the right to call them out like that.
"It is hardly unprecedented. Adrenaline and all." Robin assured the youths. "My name is Robin Zephyr. It's nice to meet you."
"Byleth Eisner, Daughter of Jeralt the Blade Breaker. A pleasure."
"Well met despite the circumstances. Name's Mark Frey."
"The pleasure is mine. My name is Edelgard von Hresvelg, Heir Apparent of the Adrestian Empire."
"An honor to meet you. I am Dmitri Alexandre Blaiddyd, Crown Prince of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus."
"I'm Claud von Riegan, next in line to take over House Riegan, ruling house of the Leicester Alliance." A clap was heard and all six turned to see Alois.
"That's enough small talk. We should be leaving now." Alois said with a laugh. Byleth nodded before she sensed a familiar being in her mind.
"My they do seem to be in a hurry. Still those three children seem to be rather unique." The voice of Sothis said in her mind.
"Wait, you can talk to me in my mind? Can you do the same with Mark and Robin?" Byleth asked in her head.
"No. I don't know how they are able to enter my room with you but they are not as connected to me as you are." Sothis explained. Byleth had questions but figured Sothis would have explained if she could. Instead Byleth looked towards the three students. "Edelgard seems a refined young woman but her eyes seem to be judging all three of us harshly. Dmitri seems sincere but there's a darkness in his eyes. And then Claude. He seems to smile easily but that smile doesn't reach his eyes at all. Should I share this with Mark and Robin?"
"That is up to you. If you feel as if you can trust them, then yes. However if you feel your trust with them is wavering then best keep quiet." Sothis said before she thought for a moment. "That said they have been to my room so perhaps it would not hurt to trust them." With that Sothis retreated from Byleth's mind. The mercenary waited for the students and knight to get some distance before she turned to her male companions and told the two of them about her observations.
"Ah, so I wasn't the only one to catch that." Robin said before Mark nodded. "Good thing the three of us are on the same page. I don't know why but there seems to be some sort of bond between the three of us, evidenced by our meeting Sothis together, not once but twice."
"Speaking of, Sothis is able to communicate with me mentally." Byleth admitted getting raised eyebrows from the males. "She seems to only be able to do this with me, saying we have a stronger connection to each other than either of you two have with her."
"Interesting." Mark said with a look of confusion on his face before he shrugged. "Well I guess we should be considered lucky we are able to see her in any capacity."
"Indeed." Robin nodded. "In any case we should not fall behind the others. Whatever the reason may be, the three of us have this bond between us and Sothis. Perhaps there may be answers at this Garreg Mach." His companions nodded and Byleth rant to grab what little she had before the three of them set off. The trek to Garreg Mach was not a short one but it was interesting. It definitely gave time for the three oddly connected young adults to talk.
"Mark, what was that prayer you said when you killed the bandit you took those gauntlets from?" Byleth asked as she pointed to the gauntlets hanging off of a small satchel Mark had on him. Mark thought for a moment before he laughed.
"Oh that. Just something I picked up while traveling. I thought it sounded romantic so I adopted it. It comes from a society that worships spirits of all kinds. I've always felt an affinity for wind, so I guess you could say I pray to wind spirits." Mark said when he stopped laughing. "Don't worry, I'm not some heavily religious person. I just believe that when a person dies, their spirit floats on the wind until they are ready to go to where they are meant to be."
"That's an interesting belief but I kind of like it. I can see how you think it's romantic." Byleth said. "Still why do you use knives like that?"
"He's trained as an assassin." Robin said before getting a nod from Mark. "It explains his speed and precision. Whoever taught you must be a master."
"You have no idea." Mark laughed. "In fact it was him who made the basic designs of my weapons: Gale Wolves. Speaking of odd weapons though, what's up with your swords Robin?"
"Wait have you never seen a Levin Sword before?" Robin asked, drawing his lightning bolt sword. "While I am trained in sword combat, I am a little better with magic. To mitigate me being caught off guard and to also give me an upper hand I use this. It's a sword that channels lightning magic." Robin sheathed the blade before pulling out the red hilted saber. "Now this one, I am not surprised you haven't seen before. I never saw one myself until the battle where I claimed this. It's called a Sol Sword. The sword can heal the wounds of its user but to do so they have to damage an opponent and it can't fix things like broken bones or amputated limbs."
"So similar to the Sol Ability." Mark said as he remembered the odd magic that was not magic. "Still to have it in a sword form is convenient in case you can't learn the ability for any reason."
"Be enough about us, what was that style you used to fight with Byleth?" Robin asked the mercenary girl.
"My father always taught me that it was always a good idea to learn how to use multiple weapons as a mercenary might find themself in a situation where they don't have any. So I was drilled in unarmed, sword, lance, and axe combat. However as I learned these styles I found myself using my sword in my right and lighter axes in my left."
"So you are ambidextrous?" Mark asked before getting a nod from Byleth.
"But even so some weapons feel better in one hand than the other. On a whim I decided to train with both weapons at once and found it to my liking." Byleth said before she frowned. "I was looking for a name to call it but unfortunately only one comes to mind and I don't like it. Ashen Demon Style." Both males didn't know if they should ask or not but were lucky that Byleth felt talkative around them. "I'm sure you've noticed that I tend to not show my emotions much and sometimes they don't enter my voice as well. This has led to me being called a demon and that grew to me being titled, The Ashen Demon."
"So that's why you said you were a demon when Sothis asked what you were." Robin said, finally understanding. "I don't think that is fair to you though. Maybe Mark and I can think of a better title for you in time." Byleth looked at them before giving them a small smile. The rest of the trip was quiet except for a few really bad jokes from Alois. On the third day they were in the forest near the monastery.
"This will be your first time to the monastery right? I'd be happy to show you three around." Dmitri kindly offered.
"It really is Fodlan in a nutshell. The good and the bad." Claude said offhandedly.
"Like it or not, we are nearly there. Look." Edelgard said pointing toward the monastery as it came into view. It was a huge hill with a grand collection of buildings on it.
"Is that a monastery or an ornate palace?" Mark joked after a few moments.
"Well Seiros worship is practiced all over the continent so it makes sense that the center of the Church of Seiros was large." Byleth said, but even with that knowledge she was taken aback by the size of Garreg Mach. After not much longer they entered the main gates to find a bustling city that seemed to get busier the closer they got to the monastery. The students dismissed themselves saying that they needed to return to their classes, when the group passed through the gates that lead to the monastery proper while Jeralt looked up.
"Rhea's here." He said gravely causing the three young adults to look up and see a woman whose beauty was almost ethereal with long green hair in an ornate headdress and in a pristine white dress. The woman looked at them, her eyes focused on Byleth before she looked up to the horizon.
"I wonder, did the flow of time bring you here?" Rhea seemingly asked no one except the sky. Alois brought the group of four to the Audience Chamber before he went in by himself to give his report. As they waited, all four tried to calm their nerves in their own ways: Jeralt drank from his flask, Mark toyed with one of his daggers, Robin pulled out a book he had in one of his coat pockets that happened to be a pocket manual of strategies, and Byleth just sat still.
"It's been years since I've been at the monastery. To have to face Rhea now after all of these years." Jeralt muttered to himself, getting confused from the other three but they decided to leave sleeping bears lie. After about five to ten minutes, Alois left the Audience Chamber.
"The Archbishop will see you now. Be sure to give her the proper respect." He said before he left. The four looked at each other and nodded before they walked in. Waiting for them was Rhea, projecting a calm and serene demeanor. Next to her was a more stern looking man with darker green hair than Rhea but his only went a little below his chin and he had a matching thin beard with a gold circlet on his head. He wore a blue and white outfit consisting of loose trousers and a jerkin that had golden filigree on the chest, brown boots, and gloves.
"Thank you for your patience, Jeralt. I am Seteth, Lady Rhea's advisor." The stern man said.
"Hello." Jeralt said simply, clearly wanting to be anywhere else but here. His eyes were only on the person in charge, Rhea.
"It has been a long time, Jeralt. I wonder, was it the will of the goddess that brought you back?" Rhea asked with a serene smile. Jeralt bowed his head respectfully.
"Forgive my silence these long years. Much has happened since I left." Jeralt said simply.
"So I see. Still it is nice to have you and your daughter back here." Rhea asked getting a head tilt from Byleth. "Oh of course you would not know. You were born here in this very monastery. Your mother Sitri was at my side much as Seteth is now. However while you have her looks, according to Alois you have your father's spirit. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving those students of the Officers Academy. You and your companions."
"I am just glad I could help. A sentiment all three of us share." Byleth said with a bow, followed by Mark and Robin. Rhea's smile widened slightly before she turned back to Jeralt.
"Jeralt, you already know what I wish to ask, do you not?" Rheas asked gently as Jeralt suppressed a grunt.
"You want me to rejoin the Knights. I won't say no but…." Jeralt said simply.
"Your apprehension stings. I am more than sure Alois would have asked as much of you on your way here. Still they will want a word with you. Please listen to what they have to say. I must step away now. Until tomorrow, farewell." Rhea said before the four left. Waiting outside the Audience Chamber was a few older Knights. Jeralt quietly went with them while the three young adults waited for him.
"Anyone beside me feel like that room was way too tense?" Mark asked.
"It was. Still what do we do now?" Robin asked.
"Hey Byleth, is your dad hiring? Considering how well we get along I figure it'd be a pain to part after this." Mark said.
"I'm sure he'd find a place for you both if Robin wanted to join too." Byleth said getting a nod from the Fell Blood. "And even if he is stuck as a Knight, the three of us could be a mercenary team." The three talked about the idea until Jeralt finally joined them, looking unhappy.
"Forced back into the Knights." He said with a resigned sigh. "Sorry I got you all dragged into this. I'll be stuck here for a while, and the services of all three of you have been requested as well."
"As mercenaries?" Byleth asked before Jeralt shook his head.
"Nothing like that. From the sounds of it, they want you to teach." Jeralt said. "As the brats told you, there's an Officers Academy here and they have been a little short staffed. Apparently Alois went and recommended the three of you to Rhea."
"Wow. Seriously?" Robin asked, trying to process this. "Well I guess we should be honored."
"If that's how you want to see it." Jeralt nodded. "Mind if I have a word with my daughter before the person who will show you to your quarters arrives?" The tacticians nodded and gave the father and daughter privacy. "I have no idea what Rhea is plotting by making you a professor but she might be up to something. Stay on guard."
"I will. I'll have Mark and Robin to help me." Byleth said surprising Jeralt. "I know I can trust them. Have some faith in my judgement."
"The day I don't have faith in your judgement is the day I fall on my own spear. I may not like how close they are to you but I'll trust them to look out for you." Jeralt said before hugging his daughter. This was Byleth's favorite thing in the world and always served to calm her down. Byleth went to join with Mark and Robin. She saw a boy with them who had dark skin. It was similar to Claude's but darker but their hair was definitely similar.
"You the last new professor?" The boy asked before getting a nod from Byleth. "I'm Cyril and I serve Lady Rhea. Follow me." Cyril led the trio out of the main building to a row of long buildings. "These are the student barracks. Seteth and Lady Rhea thought it might be a good idea for the three of you to live here among the students. The last three rooms are yours. Your stuff is already in the rooms. Miss Byleth is on the end, Mister Robin in the middle, and Mister Mark on the end."
"Just Mark in the future. I am not one to stand on ceremony." Mark said.
"Same here." Robin said.
"Add me to that list." Byleth said before Cyril nodded and handed them their keys.
"I'll be here in the morning to bring you to Lady Rhea." Cyril said before leaving, leaving the three oddly connected people to their new rooms.
"Well now….here's to a new life." Mark said as he walked up to his door and put the key in the lock.
"Wait!" Byleth exclaimed, causing Mark to stop and look at her. "Let's do it together." Mark nodded with a chuckle as Robin and Byleth put their keys into their locks. "One."
"Two." Robin said, looking at the others.
"Three." Mark said, as all three unlocked their doors and walked into their new rooms.
-The Three Winds-
And there is chapter 2. A little longer than the first now that I am getting more and more into the groove again as well as getting motivated. I hope no one minds my messing with the order of events. I just felt like it wouldn't be right for Byleth, Robin, and Mark to be introduced to Manuela and Hanneman quite yet. Next chapter though is the one you all will be waiting for: The choosing of the Houses! Please be sure to submit ideas on who gets what House. And I will repeat that Manuela and Hanneman will have their times to shine, they just won't be the House Heads which will allow them extra time to work on their other duties. Also please submit pairing ideas not just for the main trio but any pairings you like so long as you follow the guidelines I set forth. Also someone asked me if I plan on adding other characters from Blazing Sword and Awakening to this fic and currently that answer is no. Until the next chapter always remember:
The only difference between Chance and Fate is intent.