The Three Winds of Fodlan
First thing is first: Sorry for being gone for so long. Blame COVID. Rest assured that I plan to see this fic through to the end. However while I was away a few thoughts hit me that will dictate a couple decisions.
1: Robin will not have a wife back in Ylisse. I already gave Mark the Broken Hearted storyline so having both him and Robin go through that kinda weakens the impact of both stories.
2: No MarkxByleth or RobinxByleth. I feel the best way to keep the focus evenly distributed between the trio is to make sure that they all date outside the trio. I know this may disappoint some of you but I pray that you understand why I am not going this route.
Now as for why I did the Houses as I did. Byleth, Robin, and Mark embody the trinity of Strength, Magic/Mind, and Skill and the Houses they each lead are symbolized by an animal that favors their primary ability: Lions embody Strength, Stags embody the Mind, and Eagles embody Skill
Also I due use music cues
Okay with all of that out of the way let's get this started.
Chapter 4: White Clouds: Class Assessments
"What in the name of Seiros?" Came a surprised question from a girl seated near the back of the Blue Lions's section in the middle. Robin could see that she was the oldest student in the room. She wore one of the longer skirted female uniforms and had on a gold and blue shawl. Her hair was a light blond and her eyes were blue as the sky.
"You must forgive Mark. As an assassin and tactician he felt a need to test your ability to react to surprise. I'm just lucky that my House had two people pass his test." Robin said with a shake of his head. "I hope that answers all of your questions." Mark just continued to chuckle.
"Well considering the collection we have here, an assassination attempt is kind of to be expected. To think otherwise would be a poor decision by anyone who thinks themself a tactician." Mark said with a laugh, getting a glare from one of his House. The person was a young man who was rather pale and had dark hair over one eye and an almost yellow looking eye. Mark felt a twinge of hatred at the boy's features that reminded him of Morphs, the Homunculus-like creatures he had encountered in his previous journey. However he quickly buried it so as to not judge the boy too soon. "But yes, I am indeed both a tactician and an assassin as stated, so I do hope you are prepared for this test to happen at random."
"In addition, we have devised a second test. One you will have until the end of the year to complete." Byleth said, almost as if to stop the pale young man's glare on Mark. "You are to attempt to prank the one of us that leads your House. You may collaborate with up to two other members but that is all. This is to help you broaden your tactical ability."
"An interesting assignment but I guess it makes sense." Claude said before the room seemed to grow cold as ice.
"However be warned that after lights out and while I am enjoying tea, the assignment is suspended and should you disturb us during these times, you will be punished." Byleth said with a smile on her face, even though the cold energy radiated from her.
"Uh….in addition the second floor where the offices and library are located are also out of bounds." Robin said, trying to quickly recover from Byleth's cold smile. He was almost thankful he was slightly immune due to how often he saw it from Frederic and, worse in his opinion, Cherche. "But enough about that I guess it would be interesting to hear how we decided on who would lead what House. I chose the Golden Deer because I am rather experienced at leading people from all walks of life into battle. Prior to coming here I led a group that was made of a mixture of nobles and commoners. So I hope to bring that experience here."
"I chose the Blue Lions because it appears that you are the happy medium between nobility and common folk. This means that it will help me bridge any gaps between the two stations having interacted with both sides rather often as a mercenary." Byleth explained simply.
"And I chose the Black Eagles because I have experience guiding nobility of all kinds so I can use this experience to help groom you all into what a noble should be, not what a noble is thought to be." Mark said remembering his friends Lyn, Eliwood, and Hector. To him they were true nobles: kind, compassionate, and honorable. "But enough about that. Today is a bit of an odd day. We're giving you the morning to do a study hall before you have to fight us this afternoon."
"Fight you?" Edelgard asked, confusion evident in her voice.
"In order for us to properly prepare you all for the upcoming mock battle, we have to evaluate your skills and no way is better than by pitting you against ourselves." Robin explained calmly. "The rules of the assessment are simple: using practice weapons you are to all try to land a combined number of three hits upon the teacher in charge of your class. If you are hit three times or incapacitated you are out. The assessment continues until you have beaten us or all of you are defeated. Each of us has picked a battlefield to test you. The Golden Deer will join me along the banks of the river."
"I got lucky and got the training field for the Blue Lions." Byleth smiled her cold smile once more.
"The Black Eagles will be joining me in the forest for your assessment. Do try to at least somewhat test my tactics." Mark joked, receiving another glare from the pale young man. The three teachers went to different parts of the classroom and pulled out their dossiers to plan for their assessments, their students, none the wiser at the full extent of their abilities and the mountain they had to climb to get close to each teacher.
-Blue Lions' Whirlwind-
Byleth waited for her students, leaning against her practice sword like it was a cane, spinning the axe in her other hand absentmindedly. She was a little excited to begin this part, she had to admit. She was effectively being her father, whom she idolized, and teaching children who were like her when she was younger. She was shaken out of her thoughts when she saw her collection of students. "All right then….let's skip any lectures and get right to it." Byleth said with a smirk as she and her students readied themselves.
Music:Three Houses-Winds of Fodlan
Byleth rushes at her students, surprising them by the offensive move before she slid to avoid a Wind spell launched by Annette, a pigtailed redhead. Byleth recovered from her slide in time to block a quick sword slash from Felix, the stern looking boy that had passed Mark's test from earlier. It was clear he practiced a lot and often but Byleth was no weakling and she held a second weapon. Byleth brought her practice axe down and struck Felix in the shoulder before dodging an attack by the other boy from her House that passed the test, Ashe a kind hearted looking young man. Ashe's arrow was masterfully shot but Byeth was quick enough to dodge the strike.
"Very good." Byleth said before surprising her students by turning her backwards dodge into a backward handspring that landed a powerful kick to Felix's chin, halfway through. "But you also set me up to strike your ally. You can't think in straight lines, you have to think in curved ones." Byleth threw her axe at Annette, who was too stunned to dodge it in time before she fell unconscious. "One down."
"We can't give her any ground! Procur her axe!" Dmitri ordered his fellow Blue Lions, shocking them out of their stupor. Ashe reacted first, his body moving as if trained to be light and quick, and grabbed the heavy weapon before Byleth could.
"Pardon me, Professor, but I can't let you have this." Ashe replied apologetically as he blocked a kick with his bow. He tossed the heavy weapon behind him to Ingrid before Ashe struck with a concealed practice dagger. Byleth dodged in an almost dancer like fashion to avoid the strike, giving Ashe the time he needed to gain some distance and fire again with his bow. Byleth snatched the arrow out of midair and jabbed at Dedue, a large dark skinned young man, who was attempting to strike with his own axe. The Ashen Demon then jumped onto Dedue's shoulders with acrobatic skills that left all in awe before she locked her thighs around the Duscur man's neck and used a combination of force and skill to bend back and slam him to the ground before striking him twice with her fist and sword.
"Two down and an axe. How fortunate for me." Byleth said getting up to avoid a joint strike from Felix, Ashe, and Dmitri. Byleth noticed that Felix seemed to have shrugged off the pain from her earlier attack before she remembered the beautiful blonde girl, Mercedes, was trained as a healer. "Of course. Sorry boys but I have a date with a blonde." Byleth kicked off of Dmitri's spear and rushed full sprint at Mercedes, who attempted to shoot her with a bow, but unlike Ashe, she was not well trained as an archer. The new teacher reached Mercedes, but instead of executing a brutal assault, she grabbed her in a chokehold and let the girl get some sleep. "Three now. And not just any three, your mage, your healer, and your shield."
"Damn. She's got a pretty face and a very supple body but I had no idea she was some sort of beautiful demon." Sylvain said, though somehow Byleth got the inkling that the demon quip was another reason for him to slightly undress her with his eyes.
"She is called the Ashen Demon after all." Ingrid retorted, trying desperately to not knock Sylvain out herself.
"Wouldn't be much of a mercenary if I didn't know how to dodge attacks would I?" Byleth said with a smirk dodging a well timed strike by Felix before doing something not so graceful and headbutted him. "And that makes strike three. You are out."
"Not bad. Guess I'll just have to train hard enough to beat you." Felix scowled but there was respect in his voice. Once more Ashe took the opportunity to fire an arrow at Byleth who was able to block the attack. However Ashe seemed to have a smile on his face, and that was what alerted Byleth to Ingrid's attack. Byleth turned and stomped down on the point of Ingrid's practice spear and snapped it with her axe. Ingrid barely dodged the accompanying sword strike.
"Well played. Seems we have ourselves a rather eagle eyed archer." Byleth said as she realized that Ashe had been the main one keeping her on her toes. She wondered if this was somehow connected to him passing Mark's test earlier. She was brought out of her musings by an attack by Sylvain. Byleth let the attack almost hit her before smashing her knee into Sylvain's diaphragm and following it up with a dual strike of her axe and sword, eliminating the skirt chaser. Byleth then kicked the lance to Ingrid, who caught the weapon. While the blonde young woman was confused, she focused on trying to pin down a way to hit Byleth. It was clear that while Byleth was stronger than most women, she did not ignore her natural female advantages over men such as acrobatics and flexibility fall by the wayside.
"I must admit that not only are you a superior warrior, you are also a superior woman, Professor." Ingrid said with respect. "It seems like there is much you can teach me."
"I'm glad you feel that way. After all you are a little too obvious at your attempt to be a distraction." Byleth said before backflipping over a rushing Dmitri, causing him to strike Ingrid instead as well as causing the two blonds to fall to the ground. They tried to untangle themselves but Byleth finished the two of them off, leaving only Ashe who set his bow down and held up his hands, ending the spar.
Music End
"I hope no one is mad at me for surrendering." Ashe said with a sorry smile but grew relieved when he saw the others shake their heads.
"Actually that was the right thing to do. Well technically, fleeing while I was distracted would have been better but we can assume that's what you did." Byleth said. "I was a force you could not handle with a group, let alone by yourself. However you were able to gather intel on my capabilities. In a real conflict that can be the difference between victory and defeat. Now then let's get cleaned up. I think I have what I need to help train you."
-Zephyr of the Golden Deer-
The Golden Deer were enjoying the openness of the banks as they searched for Robin. As they walked along Lysithea, the youngest student who was also albino, suddenly felt her senses begin to twitch, as if there was a great danger. She turned her head towards the water and pointed.
"Look! Over the water!" Lysithea exclaimed as everyone readied themselves only for them to lose their guards rather quickly at what they saw. Robin was floating above the water with his eyes closed, sitting in a lotus position. The Fellblood opened one eye and smiled.
"You were able to sense my magic, despite the fact I was concealing it. Rather impressive, I must say, Lysithea." Robin congratulated the albino girl as he stood up from his sitting position, still floating over the water. As he did, he pulled out his tome which was glowing. "I've enacted a spell on my tome that will make all of my magic non-lethal but they will still hurt. So, shall we begin?"
Music: Fire Emblem Warriors OST-Conquest Ablaze
Robin knew that his House was filled with hunters and archers so he knew that range would be important so he decided to start things off easy. He unleashed a Wilderwind to disrupt the arrows from Claude, a short red haired girl named Leonie who seemed to have a complex about Jeralt according to her dossier, and a bespectacled young man named Ignatz. He then followed it up with a Fire spell to get the students to scatter.
"I see. That tome of his must be a focus for his magic." Lysithea muttered to herself before seeing Claude nod in agreement.
"Yeah something like that. I saw him use it to cast a monster of a Thunder spell before." The Golden Deer Leader said. "Seems like conventional tactics won't do it with this guy. He's good at spells, swords, and tactics. We have to get him over dry land to combat him at all if we want even a chance at hitting him." Claude barely dodged another Fire spell as Robin kept himself at range for the time being, using Wind or Wilderwind to block arrows before he was almost taken by surprise by Dark Magic being sent at him.
"A Miasma Spell?" Robin muttered before he looked and saw Lysithea, readying another spell in time with the archers. "Not a bad tactic. I can't use Wilderwind or wind to block a Miasma spell so I have to move but if I do, I could be struck by an arrow. In that case." Robin started to fly towards the students who unleashed their arrows and spells. Right before any could make contact, however, Robin aimed an Elwind spell at the water, sending himself skyward. As he floated down Robin unleashed Thunder spells to drive back his students, in order to keep the advantage.
"Damn. That was a well played gambit, and I don't have a lot of strength to keep casting Misama Δs." Lysithea cursed before a noble looking young man with a flower on his uniform rushed Robin.
"It is the duty of the nobility to assist the weakened, so allow me." Lorenz said with a smirk, causing Lysithea to glare at his back. The heir of House Gloucester struck with his training spear but was surprised to hear the sound of wood against wood as Robin blocked with a training sword he had concealed in his coat. Robin aimed his tome low and captured Lorenz in Nosferatu and drained enough energy from the noble to send him into unconsciousness.
"He knows White Magic!" Leonie exclaimed, confusing Robin.
"Where I come from Nosferatu is a Dark Magic." Robin said confused before dodging another arrow. "How interesting that it is a White Magic here." Robin then raised his tome at Lysithea. "Now then let me show you some real Dark Magic." A spell circle appeared around Lysithea and the archers. "Ruin!" The circle activated and generated a field of Dark Magic that hit the four hard. Robin noticed the attack knocked out Ignatz and brought Leonie to her knees but Claude was still on his feet, shaking, and Lysithea had been able to block most of the damage. Robin was about to use the spell again but had to dodge an attack by Raphael.
"I might not be very good at ranged stuff but my fists are pretty strong." The large but gentle young man laughed before he swung at Robin again. Robin used his magic to float and easily dodge the strikes but he soon realized he was getting too close to Lysithia who had picked up a training sword that someone had left in the area and Leonie, who had switched to a training lance. The High Deliverer knew he was about to be pincered if he didn't try something, but he was being pressured too much to attempt his Elwind jump again. However soon the answer came to him. Robin blocked Raphael with his sword and turned to aim his tome at the girls who were rushing him and unleashed one of his favorite spells, Thoron. The powerful Thunder spell blasted both girls allowing Robin to point his tome at Raphael and unleash multiple quick Wilderwinds, knocking the large young man out of the spar. Robin turned and barely dodged an arrow from Claude, who was looking healed due to the shy Marianne behind him having used Heal.
"You are a slippery one, Teach." Claude said with a smirk that alerted Robin to a possible feint."But I can be just as slippery." Robin saw he was now surrounded by Leonie, Lysithea, and Claude..
"Not bad….guess I better show you a spell of my own creation." Robin said calmly before he dropped his practice sword. "Blárraven!" Robin spun with his hand out as a murder of blue ravens erupted from his hands and spun with him, striking the surrounding students. However, Lysithea was able to block with her sword, a strange but weak light around it for a moment. Robin had his ravens surround Claude and Marianne and hit them both enough times to take them out before he picked up his practice sword. "It seems that you and I may have a bit in common."
"How so?" Lysithea asked, all her focus on Robin despite being the last to stand.
"You were able to partially channel magic into your blade. It may have been a wild instinct or pure luck but you did. As it happens I can do the same." Robin said before a blue and pink flame surrounded his sword. "This is a special skill I have called Ignis. Now then, it is time to fall." Robin rushed Lysithea who attempted to block but the magically imbued practice weapon shattered her own and she took the blow to the shoulder, flower petals made of magic flowing off of her.
Music End
Robin put the fake weapon and his tome away and clapped. "Well done. Full marks for never backing down and for some well executed maneuvers. A lesser opponent would have stood no chance.
"Says the walking magic armory." Claude chuckled as Marianne started to heal everyone.
"It's one of my strengths as well as strategy. Speaking of, I think I can help us devise a good one for both your training and the mock battle. It's time to tip the scales." Robin smirked as he began to plot the strategies he needed to help his students.
-Black Eagle Gale-
Unlike the other two Houses, the Black Eagles were far more cautious as they approached the field of battle. Their professor was an assassin and had shown them that his speed was not to be trifled with. "Keep your guard up. Professor Mark likes to move like the wind he prays to." Edelgard warned her fellow students as they approached the clearing. In the middle was a green cloaked figure with something on it. The pale boy from before, Hubert, walked up and plucked off a small piece of parchment, upon seeing the wooden stake at the bottom of the scarecrow that had a cloak similar to Mark's.
"'The battle now begins. Enjoy.'" Hubert read aloud before everyone turned around to face the forest behind them expecting an attack.
Music: Fire Emblem Rekka No Ken Strike (Attack!) Remix by NOQQYSC on YouTube
"He could be anywhere." A short but active young man named Caspar said as he readied a spear. "How are we going to find him in the forest?"
"You're not." Mark's voice echoed over the wind before the scarecrow moved, revealing itself to be Mark, who had hidden in plain sight using the wooden stake and a cloth bag on his head. Hubert barely had time to attempt a Miasma Δ before Mark kicked him in the face. "You are all rather lucky that I don't have a practice version of my Gale Wolves so I have to go unarmed. At least now I can get some practice." Mark shrugged before he used his Gale Step to get behind Hubert and perform a suplex on the pale young man, sending him into unconsciousness. As he recovered, he barely blocked a strike from Petra, the foreign young lady who had passed his earlier test.
"I wondered why my marks had shivered." She said before she continued to attack. Mark wondered what she had meant before he noticed that her fighting style was eerily similar to Lyn's. They were not one for one but there was an odd likeness to it. "You block my sword well. Almost like instinct."
"You remind me of a very important friend of mine. Her style was like yours." Mark admitted, a nostalgic smile on his face before he hardened his eyes. "But you lack her speed!" Mark struck with a backflip kick that knocked the island princess off her footing before he struck her hard in the solar plexus. Before he could continue his assault however, he barely ducked under a Thunder spell from Dorothea, the pretty brunette and hat wearing girl from the same company as Manuela. Despite the pain, Petra noticed something about how Mark had avoided the spell. The Thunder Spell seemed to have been deflected slightly, as if it had hit a barrier.
"The Spirits! They push the spell!" Petra exclaimed, getting a shocked expression from everyone. Mark just smiled his wolf-like smile. "You not only believer but protected!"
"Very good. Yes I am protected by the Spirits of the Wind. They increase my speed and help me against magic. Combined with my assassination prowess I am a pretty strong force to be reckoned with." Mark said before Gale Stepping to Dorothea and knocking her out with a well placed chop to her neck. Mark saw a Nosferatu head his way and side stepped it before he rushed towards the sleepy Lindhardt, the spell's caster. Once more, with expert precision, Mark used a single strike to knock out the young man. "Well that takes care of all of your mages." Mark then barely dodged an arrow from Bernadetta.
"Oh no!" Bernadetta exclaimed when the Legendary Tactician turned his gaze upon her. However when he did, he seemed to hesitate. The way the young noble shivered under his gaze reminded him of Florina when they had first met. This lapse in concentration allowed Petra and Ferdinand to get in close before Mark's instincts took over and he broke both their weapons with wind reinforced palm strikes. Mark quickly took out Ferdinand with three rapid kicks before striking Petra hard in the chest with his palm. However to his surprise, Petra held onto his sleeve and was able to land a retaliatory kick.
"Damn. Seems my lapse cost me a strike." Mark chuckled with his wolf-like grin before kneed Petra and sent her to the ground eliminated. Mark then turned his attention to the only trio remaining: Bernadetta, Caspar, and Edelgard. Mark ran towards the forest with Caspar in pursuit.
"No, Caspar! It's a trap!" Edelgard yelled out to the hoheaded young man but he was already in the forest. In a few minutes Caspar emerged, unconscious and held by the collar as Mark carried him. Mark dropped the young man before rushing over to Bernadetta. The nervous young lady looked directly into Mark's hardened eyes and fell unconscious by the sheer force of the Legendary Tactician's will. Edelgard raised her weapon to ready herself but Mark Gale Stepped behind her and gripped her axe with one hand.
"Once again, you make it too easy for me to assassinate you." Mark said, referring to their first meeting when he had Gale Stepped behind her and Dmitri. Mark knocked out the Adrestian princess with a single chop and sighed.
Music End
"It seems I have a lot to teach you." Mark muttered before he touched where Petra had struck him. "And it looks like I have a few weaknesses to work on." With that Mark sat and waited for his students to recover before he dismissed them. As they left, The Wind Blessed made his way to where he and his fellow teachers had chosen to meet after the day.
-Three Winds of Fodlan-
Byleth was enjoying a nice cup of mint tea as she awaited Robin and enjoyed the lovely tea gazebo on the monastery's grounds. It was calm and peaceful and allowed her the chance to rest in the warmth of the sun. As she picked out a danish from the small box of baked goods she had procured before she set up her tea, she saw the High Deliverer and Legendary Tactician walk up.
"Would you be opposed to us joining you?" Mark asked with a polite bow. Byleth noticed that the words and gestures were practiced, as if it were part of a custom he had done many times.
"Please do." Byleth said before both young men sat with her. "So how well did your Houses fair? Mine wasn't bad but it shows how uncoordinated as a group they are."
"Mine did quite well. I was happily surprised by one student's grasp of magic and even more so that they seem to be like me and have a hidden talent for swords." Robin beamed happily.
"My House has much to learn. I have too many mages and that lead to their downfall handily." Mark said as he waved his hand, causing a small breeze to kick up. "Due to my unique blessing, I have natural protection from weak mages and magics."
"I can sense it." Robin said with a nod as he tried to pinpoint where he had felt a similar effect. Eventually it hit him that it was almost like when he was in Valm. Robin noticed a few of the Valmese Swordmasters had incredible resistances to magical attacks. He remembered Virion had called such Swordmasters, Dread Fighters.
"Well it seems we all know where we have to train our Houses." Byleth said with a thought hitting her. "I propose that we do not discuss this further until after the mock battle. That way no one can use any information we have of other Houses for tactics other than what we have seen in the dossiers."
"Sounds fair to me." Robin nodded. "Be more fun to call checkmate on you two if I earn it."
"Provided you can." Mark chuckled with his wolf-like grin. He finished his tea and got up. "Anyway I need to get going. I have to see a shop about repairing a piano." With that, Mark waved goodbye to his friends and Gale Stepped away.
"I feel like checking out the library. I was informed of a few interesting things that I need to research." Robin said remembering that his students had said Nosferatu was White Magic, just like it was in the days of ancient Valm. Robin walked away as Byleth sat there to finish her tea.
-Three Winds of Fodlan-
And there we go. As you saw I kind of combined all of Robin's fighting styles: From Smash, Heroes, and Warriors. Also yes Mark is effectively a fusion of a Dread Fighter and an Assassin. And as for Byleth...yeah I gave her even more to her unique arsenal. I do hope you enjoyed them. Also I assure you that the mock battle will be better written if you thought my fight scenes were a little lacking.
So idea I had….what if I started a sister fic where Byleth and Mark wake up in Awakening. Tell me your thoughts as well as any revised or new pairing ideas in your reviews. Until next time always remember:
To stay yourself in a world trying to change you is the greatest achievement.