Trigger Warning: Attempted Suicide. Be warned.

My feet felt like they were made of lead as I moved forward. All I heard was the sound of the crashing waves just ahead of me, and all I could see was the grey skies looming on the horizon.

I was done.

The precipice was directly above the water. Once I got to the edge of it, I looked down to see jagged rocks and the roiling water below. Just one more step. Just one more step and everything would be over. I'd be gone. Everything would be gone. The shattered remains of the Outrealm Gate would be gone, the island would be gone, the world would be gone. I'd never see it again. I'd never feel again.

That didn't sound so bad. Not by then. Despite that, my legs didn't move.

I stood there on the edge of the precipice, looking down at the dark waters below me, not moving a muscle.

"There's nothing left for you here," I grumbled out, my throat scratchy from all the crying and screaming I'd been doing.

My dirty legs still refused to move a single inch.

"T-this is what you deserve," I continued, stammering. "B-but, this is also the ticket to your salvation, you know?"

Nothing.

"You're a lucky bastard to have this opportunity. You know that," My tongue felt like a slug, making it harder to speak. That, and the lump that was slowly growing in my throat. "Just a few terrifying seconds in exchange for bliss. Now that's a fucking bargain."

My traitorous legs still betrayed me. I switched tactics.

"Don't think about it. Just do it," I said sternly, "Come on, you fucking pussy. You worthless sack of shit. Do it. Fucking do it. Now!"

I cried out in frustration as my leg began to move, only to stumble backward. My back landed against one of the stones from the decimated Outrealm Gate, sending my entire body into a world of pain.

Laying there for a few seconds, my mind went completely blank. I let out a pathetic whimper and slammed my iron fist against the ground in futile anger. Finally, a single thought entered my mind.

You're a fucking coward, boy scout.

I couldn't do it. I couldn't take out my sword and shove it through my chest. I couldn't plunge off the side of the cliff. No, I was too cowardly for all of that. Something always stopped me, kept me from going through with it. It was infuriating. It would be so easy just to commit. To end it all.

Yet, despite everything telling me to, my body refused to do it. I was left there asking a single question.

Why?

Why was I still there? What purpose was I supposed to serve? All I'd done was make things worse; everything I had done had made things objectively worse. It was my fault. I should've taken the plunge. To atone. For all my failures and mistakes.

Despite all of that, I couldn't do it.

"Fuck you," I growled out, my face contorting into a scowl. "Can't even grow the balls to jump."

I got up, my legs still feeling incredibly heavy. I turned around and walked. I didn't really care where I ended up. How many places could I go to on a small island?

As long as it was away from the remains of the Outrealm Gate, it was better.

I found myself sitting under the balcony of one of the larger houses in the village. A storm had blown in, if the grey clouds from earlier didn't clue me in. Lightning zigzagged across the sky, casting blue light across the landscape. Thunderclaps echoed in my ears. Heavy winds blew boatloads of rain slightly to the side, making it look like I was sitting on a steep incline. It was disorientating, so I stopped looking forward.

Besides, my legs were far more interesting.

There I sat in the fetal position; my back propped against the wooden wall and my legs against my chest. I didn't know whose house I was leaning against, but I really didn't care. If they wanted me gone, all they'd have to do is brave the rain and lightning and try and shove the two-hundred-pound man off their property.

I scoffed. At that moment, the thing I hated most was myself.

How was it possible to fuck up as badly as I did, to the point where I was hiding underneath someone's balcony? I had a bed with the Shepherds. I had friends. I threw that all away. For what? The chance to go home. I remembered I was so adamant to go home, and yet I didn't think I even knew what that was anymore. Convincing myself that where I was wasn't home was stupid. So incredibly stupid.

Despite that, I left anyway, leaving everyone I'd known for the past nine months just because of that small shot, because of my own weakness.

I shifted, hearing a small jingle in my backpack before another round of thunder blanketed the night.

Coins. I still had some coins. Getting back to the Mulgrave wouldn't have been that difficult. I could've paid the captain again. Spin some story about finding what I came for and all that.

I slumped down. Did I have any right to go back? After leaving the way I did? It was just like me to leave as cowardly as that. Cowardice. That was what it always came to. My cowardice always ruined everything. The Shepherds had no room for someone like that. I didn't deserve to consider myself one of them. I never had any right to. I was better off where I was.

To rot underneath the balcony, the lightning flashing across my vision and the rain and thunder flooding my ears.

I idly wondered if my iron hand would rust, or if it would be the only piece of me to remain.

"Uh… Hello, sir?" A voice said, just to my right.

I looked up, my expression dark. My eyes fell upon a boy, no older than his pre-teens by the looks of things. He wore simple clothing with tanned skin and dark brown hair. I couldn't shake the feeling that he was familiar somehow.

He gasped once he saw my face and began mumbling to himself.

"What do you want, kid?" I grumbled out.

"You! It's you!" He whispered, a smile suddenly finding its way to his youthful face. "That soldier! The one who saved me!"

My face scrunched up for a second as the boy seemed to bound up to me, looking like a literal ray of sunshine in the murkiness of the world. I was perplexed, to say the least, but I remembered something. A name I'd heard months ago, forgotten for the longest time

"…Jeremi? You, your name is Jeremi, right?" I mumbled out, slowly relaxing.

"You remember! I knew you would! Hehe," he giggled, still smiling. "I, uh, I never got to hear your name, though. You left before you could say anything. I think you did, at least. I don't remember a lot about back then."

A small, uncertain frown found its way to his face for a brief moment before returning to that warm smile from before.

"A-anyway, I can't believe it's you! Nana said I'd probably never see you again, but I knew I would! Prayed to Naga every day, so I did! But what're you doing out here, in the rain? It's a mighty big thunderstorm."

A suitably mighty crack of thunder washed over the buildings and made the wall behind me shake. I gave the kid a blank look once the ringing in my ears was gone. "So I've noticed."

"Eheh," He giggled nervously. "B-but seriously, what're you doing out here? Nana says if you stay out in the rain too long, you'll catch a cold!"

"Honestly?" I blinked slowly, scouring my mind for the right words to use. "I, well, I went looking for something, and it wasn't here. Now I'm a little- let's say I'm not in the best of ways right now, kid. It's been a helluva few months for me."

Jeremi looked confused for a few seconds before his gaze landed on my right hand. "Oh. Is that-?"

I nodded. "Yeah." I waved it around. "Got this around a month and a half ago," I looked at him seriously. "You should get home, kid. Like your Nana said, you'll catch a cold out in this weather."

Jeremi sputtered. "B-but what about you!?"

"What about me?" I echoed.

"I-I can't just leave you like this! Not after what you did for me and Nana!" He claimed passionately, "Come on, let me help you up! We'll go to Nana's house!"

Jeremi stretched his small hand out to me. I stared at it hollowly for a few moments, my mind as blank as my expression.

I sighed.

"Alright." I took his hand and picked myself up off the ground.

The rain continued to pour on the battered seaside town as Jeremi and I ran through the dirt streets. Well, he ran. I briskly walked. The kid was made of sturdy stuff, I'd give him that. Not only did he find me out in the typhoon that the storm was becoming, but it didn't even look like he was affected by it as we continued onward. Eventually, we came upon a small, but charming house somewhere on the edge of the town. Since Whiteford Isle didn't have many trees, most of the houses were built out of grey stone and thatch.

Jeremi got up to the door, the only part made of any kind of wood, and began knocking on it harshly. It wasn't as loud as the thunder and wind that surrounded us.

"Nana! Nana! Let us in! I brought somebody!" Jeremi shouted. "Come on, I know you hear me!"

The door opened, showing another familiar face. A young woman in her mid-twenties, with the same distinctive features of Jeremi. A scowl was on her face as she regarded him.

"Jeremi, what in Naga's name are you doing out there!?" She seethed, ushering him in, much to his chagrin. "I could have sworn I boarded your damn window shut-!"

She stopped once she saw me, her eyes widening to the size of dinner plates.

"Oh gods, it's you!" She nearly screamed. "What're you doing out there!? You come in too!"

I felt like a passenger in my own body as I was ushered in along with Jeremi. The house had a small hallway with a few doorways to rooms. Cozy. A gentle and warm light from a few candles around the house almost made me sleepy.

"Gods, both of you are soaked!" The young woman groused. "Jeremi, you go put on something more appropriate. You... how about you and I sit over here?"

She gestured to a room with an old oaken table and chairs that faced away from where Jeremi was walking towards with a pout on his face.

I took a deep breath, scratching my chin. The feeling of my unshaven skin was like sandpaper to my remaining flesh hand. I did as the woman said and sat down, soaked to the bone. I'd need to amend that later. When I was alone, of course.

"Ah, that's better." She sat in front of me. "Was about to go to bed myself before I saw Jeremi was gone. I swear, that child goes wherever he wants, no matter what I do! Of course, it's because of you he's even here."

I narrowed my eyes. "I'm surprised you guys remember me. You don't even know my name."

The woman looked at me strangely. "I think I'd remember the face of the man who rescued my nephew. Although you're right; I don't know your name."

"For what it's worth, the name's Alex," I said, trying to keep my voice level despite its scratchiness. "I'd ask if I could change, but I don't think you have any spare clothes."

"Well, it's not every day we get visitors," The woman remarked. "My name is Katherine, by the way. I'd give you a change of clothes if I could, but, well, yeah, it's been a little rough since coming back here."

"Katherine," I enunciated, "I wouldn't ask you for that anyway. Don't understand why you'd offer."

"Why wouldn't I?" She replied, leaning forward. "You saved Jeremi's life. The kid has been idolizing the 'shining soldier' that got him out of the village since I took him in. He's got a lot more life in him since then."

I looked down. The conversation was a helpful distraction from my own thoughts, so I felt the need to keep it going as long as possible.

I titled my head back up. "What're you guys doing all the way out here, anyway? Last time I saw you, you all were in the mountains of Ferox."

"Pfft, Ferox," Katherine spat, looking away. "A whole country of warriors and they couldn't protect my sister's village. Bunch of bandits is what they are." She turned back to me. "Was just visiting my sister when those dastards attacked. When the time came to leave, I took Jeremi with me. I've actually lived in this hovel for around, oh, ten years or so? Whiteford is very disconnected from the world, and very far away from most of my family. Until now, at least." She sighed. "I'm not sure if that's helped Jeremi, though. He's always been a quiet child, and there aren't many kids his age around here. The only thing that gets him talking is you, really."

I narrowed my eyes. "…Fuck, I'm not someone he should be looking up to like that."

"And why not?" Katherine asked pointedly, raising a brow. "You went into that burning village and brought him out all by your lonesome. You're a hero to that boy."

It felt like my blood froze.

"Don't call me that," I grunted, raising my right hand and placing it on the table. "I don't deserve to be called that."

Her eyes focused on the iron prosthetic on the table like I'd just dropped a dead rabbit on it. She then looked back up to me with sympathy in her eyes.

"War wounds?" She whispered.

"Yes." I nodded. I tilted my chin up a bit, showing the scar going across my throat. "Bet you were wondering why I sound so different, huh?"

Katherine winced at my injuries, something I was growing used to. That, and life without my right hand. Still had trouble trying to pick things up with it. The fact that the weight of a hand was there didn't help me thinking I could still control it at will.

"Regardless of what you think, that boy still idolizes you. I doubt you could do anything to change that," Katherine said, leaning back and folding her arms over her chest. "And if you do something to try and change that, well, I'll let you know just how bad an idea that is."

I looked down at the wooden table, studying every grain and small crack. Despite my vehemence from earlier, I wouldn't dare try. I'd let Jeremi believe what he wanted. Even if it wasn't true.

I shook my head. "You don't have to worry about that, Katherine," I rasped, dragging my iron hand back below the table. "I'd never do anything to hurt that boy."

Katherine nodded, her expression softening. "Good." She looked me over for a moment. "I know I've said this before, but you look a little raggedy. Do you have a place to stay?"

You do. The ship is still in-port.

I rubbed the back of my neck. "I- No, not really. Jeremi actually found me underneath a balcony, so…"

Katherine smiled. "You can stay here, if you like. Don't like holding debts, so might as well pay it now."

I looked up. "A-are you sure?"

"Jeremi'd like it," She said simply. "And you really wouldn't be much of a bother. Hope you wouldn't mind helping out a little though."

On the contrary, it seemed ideal.

In the days that followed, I tried to keep myself busy. Jeremi was a big help in that; the kid was a veritably endless supply of distractions. He'd ask a lot of inane questions, but whenever they hit too close to home, I'd deflect. That worked for a little while, but eventually the well dried up, so to speak. He still followed me everywhere, but it was with this kind of contentment. He was satiated.

Which left me with precious little. Comfortable silence was no longer a thing for me.

Therefore, I took to the town. Getting things Katherine needed like food or materials, stuff like that. The coastal village wasn't a big place, but it was big enough that I could get lost in it if I weren't careful. The people seemed to've been growing accustomed to my presence, thankfully. They no longer gave me the eye when I walked past, although some still noticed my scars. They were polite enough not to talk to me about them, at least.

Life seemed to go by in a blur. A small hint of normalcy returned to me, like an old friend. It was a nice, if unfulfilling, feeling.

That changed the minute I saw them.

I was walking through the village. On that day, it wasn't for any particular reason; I just wanted to have a walk. Katherine didn't need help with anything, and Jeremi was still asleep. The early hours of the morning on Whiteford Isle were always pleasant, the perfect time for a walk. Not too many people, either.

I saw them, down the street, talking to somebody.

They were unmistakable. A robed, white-haired man I knew to be Robin, and a red-headed woman wearing a brown and red tunic and skirt. The first time I'd seen Cordelia in casual clothing.

I stopped in my tracks. All I heard was the pounding of my heart in my ears.

…Oh shit.

Before I turned away, I saw Robin look in my direction.

OH FUCK.

I ran. I ran and I didn't look back. Hearing them shout my name as I ducked into another street almost made me stop again, but I powered through it and kept going. My expression was grim as I pushed through the dirt streets, going in random directions to evade them. Since there were so few people about, I couldn't use a crowd to lose them, so I settled for running as fast as I could for as long as possible.

It was a while before I felt the strain on my legs. I hadn't marched in a while, but I was far from out-of-shape anymore. Impressively, I was able to sprint for several minutes before I stopped in a corner between two houses, away from the main road.

Deep breaths in and out. In and out. I looked out to the main street as I backed away from it. I couldn't hear them anymore, but that didn't mean they were off my tail yet. After a quick breather, I turned around to continue fleeing.

"Going somewhere?" Robin said, arms crossed as he stared me down with those red eyes. He had walked in from the opposite side.

I yelped, turning around instantly to try and get away from the tactician. Unfortunately, Cordelia was right behind me, her face twisted with worry and frustration.

"Why did you run, Alex?" She asked pointedly. "We've been looking for you everywhere!"

I backed up until my back hit the stone wall of one of the houses. Looking from side to side and seeing no escape, I slid down. My breath came out in short, ragged gasps as they both converged on me.

"Alex," Robin began, his voice level. "I- We just want to talk. About all of this."

"Talk? Talk?" I parroted, breathing heavily and looking up. "Like that's accomplished a whole lot. Why the fuck did you guys come after me? I left a note, for God's sake!"

"Ah yes, this one," He pulled it out of his coat's inner pocket. When he did, Cordelia's expression soured. "You do know how this reads, correct? 'To whom it may concern. On this day, I go on to greener pastures. Do not weep for me, friends, for I am finally free.' Alex, this reads like a suicide note!"

I cringed at my own flowery speech. Ylissean Common was never going to be my strong point, but I'd hoped that my note would be good enough to get my point across. As the memories of me standing on the edge of the precipice crossed my mind, I began to think it did. In a twisted way.

"And we came to find you because you're our friend, Alex," Cordelia answered, stepping forward. "I don't know why you decided to come here to find an Outrealm Gate of all things but believe me when I say that I will listen to you! You didn't have to do all of this!"

Guilt pierced my chest as I looked into Cordelia's eyes. I buried my face in my one good hand, trying to formulate words.

"I just wanted to go home," I whispered out. I felt pinpricks at the corners of my eyes. "Fucking, look at me! Look at my hand! The damage! I couldn't- I couldn't take it, alright!? Donnel died because of me, and when I lost control, I got this!" I waved my iron hand around frantically. "All of this. All of this shit is my fault, don't you get it? It's my fault. So I tried to remove myself from the equation. B-but the damn Gate's already gone. Destroyed. Who the fuck cares? It'd be better off if I did as the note implied."

Cordelia gasped as Robin stepped forward. "How in the gods' names can you say that and look me in the eye? After everything we have been through? Do you honestly believe that everything would be better without you? If you really believe everything is your fault, then you are more delusional than I thought. Do you think Donnel would have wanted this?"

When he said that, my mind went blank. Before I was even aware of it myself, I was on my feet and shouting. "Don't you dare say his name! How dare you. How fucking dare you! You have no idea what he would've wanted! You're not the one who carried his lifeless body back to camp! You're not the one responsible for his death-!"

I didn't get to complete my sentence.

A dull 'thwack' resounded as my head was forced to the side. My cheek stung. Slowly, I turned my head back, my eyes as wide as a deer caught in headlights. Robin glared at me furiously, his lips in a thin line.

"When are you going to realize that you are not that important!" He seethed, his voice raising steadily as he continued.

"Robin!" Cordelia hissed, grabbing the tactician's shoulder. "What are you-!"

"No, he is going to hear what I have to say. Whether he wishes to or not!" Robin said, shaking off her hand and marching back up to me. My mind was blank, like an unpainted canvas.

"Listen to me, Alex," He began. "You should have been with Donnel. I should have been with Donnel. Vaike should have been with Donnel! Everyone should have been with Donnel! You cannot blame yourself for perceived wrongs when you have done none! Look at me, Naga take you!" He grabbed me by the lapels of my tunic. "And all of those other factors you think to be your fault? They had nothing to do with you. Things could be the same whether you were here or not. And Emmeryn? I have done some thinking, and you know what I have theorized?" He let go of me. "She would have died no matter what we did. If she knew of her oncoming demise, she would not have cared. She would have marched straight to those broken down doors of Castle Ylisse and rebuilt the entire city if she could."

His words went straight to my core. My legs felt shaky, and I fell to my knees.

Robin looked down on me. "I have had it up to here with your nonsense. Either you re-evaluate your position in the grand scheme of things or sit there and continue to wallow in your own misery." He looked to Cordelia, whose face was almost scary to behold. "We leave tomorrow morning. We've already been gone long enough as is. If he doesn't come, we go without him."

Robin walked away. His footsteps seemed to echo until he left entirely.

My mind was like a storm, but even through it, I was sure of one thing.

Robin was right. Completely and utterly right.

It wasn't until it was all laid out for me that I finally realized it. Despite my constant assertions to the contrary, I thought of myself as important, but not in a good way, not in the usual way. Everything wrong that happened I simply attributed to my own flaws. To myself. There were some things that were different, yes, but how much of it was truly my fault? My responsibility?

I was not as important as I thought. Donnel's death, Emmeryn's death. I had been selfish. Stupid. How much of it had affected everyone else? Chrom? Robin? Cordelia?

In the end, it was war. People died in war. There was no reason to attribute everything to me. I was just too self-centered to see that.

I felt two hands grab me by the shoulders gently and pull me up. Not offering much resistance, I looked back up to see Cordelia, her brows furrowed as she held me up.

"Hey," She said softly. "Are you alright?"

I blinked, before chuckling hollowly. "No. No, not really." I looked down. "I-I've just realized how much of an asshole I've been. How self-centered and shit I've been. I- Fuck, man. I never even thought…"

"Much as I am loathe to admit it, Robin was not wrong," Cordelia said, her voice still soft yet stern. "But that does not mean you cannot improve. Don't let it be this way!"

"I-I won't, but," I sighed, my shoulders slumping. "Do you know the entire reason I did all of this? Join the Shepherds and fight in a war?" Cordelia shook her head. "I want- I wanted to be like those guys in the stories, the legends and shit. I think I just… Yeah, I wanted to be a hero. The kinda guy kids look up to." Jeremi came to mind. "But, honestly, I don't think I'll ever be like that. I'm not a hero. I'm just- I'm just me. I'm all I've got.

"I'm not very impressive. I'm just me. I could be better. I could be so much better, couldn't I?" I felt it. The dam was breaking again. Was Cordelia getting closer? "I-it took me this long to figure that out. All of this time wasted and I didn't even-!"

I didn't know what happened at first; all I felt was her arms circling around my neck, and then she pressed herself against me. An overwhelming sense of warmth pervaded me, as the smell of cherries floated up to my nose. Her long, gorgeous red hair looked ethereal as my eyes widened.

"Wha-"

"You've been holding it in for a while, haven't you?" She whispered. "Go ahead. I'm here."

Despite her saying that, I still tried to keep it in. Tried.

It was only a second or two later that I returned the embrace; wrapping my arms around her lean body, with my tears soaking into her collar. I melted into her frame, shuddering in her grasp like she was the only thing keeping me from completely falling. With my face buried in her shoulder, I couldn't keep myself standing. Slowly, we both fell to our knees.

I wasn't sure how long we were there, in each other's arms. No matter what, it would be forever burned into my memory.

A part of me never wanted it to end.

I was going to leave with them. That decision came pretty easily. There was no way to go home, and back in YlisstoI, I had friends. People I could rely on. I had Cordelia and Robin. Gaius and Vaike. Sully and Frederick. All of them. I'd just left them like the past nine months didn't happen. Even if it was only to go back and apologize, I'd do it. There was nothing left for me on Whiteford Isle, or really anywhere else.

All it took for me to realize all the things I'd been missing was a good slap in the face courtesy of Robin. That would probably make a good story one day. Before I left Whiteford, though, I had one more thing to do.

After Cordelia and I, well, went our separate ways – after she told me where we'd be meeting the next morning – I went back to Katherine and Jeremi's house.

"So, that's basically it," I finished explaining, shrugging. "Thank you for letting me stay here while I was going through my, er, episode. Or whatever the hell you wanna call it."

Katherine looked at me, her expression unreadable, before she burst into laughter. After a few moments, she calmed down, a tear streaming down her cheek. "Hehe, no problem. It was the least I could do for what you did for Jeremi. You're welcome back anytime, Alex."

I nodded, smiling a little. "Heh, thanks. What was so funny?"

"Just the way you walked before you came back," She began. "Before you left this morning, you had this way to your walk, like your feet were weighing you down or something. Now? Standing tall like a soldier! Almost didn't recognize you!"

I blinked. I never even knew she was so good at reading people.

I spent one last night in their house. That morning, before we were supposed to leave, I left the house with my old bag. All my old belongings were still inside; my phone, my Psychology textbook, the old binder, and my wallet.

It may've been drastic to do what I was going to, but if I didn't, I did not think I'd be able to let go completely. The Outrealm Gate was gone; there was no way home. What use did they serve other than to dredge up all of those unpleasant thoughts?

With that in mind, I made my way to the docks.

It was a straight path to it, and I arrived only about thirty minutes after I'd left. The ocean was a calm greyish-blue, the waves lapping up the wooden posts keeping the docks up. I looked down into the water, taking a deep breath.

Placing my bag down, I carefully, almost reverently, opened it. The first thing I took out was my Psychology textbook. Using my iron hand, I flipped through the pages. None of the little I read made sense to me.

"You know, I always hated this class," I remarked to myself. "I don't think I'll miss you."

I tossed it into the ocean.

The next thing I took out was my old binder and wallet. The binder was easy enough to throw away; I threw it in almost carelessly. Luckily for the world, I didn't think my old world items would do much damage to the ecology. How many plastics did they make around there? My guess was somewhere between zero and zero.

My wallet was a bit more difficult, though. All of my personal identification was still in it. Even my social security number, which I'd neglected to take out like my dad had told me. My old Learner's Permit was in there as well, and the face of my eighteen-year-old self stared listlessly up at me.

I looked nothing like I did in the picture anymore.

It's not you. Not anymore.

After a few more seconds, I threw wallet, and the last picture of me I'd ever see, into the water.

Last, but not least, my phone. At first, I tried to pick it up with my right hand. Grunting, I reached for it a second time with my left hand. I held it up, studying it one final time.

It was still the same as it was all those months ago. Predictably, pressing the power button did nothing, and it never would again.

I'll see you when I get home.

I admit, I hesitated. My phone was the biggest link to where I came from. In the end though, I did the same thing I did to the rest of my old belongings. My fingers creaked like a rusty door frame. The splash as it hit the water rang in my ears hollowly. It sunk into the blue abyss, never to be seen again.

Goodbye, everyone.

It was the hardest one to let go, and I took a few deep breaths before I picked my bag back up. The bag was from my old world too, but it still had a practical use, at least. I could've been making excuses, but either way, I was keeping it.

I closed my eyes, took one last breath, and turned. I had places I needed to be.

The meeting spot was just a small distance from the village. From where I was, I could see Cordelia and Robin standing around expectantly. Once Cordelia spotted me, she smiled. I felt myself grinning in response, and something small fluttered in my chest. It was strange, but I ignored it. Robin regarded me neutrally. Once I was there, we stared at each other awkwardly.

"Robin," I greeted, my lips thin.

"Alex," He replied, watching me.

I needed to do something, anything, to cut through the tension.

Just as Cordelia was about to say something, I made my move. Rubbing the back of my neck, I gave Robin a sideways gaze. "You have one mean slap, you know that, right?"

His eyes widened ever so slightly. Then he rubbed his temples, chuckling lightly. "Ha! Yes, well, I have not slapped many people, so I suppose I shall take your word for it." He turned to Cordelia. "Is everything ready with the captain?"

Cordelia nodded. "Yes; we'll be setting sail within the hour." She looked at me, a soft smile still on her lips. "I'm glad you decided to join us, Alex."

I coughed. "Yeah, well, I guess from the word 'captain' that you guys got here by boat?"

"A egasus can fly fast and far, but it cannot cross the ocean with more than three people," Cordelia informed me helpfully. "Which," She frowned. "Which, yes, unfortunately means we will need to take a boat."

I felt like throwing up then and there. "I still don't have my sea legs. Are you sure we can't just spend the rest of our lives here?"

"You and I both know Chrom would send a search party within the moon," Robin said, crossing his arms and grinning. "So we will need to say goodbye to this paradise you decided to drag us to."

"Ah yes, I'll miss this place," I said in a pseudo-nostalgic way. "It only rained once here. This place was supposed to be dry; where the fuck did that come from?"

"Either way, we shall not be here for much longer," Cordelia said, a small bit of relief in her voice. "Now, we should get going before the captain thinks we-"

"Wait!"

That was a voice I recognized. A young voice from a certain kid I'd spent the better part of the week getting grilled by. I turned around to see him bounding up to us. Katherine was behind him, and when I gave her a questioning look, she shrugged.

Without warning, Jeremi ran up and hugged me, his arms going around my waist as far as they could. I had to admit, the kid had a lot force behind that tiny body of his.

"Friends of yours?" Robin questioned, walking up beside me.

"You could say that," I replied.

"Ha! Friends!" Katherine barked. "This big lug's been with me the past few days. Until I guess you guys came along. Jeremi over there, well, he just wanted to say one last goodbye to his idol. Who was I to say no to that?"

Jeremi sniffled, before loosening his grip and looking up at me with teary eyes. "W-will I ever see you again, Alex?"

Goddamn that is a powerful look.

I almost slammed my iron hand on the kid's head out of reflex. Realizing it before it happened and avoiding a tragedy, I used my left hand. Ruffling the kid's hair comfortingly, I gave him a smile. A genuine one, that time.

"Yeah," I replied. It could've been a lie, but I was feeling optimistic. "Yeah, kid, we will. You can bet on it."

Jeremi was silent for a minute before letting go completely. "O-okay, good. Good- No, I'll see you later!"

A tug on my tunic from Cordelia, with a pointed look that screamed 'I want to hear this story later' on her face, and I was moving back away from the village. Back to Ylisstol. I was strangely excited.

"Yeah, see ya later, kid!" I said once we were a good distance away. "Take care of your aunt!"

Even from where I was, I could hear Katherine's scoff.

With that, I left them behind. Oddly enough, it felt a lot like when I left Ylisstol over a month ago.

It felt like I was going home.

I wanted to slap Alex myself throughout most of the first part of this chapter. Don't worry guys. My friends and I wanted it too.

So yeah, bet you guys weren't expecting something actually wholesome to come out of all this? I can just imagine your faces.

Because let's be real, the fact Cordelia didn't burst into flames the minute she touched Alex is a fucking miracle.

Anyway, got nothing else to say, really, except to thank my good friends Narwhal Lord, DestructionDragon360, and Seafra Yeager for providing a shit ton of feedback throughout most of this fic's run. Here's to another three months, ya bastards.

Here's a link to our Discord: discord .gg/9XG3U7a

Hope ya'll enjoyed!

Edited on 2/23/21. The ship sails. Not the one you're thinking of, though.