AUTHOR'S NOTES: And now it's time to ring in the new year with another chapter of Silent Dragons. There's a bit less action in this chapter, with focus instead going to Corrin, Kamui, Sakura, and other character relationships. There will be a few chapters like this here and there, particularly between game-chapters. Corrin and Kamui have a lot of their own relationship to sort out, after all. On a similar note, I should be able to get back to at least posting once a week from here on out. But, I've rambled enough. I enjoy feedback, so if you love it, hate it, or anything in between, please review.
Happy Reading!

CHAPTER 45: A Leader's Concern

Sing with me a song of Confidence and Charm...

Kamui went back to her study like she so often did, and got back to work writing her books. The next morning, in lieu of any new information or leads on Sakura's siblings, she was back at her desk penning away her new thrilling serial. When she heard a knock at the door she paused and looked up.

"Come in," she mumbled, and the door slid open again to reveal Sakura.

"Oh," she whispered, "were you busy, sister?"

"Who me?" Kamui put a hand to her chest as she stood up, "nah, I'm never too busy for you, Sakura." It was true that while Kamui was not even very social towards her retainers apart from on business, Sakura was one of the people she had warmed up to immediately. There was simply a relaxing aura around her that kept Kamui's nerves calm any time she was around.

"So what did you need?"

"Corrin told me you knew magic?" she glanced down at her feet, as if her shoes and Kamui's toes were suddenly the most interesting things in Kamui's surprisingly well-decorated room.

"If anything, I think I should be asking you for tips," Kamui put an arm around Sakura's shoulder, "you still have that tome Izana gave you, right?"

"O-of course!" Sakura gasped. "I would never lose it."

"Well, I know that these sacred weapons can only be wielded by those who are worthy and whatnot, and so I'm not going to ask to give it a spin as much as I'm just going to give you a warning or two about Nohrian magic. As powerful as the Hoshidan spirit-callers are, Nohrians deal more with elemental magic, such as fire, thunder, wind, or even ice." she grabbed a Fimbulvetr tome from her shelf and guided Sakura outside to a more open area where they could practice magic without setting anything on fire.

"Like your scrolls, you don't exactly need to read every word on every page," Kamui continued, "the tome will react to your touch and your magical attunement, growing in power and effectiveness the more magical strength you have I've seen you before; you can't hide that kind of magical ability from me, sister."

True to Kamui's word, it did not take long before Sakura knew exactly what Kamui spoke of.

"It wasn't like I really taught you anything," Kamui commented modestly, "it's like learning the difference between a fork and chopsticks. Speaking of which don't remind me."

Sakura giggled but didn't press the subject. Instead her face turned back into one of concern as she asked Kamui another question.

"But what happens if I face enemies that know how to resist or counter magic?" she asked.

"Are you saying you want to learn how to use another kind of weapon as well?" Kamui raised her eyebrows, "because you name it, and I probably know it. Even then though, I'm not the best. I'm pretty sure Takumi would whoop me with a bow, Xander or Ryoma could stop me with swords, and Hinoka could top me with a spear or a knife. There's also no point in going up against Camilla with an axe. Just saying."

"E-even if they were here, I-I don't think I could compare with any of them," Sakura trembled, "but I… would kind of like to learn how to use a yumi like mother used to."

"Say no more!" Kamui beamed, "you wanna learn how to use a bow? I'll teach you how to use a bow. Let me just grab one from the barracks over here…"

Sakura was an attentive student, and Kamui turned out to be a decent teacher. Corrin noticed the two of them training from a distance and watched them for a while. He was only interrupted by a man approaching him from behind.

"Milord," Corrin spun around to see Jakob standing in front of him, "I have come inquiring about the location of milady Kamui, and was…" he noticed her off in the distance over Corrin's shoulder. "Well… I take that back. I suppose I should resume my other duties now that Kamui's location has been settled."

"A moment, if I may, Jakob?" Corrin asked, turning to the butler again.

"I would prefer not to be stalled, but since milady has ordered to treat your requests like her own, I am obligated to hear you out."

"I'm just wondering about Kamui, actually," Corrin decided to ignore Jakob's slight condescension, "she seems talented with whatever weapon she picks up. Axes, swords, magic, bows… you name it, she knows it."

"Milady has been a talented combatant for years, actually." Jakob explained, "She spent much of her life locked away at a remote tower in the middle of nowhere with little else to do with her time. As such, she began putting her skills to use. She's a formidable opponent."

"I've seen her," Corrin nodded, "I'm more wondering if there's anything she can't do. She seems like more of a capable instructor and leader than I do."

"As much as I am hesitant to offer sympathy," Jakob blatantly admitted, "I can assure you right now that Kamui has little interest in serving as a leader."

"Why's that?" Corrin raised an eyebrow.

"In truth…" Jakob scratched the back of her head, "Milady can often be a dreadful decision-maker. She is fierce and impulsive and shows little concern about her own safety. She needs people such as her servants to keep her from doing anything terribly stupid… and a leader who can point her in the right direction. Despite all of this, I could never ask for a better master to serve. I hope my answers suffice for you, Lord Corrin."

"They do…" Corrin half-stammered, "thank you, Jakob. It's given me a lot to think about."

"A pleasure," Jakob nodded, "for Kamui's sake and perhaps yours as well though, I would advise you to stay strong in your convictions. Neither I nor Kamui will look up to nor respect a weak-willed leader."

"No, that makes sense," Corrin nodded. "Thanks for your time." He didn't feel offended by Jakob's remark, because he knew that if he was placed under the jurisdiction of a weak leader, he'd be hesitant to follow orders too. Sumeragi had been strong. Mikoto had been strong. He was just having trouble trying to sort these things out; how to become a good leader, essentially.

Incidentally, when he asked around as to what his soldiers and friends thought made a good leader, most of them thought he was doing a good job. Felicia complimented his sense of strategy, and even Gunter stated that while his fighting skill was inferior to that of his sister, that he was still a formidable warrior.

"I'm here because you pay well," Anna giggled when Corrin asked her how she felt about him, "but as shamelessly greedy as I am, I'd say no to even the best-paying job if I didn't feel safe and secure. A dead merchant makes no sales, after all… so yeah; you're good with me!"

Obviously Corrin had nearly full support from all of the Hoshidans they had recruited thus far, with each one of them admitting they fully backed and supported him apart from Azura, who was nowhere to be seen. More often than not, that woman had Corrin wondering what she was up to or where she would go, but since no harm ever seemed to come of it, he decided to leave her be rather than pursue the mystery.

Eventually, Corrin came around to Sakura and asked her the same things he had inquired of most of the others. She gave him a confused look.

"W-what do you mean, big brother?" she looked concerned.

"I've just been conducting a survey of my own abilities," he admitted, "People want me to lead this army, and so I'm just trying to stay in tip-top shape."

"You've always been one of my role models," Sakura exclaimed, "you and Takumi and Hinoka and Ryoma… and Mother of course."

"And what of Kamui?" Corrin hid any feelings of envy he had towards his sister for her martial skills, "how has she been?"

"Oh, she's been wonderful!" Sakura bobbed up and down for a second, "she's teaching me how to be an archer, and she's so talented with magic… why?" She sensed something about Corrin that he was not sharing.

"An insecurity of mine," Corrin confessed. Sakura had an innate ability to squeeze the truth from people without even trying to. It made her extremely difficult to lie to, and she often didn't even realize it. "I just wonder sometimes if Kamui would be more suited to lead this army than me. She's easily stronger than me, both with and without weapons, and she's clearly talented with them as well."

"You're jealous of Kamui?" Sakura tilted her head, "Corrin… she's jealous of you!"

"She is?" Corrin's brow furrowed, "about what?"

"W-well… your control over your dragon form is something she envies… and how kind and sociable you are. You're a great leader, big brother. You've brought us together, and even Kamui knows it. She told me she isn't sociable at all… and I can see it. She's very much like me in that regard… right?" she looked around and then at the floor before smiling up at Corrin.

"Now that you mention it, I can see that," Corrin agreed, before sighing almost with relief. "I'm glad you're with us, Sakura. You're a pleasant breeze in an otherwise fiery pit of despair."

Sakura didn't really know how to respond to this remark other than with a blush, but it brought a smile to her face to see Corrin happy and relieved.

It relieved Corrin to know that most of his army got along fairly well with one another. Jakob occasionally chastised Felicia for a clumsy slip-up here or there, but Kamui was usually there for that as well. The way Felicia reacted was usually what upset Kamui the most though, and so she knew she would have to intervene. Thus, she turned to the man she could trust as a leader and inspiration: her first stop would be talking to her brother… which fit perfectly with Corrin's own desire to talk to Kamui.

"Ah, yes… I've heard—and seen—Felicia's antics." Corrin chuckled, "she's remarkably talented on the battlefield, although her skills as a servant… well, erm…"

"No need to remind me," Kamui chuckled, throwing herself onto Corrin's sofa and popping open the nearest drink. She paid no regard to the cork, which hit the ceiling and then bounced somewhere out of sight and out of mind. "...but I don't want to hurt her feelings or crush her already low self-esteem. She means well and tries to do well. She just… needs help. Hell, you know me. Even I need help every now and again learning how to solve problems without punching things or putting my sword through them."

"What did you have in mind?" Corrin raised an eyebrow. "And you know you could have asked before just taking my sake."

"You never drink it anyways, Mr. Dry-'N-Sober." Kamui quipped, "probably for the better since you're our master tactician. BUT, that reminds me. I was kind of hoping that you'd use that brilliant intellect to help me out of that bind, y'know?"

"Well… if we had someone trailing her or helping from the sidelines to fix her mistakes…" Corrin put a finger to his chin, "I think I know just the thing—well, that we could try anyways."

"Let's hear it," Kamui took a long draught from the bottle before belching loudly, almost as if she was deliberately trying to playfully pester her older twin brother.

"I could always use Kaze to watch her; help her from the sidelines," Corrin suggested.

"If you're offering your retainer for the job, that'd be swell," Kamui quipped, "Jakob's great, but he's a bit of an ass to everyone not named Kamui. Seems he's only okay with dealing with my stupidity."

"Seems apt," Corrin smirked. Kamui actually gawked at him.

"What's this? My brother actually makes a joke?" Kamui gasped.

"It was a one-time thing," Corrin riposted. "It won't happen again."

"Right," Kamui nodded, "so… Kaze then, yeah?"

"I'll talk to him about it." Corrin promised. "And I'll keep you updated."

Kamui rose to her feet, draining the rest of the bottle without stopping to catch her breath until it was empty. "Oh, one more thing!" Corrin called out as Kamui headed for the door.

"Mm?" Kamui belched, wiping her lip.

"What do you think of me?" he asked, "As a leader, I mean?"

"What brought this on?" Kamui tilted her head, "it wasn't because of me training Sakura or anything, was it?"

"I'll admit that seeing you wield so many different kinds of weapon with such skill had me jealous," Corrin confessed, "but no; I've asked everyone in the castle this question too."

"Ah, so I'm the next stop in your career evaluations? Joy of joys."

"Surely you have to have an opinion though."

"Well of course I do, brother; but opinions are like stained-glass windows: hit 'em hard enough and it doesn't matter how many you have or how glorious they are."

"I'd still like your opinion on the matter if you don't mind."

"Honestly? You're a hell of a lot more cut out for leadership than I am, Corrin," Kamui laughed, "Just let me drink shit, smash shit, and talk a little shit now and again and I think we'll get along just fine and dandy. The people have you and your charisma to look to for a strong and caring leader. I'm just some dumb muscle that helps smash through enemy ranks. I wouldn't want it any other way—so I look to you for leadership and guidance."

"That… thanks, Kamui." Corrin smiled. "That means more to me than you think."

"Any time," Kamui shrugged, "don't sweat it, big brother."

"If you start calling me that I'm going to call you 'baby sister'." Corrin warned.

"Oh, ho! Corrin knows how to tell jokes after all!" Kamui laughed, "Nah, I'm just shitting you, brother. Anyways, I've got a date with some meat in the mess hall, so I'll see you later."

When Corrin and Kamui parted ways, Corrin smiled as he was filled with a new sense of optimism. Even Kamui, strong and clever as she was (despite her claims of being stupid) approved of him. That burden's removal made him feel a dozen pounds lighter. He glanced out again towards Kamui, and shook his head as he watched her head straight for the castle's mess hall, throwing the now empty bottle against the wall of the nearest building as she went.

AFTERTHOUGHTS: Obviously there won't be gaps between game-chapters as huge as the one I had between chapters 4 and 5, but they will crop up here and there, especially as more characters join Corrin's army. I just thought that it made sense for them to A, not move straight from one battle to the next (this war isn't going to be won in 28 days), and B, not know exactly where to go right away. They'll get reports from Anna or Kaze or someone about where to head next soon enough though, so no worries there either.