Mako's Message: This was the first idea I had after starting New Game+. There's not much to it though, which is why I only got around to writing it now. It's also why I was debating doing these in sets like I did with KAD or the Smash tribute. But enough stand alone that I decided on individual chapters. So this is what we get.
Anyway. Enjoy!
#12 – Gameplay Vs Story
Two bandits broke off from the main force, circling around to try and take the hill from the side. An arrow struck the first bandit through the neck, hitting the jugular on the way in and passing straight through the other side. Blood gushed and he collapsed as his veins emptied. The second was struck through the eye, shattering the eye cavity, piercing the brain, and embedding in the skull. They screamed, clutching their destroyed eye and reeling back, then fell backwards continuing to scream.
Bernadetta lowered her bow, her face contorted in distress. "Why am I so good at this?!" she squealed.
Byleth approached calmly, "It's because you were an assassin in a previous life."
Bernadetta cringed, "Don't joke like that Professor! I could never be an assassin. Not in this life or any life!"
Byleth's usually blank face, if you knew what to look for, might have had a smirk on it, "Hmm." They pointed to their left, "Another group of bandits are approaching from the other side of the hill."
The distress and denial of her potential vanished from Bernadetta's face in an instant. She gave a quick nod and dashed to the group's rear, leapt deftly onto a large rock and loosed another two arrows in quick succession, earning her another two death cries and a pained whimper of her own, before her bow twanged twice more.
"Pft!" Sothis said, as they watched her. "You'd think she'd appreciate my gift. It took her years to acquire such skill before!"
Byleth allowed themselves a slightly larger smile, "True, but then she had time to get used it. Give her a few more months," they said, then went to check on their front line as Bernadetta, reluctantly but with ruthless efficiency, covered their flanks.