Chapter 18: Training

"Now watch this! BLAZING BLADE OF DOOM!" With an unneeded amount of force, Owain slashed out at the training dummy he was fighting against. "And now the finisher! STEEL OF THE RADIANT DAWN!" From this outburst, Owain jumped into the air, bringing the sword down in an arc onto the dummy's head. Even with a training sword, it was more than sufficient force to break through the dummy's wooden head.

Owain sheathed his sword with an overconfident smirk. "You see that? Then you best beware the power of…" he began while bringing his hand up to partially hide his face "OWAIN DARK!"

He exclaimed this to an exasperated and bewildered audience consisting of Robin, Cordelia, Lucina, Severa, Inigo, and the legitimately amused Morgan and Cynthia who were applauding Owain's theatrics. "Wow, Owain, that was incredible! You have to teach me those cool moves of yours." Morgan ran up to the performer, who had an obvious air of satisfaction about him.

Owain kept his hand up over his face, mainly to hide his gleeful smile. "I'm sorry young Morgan, but these moves are only for those with aching royal blood like my own!"

Robin could only pinch his nose, thinking to himself, 'Why am I a part of this again?'

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"Pleeeeeease Robin? Please do us this one favor?" Lissa was practically on her knees, grabbing onto the hem of Robin's cloak. The man himself was practically cornered by Lissa, Olivia, and Sumia, who had asked if he would be the one to train their future kids.

Robin frantically waved his hands back and forth in disagreeance. "I really don't think I'm the right one for this! Besides, won't their respective fathers be better trainers for them?"

Sumia sighed, putting her begging on a temporary hold. "Chrom tries, he really does, but the life of an exalt can keep him quite busy."
Olivia fidgeted with silk of her apparel. "Henry isn't exactly the swordsman that Inigo is..."

Lissa simply pouted. "It's the same with Donnel. He tries his best, I know, but….Owain can be a bit much."

Robin was not sure how he could be the trainer they were looking for. "What about Frederick? He's trained in lance and sword, and is as good a teacher as any."

It was that comment that made all girls look to the side with concerned looks on their faces, but Sumia spoke up among them. "Well… you know how Frederick is. We just want something a tad lighter than what Frederick will definitely give them."

"Well, of course we would love to help," Cordelia said as she and Severa walked in from down the hall, the latter holding onto her baby self.

Lissa gasped and ran over to hold onto Cordelia's hands. "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, Cordelia!"
The appreciated woman smiled down at the young princess. "It's no problem at all, Lady Lissa. I would be happy to train Cynthia and Morgan in their lancework, and it's about time Severa got to her tactician training as well."

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Robin soon got guilt tripped into training the children, though he thought it would be a great experience for all involved. For starters, he had them display their innate abilities on the training dummy. Owain was the last one to do so, but he had enough background knowledge. "Oh come on, Owain, I'm sure I can learn!" Morgan whined to the overdramatic swordsman.

Robin tried to ignore it and retain the group's full attention. "Okay, gather around, everyone."
"Sorry, but my aching blood is the only reason I can use these moves," Owain bragged to the other children, not even listening to his instructor.

"I believe I've gotten a good look at each of your techniques," Robin continued, trying to grab the group's attention from Owain.
"Oh please, we share the same blood. You should tell us in the name of justice!" Cynthia interjected on Owain's logic, still oblivious to Robin's comments.

Robin tried to ignore this and continue with his analysis. "Now, for Inigo, yo-"

"Maybe I can use the same techniques with my lance?" Cynthia continued.

After this third interruption, Robin lost all his patience. "Will you three pay attention!" and knocked them all in turn atop their heads with his tome. At this, they all obediently sat cross-legged on the floor, left rubbing their heads.

Robin took a long pause to collect himself before turning to Inigo. "Inigo, you do have a great amount of skill in your techniques, but they aren't particularly defensive. You leave too many holes open in your strikes for an enemy to get under your guard.

"Owain and Cynthia, you both have potential, but you also hold great emphasis on your theatrics. Cynthia, like Inigo, you have excellent speed in your attacks. As a pegasus knight, you can easily use that to your advantage. Owain, you yourself are well balanced, but are you sure the sword is your chosen path? You have much potential in any form of weaponry if you truly apply yourself" Robin stood in front of the first cousins, kneeling down and putting his hands on their shoulders. "I know you both want a second chance at the childhood you lost. I'm not asking you to fully change. Just... moderate yourselves."

Content in his appraisal, Robin moved on to his daughters, and Severa puffed out her chest in anticipation for the praise she would surely get from her father. "Severa, you are quite reckless. I can say this from what I've seen from training, but also from actual battle. You rush into a fight in a full, furious offense. It's admirable, but dangerous. It worries me as both a strategist, and more importantly, as your father. Hang back, and rely on your allies to watch your back. You're not alone. Not anymore."

The children all looked to each other. Robin wasn't wrong in his appraisal about their habits. In fact, having them pointed out was the first time they realized how they acted in battle. However, it was also his pointing out of their past situations that really set in.

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A fair bit of time had passed, and in an astral plane, far from Ylisse, resided three of the tactician's past students. Inigo, or Lazlow, as he is known in this world, was sparring with his liege, Xander, as well as the other Nohrian royalty, with each of their retainers present, including Corrin. After Lazlow had landed a successful blow and ended the mock fight, he received praise from the deep voice of Nohr's crowned prince. "You know, Lazlow, your fighting style is unique, even among the Hoshidan and Nohr troops. I have pondered this for awhile, but who taught you?"
Lazlow bashfully rubbed the back of his head. "Well, milord, I was initially self-taught, though really I-"
Selena walked up and bowed to the dark prince, interrupting Lazlow's sentence with a mixture of respect and pride. "But it was ultimately my father who really helped hone my skills, as well as those of Lazlow, and even Odin, too."

Camilla walked next to her retainer, evidently pleased. "Oh, my darling Selena, I do believe this is the first I've ever even heard you mention your family. You even seemed to glow when mentioning this father of yours."

Selena blushed and looked away, embarrassed. "Well, he's not around anymore. Besides…" her gaze turned towards Caeldori and Corrin, who seemed to have started talking and walking off with each other towards their own teaching session. "I do tend to see my mother and father, sometimes, here in this army."

A/N: Took a bit of inspiration, mainly from Owain's victory scene from Warriors