Potential Spoilers ahead. Read at you own discretion

"If King Viktor's fate was any indication, I would have presumed that a member of Emblian nobility would be far more cautious than this."

"If it were not urgent, I wouldn't be acting so recklessly."

It was the pitch of night. Ever since mysterious masked man had drawn her from the depths of the waters, Marth had been carried on horseback way into the night, far from anywhere remotely familiar to her. She had been living away from the luxuries of the capital cities and camps, subsisting off of what she and Ephraim had been catching in vast expanse of abandoned towns and remote areas. In spite of that, none of what she had seen so far was even the slightest familiar.

And that felt like hours prior. Now, she sat behind her mysterious savior atop his mount, her arms doing the best they could in holding onto the man's back as she was still only shielded by the cloak he had covered her with. Her body may have been fatigued but her senses remained heightened as she immediately focused on absorbing all that she could make out in the darkness.

They had arrived at a clearing in the grove they rode through, an expanded patch of dirt and grass that escaped the clutches of the thick trees and branches that stood menacingly in the darkness only several footsteps away. The moon rested high above the sky, a good indicator that it was well past midnight. It was also noticeably warmer than the cavernous shrine she had barely escaped from as the man had noted.

And now a voice that was foreign spoke out to the masked horseman, who was regarded as Emblian royalty.

Emblian royalty? Why would a member of the enemy partake in saving her life? The life of an enemy soldier?

"Then have at you. What could possibly be so urgent that you would ride into enemy territory in the dead of night and seek an audience with the tactician of the enemy army?"

Peeking over the broad shoulders of the silver-haired horseman, Marth could faintly make out a figure hooded in white who also arrived on horseback that stood across from them at the opposite end of the clearing. From the moonlight, she saw familiar symbols and embroideries that lined the figure's clothing.

There was only one person who could have gotten about wearing such an outlandish outfit.

"Quick to business as always Kiran." The Emblian noble said. "Just as how ruthless you are on the battlefield."

The man that stood opposite of them, Kiran, was Askr's lead tactician. And Marth still knew little about the man beneath the robes. She only remembered bits and pieces, and in her current state, those bits and pieces were even more miniscule. However, in spite of the man's smaller frame in comparison to the other heroes that were a part of the order, the aura he carried demanded respect. Marth could feel the weight behind the man's gaze alone without even making eye contact with him.

"We don't have long until the Order realizes that I am gone." Kiran spoke, his hood still obscuring most of his face. It seems this was a gathering of individuals who guarded their appearances from wary eyes. "Save the flattery for another time."

The masked noble nodded. "Then I'll be brief. You must head to the World of Tellius."

Marth could tell from Kiran's body language that he hadn't expected such a peculiar request from the man. "Tellius? You mean the world where the Radiant Hero hails from?"

"Indeed."

Kiran folded his arms, one hand still clutching the reins of his horse. "The World of Tellius is the only world so far to resist any form of outside control, whether it be Askr or Embla. From what I remember, your forces have failed time and time again in bringing the Radiant Hero over to your side. Perhaps your forces are weaker than anticipated?"

"Do not forget that the envoy you sent with Lyndis still has yet to return from that world." The masked man snapped. "Perhaps your judgment is less sound than respected?"

Marth saw that the masked man's words visibly shook the tactician. Marth knew the reputation of the hooded tactician preceded himself, brining countless victory after victory to Askr in spite of their weakened state. But being reminded of such a failure in times like these must have been a hard blow on the man as she saw his fist clench harder around his horse's reins. It whinnied in response.

"So tell me Prince Bruno," Kiran growled. "What do we have to gain from listening to your advice? The last time we listened, we nearly lost everything at Vaskrheim."

Prince. The crown prince of Embla had been the one that saved her?

"Do you remember the secret weapon Embla had been nurturing the last time we spoke?" Bruno replied in a grave voice. "The one responsible for destroying the Gates of Valentia and Ylisse?"

A weapon that was responsible for destroying her passage home? Marth couldn't believe her ears. As it turned out, she wasn't the only one in shock as she looked towards Kiran and saw that the hand that clutched the leather straps of the horse's reins tightly before instantly loosened its grip out of shock.

"Could it be..?"

The prince only nodded. "It's close to being perfected. It is to be tested one last time, this time upon the warriors of Tellius. Time grows short for us both if the Radiant Hero falls and if such power reaches its final form. If the weapon is perfected, the Order will fall. And so will Askr."

"Then what should we do?" Kiran asked, his voice deadpan. Marth could tell that the man had already begun formulating a plan. It was a pose and aura she had seen and felt so many times before in the past. So much so in fact that she felt as though she were looking back upon a scene from her memory. But Marth reminded herself how impossible that would have been.

"If the weapon is used," the masked prince said. "All of Tellius is lost. The gate will be inevitably destroyed and you will lose all those who might one day take your side. Go to Tellius and seek the Radiant Hero's help. With him, you may stand a chance against the things yet to come."

"Then what of Tellius?"

Bruno paused for a moment. Even though he held his back to her, Marth could feel the distress that was coursing through the man's veins.

"It is to be annihilated. And there is nothing you can do about it. Not even I can stop all of Embla's strategists."

"Why tell us this?" Kiran asked. "If I were in your place, I wouldn't relay such vital information to the enemies, let alone the enemy's strategist. Wouldn't it suit your purposes for your enemies to fall? Or are the morals in your dead heart telling you otherwise?"

"My morals have nothing to do with this." Bruno said, matter-of-factly. "Victory cannot be achieved by a weapon that destroys so indiscriminately. Embla may win the war but the world will be lost if that thing were to be unleashed upon Zenith. There would be nothing left. No castles to rule from, no people to rule over, no kingdom to rule. The victory I desire does not seek out the destruction of Askr."

"Then what is the victory you desire, prince?"

The masked prince remained silent, his silver hair swaying in the evening breeze.

"So even you yourself aren't even sure what you fight for."

"Don't act like you've figured everything out, tactician." Bruno interjected. "But know this. I will do everything in my power to see that the victory I seek is achieved."

"Even if it means going against your beloved sister?"

Bruno said nothing. But his silence in both denying and admitting was duly noted.

"So you'd resort to treason." Kiran said.

"If it means saving this world, I would gladly give my life... and I have not much time."

"What do you mean?"

The prince only shook his head. "Pay it no mind."

Kiran was quiet for a moment. Marth knew that no matter how hard Kiran would press the matter, Bruno would drop it all the same. "You've told us about the secret weapon that Embla plans on using, and a precaution that we could take. But you still haven't told us what we can do to stop it."

Bruno turned his head briefly to face the bewildered Marth. She swore that she saw him smirk.

"That's where she comes in."

Now Kiran was the one bewildered. "Who?"

The Emblian prince dismounted his horse in a swift motion, leaving Marth as the only rider aboard the lightly armored horse. Marth suddenly felt exposed now that she was the only one atop the horse and facing the hooded tactician, who eyed her closely.

"That mask…" Marth heard Kiran mutter. "It can't be." He then faced the prince. "Why do you have her?" He demanded.

"Others would be more grateful that I saved a fellow comrade-in-arms."

"What do you mean saved?" Kiran questioned, glaring at the prince.

"Never mind that." Bruno remarked. "But my suspicions were right."

Marth felt Kiran's piercing gaze on her, as it moved back and forth between her and the Emblian Prince.

"I have heard reports that you haven't been able to summon anymore heroes through the Breidablik."

Kiran nearly fell off of his horse. "H-how do you know that? That was confidential int—"

"Pay the right amount of gold and anyone will risk life and limb for the right job."

Kiran knew immediately. "So we have spies amongst us."

Bruno shook his head. "You need not worry about them. They have been swiftly dealt with. Anyone willing to abandon their loyalties for a right price is not worth allying with."

Kiran fell quiet for a moment. "But what does this have to do with Marth?"

"If I recall the reports correctly," Bruno began. "Marth was the last hero you summoned."

Kiran nodded begrudgingly. "Indeed she was."

It seems Kiran had already figured out her secret.

"But haven't you thought of it as strange?"

The strategist fell quiet once more, deep in thought. But not after much time, from beneath his hood, Marth could see the man's face light up with realization. "Now, that you mention it, there is something indeed peculiar."

Marth suddenly felt chills run up her spine as the two men talked about her summoning. She didn't understand why, but the tension in the air had clamped down on her like iron shackles, filling her with a sensation of cold dread.

Bruno straightened out his mask. "Have you figured it out yet summoner?"

His hood rustled as Kiran nodded. Then, he immediately shifted his gaze directly towards Marth and peered straight into her eyes beneath her mask. His hard grey eyes were like needles that inserted themselves between the slits that adorned her butterfly mask and into her own. Marth felt paralyzed under such a gaze.

"We haven't had a chance to properly meet Marth—"

"Save the introductions for later." Bruno snapped. "Time is of the essence tactician. We must both be off soon."

"Fine." Kiran said gruffly. He faced Marth again, his piercing gaze returning. "Listen carefully for what I am about to ask you Marth, if that is even who you are."

Marth nodded quietly. This feeling of interrogation unnerved her but she knew she had no choice but to comply. The content of the two's conversation so far had been nothing but world-threatening. If the tactician of the Order demanded answers out of her, so be it.

"You don't have to talk." He said. "Just nod your head yes or shake it no if you do or not know what I am talking about."

Marth nodded.

"The Spear's Head."

She shook her head.

"The Battle of Lif."

She shook her head.

"Geirskogul."

She shook her head.

"The Blood Pact."

She shook her head.

"The Tempest."

For the final time, she shook her head.

This was getting nowhere.

Kiran must have realized that too. As he furrowed his eyebrows and his expression darkened.

"You don't know anything…" Kiran muttered to himself, Marth's ears keen on his words. "But yet here you are… Returned back to us… Is this some divine jape?"

Returned? Marth had no recollection of ever being here. The first time she arrived in Zenith was when she had been summoned by the Order to fight alongside them. That was as far as her memory extended…

But could her lost memories have anything to do with the questions Kiran was asking?

Marth cursed her inability to recall more than ever now.

"She is the Anomaly." Bruno said after a period of long silence filled the air. "The fact that she lives is proof. Even after—"

"You need not say more, prince." Kiran said, his voice grim. "I still remember everything that happened."

"Then you should realize how serious the matter at hand really is."

Even though the two were talking about her, Marth had never felt so isolated before. However, she felt as if the prince was omitting some of the details he had briefly told her when he drew her out of the waters. She couldn't recall them now but she knew that it if the Emblian prince had mentioned any of them, she would remember for sure.

But the prince did not mention anything else.

"Heed my advice Kiran and head to Tellius." Bruno advised. "Take Marth with you. If you really wish to save Askr and the Order, you will do as I have instructed."

Bruno than lifted her off of the horse and towards Kiran's mount. Gently, he let her board the mare and behind Kiran. He then returned to his horse and immediately mounted it one graceful swoop. He began to turn his horse around in the opposite direction.

"Do you really seek victory Prince Bruno?" Kiran asked, breaking the silence.

He was quiet for a moment. "I do."

"Then you are well aware that it cannot be achieved while Princess Veronica sits upon the throne."

There was further silence. "I do."

"I will do as you have told me." Kiran proclaimed. "But I pray that you will uphold your end of this bargain."

"…"

"Zacharias."

Who? Marth wondered to herself.

The prince glared at the hooded tactician one last time before his horse bolted off into the darkness, his entire physical existence being blotted out from their eyes in a matter of seconds.

Then there was sudden crash of woods and leaves from behind them. In no time at all, the once dark and gloomy forest was illuminated with a brilliant light as the clearing was no longer occupied by two people but by a dozen.

"Kiran! There you are!" A familiar voice cried out. "When you disappear on us like that without telling us, it'll cause upheaval in the camp!"

The voice belonged to Alfonse. He was also atop a steed, which was adorned with Askr's colors. He had a worried look on his face, an expression that the prince was not a stranger to, Marth had noted, examining the prince's behavior.

"Sorry, Alfonse." Kiran said, talking to the prince in an informal way. "Just had to clear my head a bit."

Alfonse nodded slowly. "That's fine summoner. But please exercise caution. We can't afford to lose you."

"Duly noted, milord."

It seemed that the secret meeting between Kiran and Prince Bruno would never reach Prince Alfonse's ears. Marth wondered whether it was a blessing or a curse that she had been able to overhear such a thing, given that Bruno had told her that she should have been knocked out cold after the ritual she had partaken in hours prior.

"Is that Marth behind your back?"

There was unexpected voice that called her name. She had not expected him of all people to come out looking for her.

"Lord Ephraim?" Marth asked, as she peer from Kiran's backside.

Indeed, the Scourge himself had made himself part of the search party. Marth privately wondered to herself if he had joined with them to find Kiran or find her. Knowing how the lancer treasured his solitude, Marth thought of it unlikely that he would ever even be a part of a joint operation as this search-and-rescue mission.

Without another word, he brought his horse over to her and carried her from Kiran's mount. He sat her on top of his own horse as he dismounted it, leaving him holding the reins whilst walking beside it.

He walked back towards the bewildered looking prince.

"I fulfilled my end of the deal." He quietly said. "Save both of us some time and talk to me again when the mission actually starts."

Alfonse nodded. "Thank you, Lord Ephraim. We wouldn't have found all of them without your help."

Ephraim scoffed. "Save your thanks when I actually put my powers to good use." He led the horse and Marth away from the main group. With each step, the din and light of the search part slowly faded away. Soon, they had broken off from the main group and were no longer within reach of one another.

Marth wondered what time it was. It had to have been well after midnight. If anything, dawn would break in only a couple of hours. And finally, the realization dawned on her.

She was utterly exhausted.

Her body had been running on fumes for the last couple hours and it hadn't even occurred to her how fatigued she had been since the ritual.

Ritual.

It had slipped her mind entirely.

Prince Bruno had told her that she had been denied into the Order by the goddess.

What did that even mean?

Did that mean her resolve wasn't strong enough? Why had she failed when everything seemed to finally piece together for her? Why had the final trial gone so awry when she finally began to make sense of who she wanted to set herself to be?

And what did Kiran and Bruno mean when they referred to her as the Anomaly?

"Try not to pass out so soon before we reach camp." Ephraim said curtly, initiating conversation for the first time between themselves. It wasn't much but Marth was relieved to hear anything besides the thoughts that were cluttered inside of her head. If even for a moment. "I'd rather not have to deal with a naked woman in the middle of the night."

"I'll try my best." Marth said woozily. The horse was going at a comfortable pace with Ephraim leading it by the reins. It felt like ages since she last rode a proper horse. She wished she could have at least savored the feeling instead of feeling worn out by it. "But aren't you tired? It is well into the night after all."

"Closer to morning at this point." Ephraim remarked, brushing branches out of his path. "Besides, everyone who knew about your ritual thought it had gone wrong when you did not return after an hour."

Marth felt her heart drop at the mentioning of the final trial. Ephraim's hunch was spot on, but how could she tell him that straightaway, what she had endured during the ritual? The sensation of sheer utter helplessness she felt from before still lingered in her body, how no matter how hard she struggled there would be no salvation for her. How the waters only seemed to pull her deeper into its depths.

But yet she survived.

"How does it normally work?" Marth asked, more morbidly curious than anything. Her trial was a near-death experience that ended in failure with her still breathing. She wondered what the other heroes might have gone through. "I mean, the final trial."

"The final trial for every hero is remarkedly different." Ephraim answered. "Some had said they had to wade through an ocean of fire while some others battled with an army of mysterious warriors. What the waters at the shrine bring to you is up to the person being tested."

"Where did you hear all this?" Marth asked.

"From that cleric girl you seem so attached to." Ephraim replied. "She runs her mouth for a long time quite often."

Marth nodded in agreement, not that she resented Genny's talkative ways. In fact she found those chats endearing in the light of all that had happened to her. Marth wondered if Genny had heard of her ritual and was worried for her. She hoped not.

"What was your trial, Lord Ephraim?"

The lancer laughed bitterly.

Marth cocked her sore head. "Did I say something funny?"

Ephraim shook his head.

"Then why—?"

"I don't believe in the power of vows and pacts." Ephraim said abruptly, still marching along steadily beside the horse. "I believe in what I can do with my own two hands and will, not something that bends it like their own plaything."

"So you're saying that you didn't partake in the Heroes' Vows?"

"Why should I? I'm no hero."

And there was the argument again. In the short time the two had spent together, Ephraim hated being referred to as such. He seemed to bear a great grudge against the title but bore no resentment to his more vulgar ones. But Marth knew there had to have been a more deeper meaning behind Ephraim's resentment. After all, why would a man who hates being known as a hero go so far as to enlist within an order made entirely of them?

But Marth knew it wasn't wise to press the issue. Not when she finally got him speaking to her on his own terms.

The fact that he had come looking for her was amazing in it of itself, especially for Lord Ephraim. Even if she was misunderstanding the whole thing, she wanted to think that Ephraim had grown to care for her, even just a little bit, no matter how childish it seemed.

She needed a reason to keep moving forward.

She wanted to know that she mattered, even to at least one person.

Especially after tonight.

"But tell me Marth." Ephraim suddenly said. "What happened? How did you end up so far away?"

Marth felt her blood run cold. There was nothing she inherently knew. All she did was step into the Tears of Spirits for her final trial and before she knew it she was fighting for her life and nearly losing it in the process. And on top of it all, Prince Bruno had told her that she had been rejected by the goddess, whoever she was, and was probably the only hero, if she could even be called that at this point, to have been so far.

How could she tell him that? After all he had done to ready her?

But guilt began to ram at her heart. Because Ephraim was indeed the one that had readied her for what the ordeal was supposed to have been, he deserved the truth. That was the least she could do for the man who took her under his wing in spite of being complete strangers.

But when she opened her mouth, Prince Bruno's words rang in her ear.

The Order may stand a chance. If they don't find out.

Ephraim looked upon her quietly, his gaze, soft for the first time, patiently beckoning for an answer.

"So what happened?" He asked once more. "Is there something wrong?"

Marth swallowed hard. It felt as if she were forcing a piece of lead down her throat. The coldness in the air began to seep into her as the early morning breeze began to blow, dampening the silence that filled the air. It felt as if nature too had turned its attention towards her answer. She closed her eyes for a brief moment.

"Nothing happened."

"Then—"

"I passed."

(A/N): The ball is now rolling and pieces are set. I know I'm updating less frequently and I apologize for that. The future chapters are going to reflect this and be significantly shorter than previous ones but please try to understand.

I'm far from done but I wish I had more time. Sadly I do not have as much time as I used to before. I apologize for that in advance.

But thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed.

Cheers.