Chapter 33: Say'ri's Trial
After leaving the fort behind, Say'ri leads the Shepherds to escape from Yen'fay's men until they stop near a mountain range.
"Just as I thought," Say'ri says with a mutter and a nod of approval, "the turncloaks only made a show of opposing us. We're clear of them. But Yenfay's forces approach swiftly. It won't be long now..."
Robin nods. "We should hasten south to meet them, and distance ourselves from Walhart." Her face warps into a grimace. "This battle will be challenge enough without the Conquerer breathing down our backs."
"...Another concern: the dynasts who betrayed us." Say'ri continues and Chrom nods as they recall their encounter with a few groups of the former resistance. "They attacked us and let us go both because it suited their purpose." Say'ri looks to the smoking mountain. "Should they attack us from behind as we battle Yen'fay, it would be an easy victory. They would curry favor with the empire without risk of injury. This is how they think."
"Cowards. Switching to the enemy side whenever it's convenient." Reina states.
"I understand how you feel, but calm down, Reina," Robin says with a frown. "What we need right now is a strategy out of this mess."
Chrom nods. "We cannot defend two fronts. We'll need to choose our battlefield carefully..." As he said this, his eyes soon shift to the burning mountain. "Say'ri, that mountain- I've seen it smoke for hours, but I see no trees on it anywhere?"
She glances up with a look of confusion as she explains, "What... ah. That is no forest fore, sir. It's a volcano. Have never seen one?"
"There were few times that I visited a volcano in Hoenn Region, but I had to wash my body and clothes because of the soot." Reina says trying not to remember at how many times she had to wash her body and clothes to clean off the soot.
"Well, that one is called the Demon's Ingle. It is known and feared by all people of Valm. Few dare even get close, lest they anger the wicked fire god."
Hearing this, Chrom nods with a hand on his chin. "Hm... Robin? Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
Suddenly, Kai looks uncertain. "Don't tell me-!"
Luke and Drago also get the idea as the Blade Pokémon speaks, "Chrom, that plan..."
"Head!" Drago speaks.
However, Robin nods. "Only if you're wondering how quickly we can to reach the volcano."
"G-go to Demon's Ingle?!" Say'ri exclaims in shock. "Do you know what you're saying?"
Robin nods once more. "I'm saying your opportunistic former friends wouldn't dare risk following us. And we can use the flames as barriers, to limit how your brother's army approaches."
Hearing the idea fully, Say'ri thought carefully. "Mmm... And Brother will still come his stubborn pride will force his hand..." She then grimaces. "…'Tis a risky plan, but I can devise none better and you three seem to have a peculiar talent of performing miracles."
Chrom nods. "Then, we shall leave for the volcano as soon as possible before Walhart and his men arrives."
Everyone voices their agreement before beginning their preparation for the immediate departure once more. Robin takes Chrom, Reina, and Kai to a secluded spot so that no one is in their earshot.
"Chrom, we should let Say'ri fight Yen'fay." She suggests.
"Why?" Chrom asks.
"Say'ri said herself. Chon'sin is made up people descended from past heroes and then we can probably let their blades speak for themselves what the other thinks."
"I have to agree. There is a saying that actions speak louder than words." Reina says.
Hearing this Chrom thought for a bit. "I can say that Say'ri is strong enough to go against her brother, whether or not I've seen him fight. But I'm worried as to what would happen if she ended up killing him. I know it's necessary to get past his army, however..."
"If that were to happen, she would regain herself." Kai says.
Robin nods. "If Walhart is the one who made them fight to the death on opposite sides, then it would only make her more determined to stop him. If I were in her position, I'd have done the same, since we know mourning over dead doesn't bring them back. What worries me is only the weight of her actions that comes after she finishes what she came for."
Chrom sighs after hearing this. "So, we have no other choice, but, to make them fight against each other, then... All right. Robin, I'm counting you to come up with a strategy then."
As they draw closer to the burning mountain, they soon see a long passage that goes rather deep in as the light shines on the other side of it. Entering it, they can feel the heat rising as beads of sweat rolling down. When they get closer to the light, a field of hot lava rocks and flowing molten lava spread out before them. In addition, Reina spots soldiers standing on pitch black rocks in very familiar armors.
"It's the Valmese soldiers..." She points out.
Meena and Kai then scan around the area and soon come upon one particular soldier with a different air around him. "Reina, look!" Meena points out to her sister to the soldier.
This soldier has long silver hair tied back into a ponytail with black samurai armor. Out of the entire enemy troops, he is the only one wearing a different style of armor and also looks extremely strong.
"Could he be..." Kai trails off.
"Probably. Seeing the Chon'sin soldiers wear armor like that, then he must be Say'ri's older brother, Yen'fay." Reina confirms.
Before the battle starts, Robin made sure that she didn't exclude Say'ri as she begins to give out orders. As the fighting begins, Robin notices the same man back at the fort suddenly teleport himself next to Yen'fay before he vanishes.
"Excellus..." Say'ri growls quietly. "That coward. He ran off and let his soldiers do the dirty work again, didn't he."
"Excuse me?" Chrom says with a frown. "So, he's one of Valmese generals?"
Say'ri nods with a grimace. "That he is, but he always makes his men do the fighting instead while he sits back and watches. It's no surprise if that what he's playing to do right now."
"So that's what he did back at the fort?" Reina questions.
Robin frowns and shakes her head. "Then let's not lower our guard down or let the heat influence our emotions as it already is. Don't let them find an opening in your fight. Also, not only we have to deal with the Valmese soldiers, but one small step in the wrong path can put you in danger."
Chrom nods. "That's right. We need to hurry before the entire area completely collapses too." He then raises his arm. "Shepherds, let's go!"
At the signal, everyone goes charge in their respective groups as their tactician calls out more commands while taking part in the battle next to Chrom and Say'ri. Though the goal was to get past Yen'fay's troops as quickly as possible, the truth is that they wanted Say'ri to be the one to fight against her brother since the woman show no interest in speaking with her brother as she sought only to stop him with her own hands. With this and the safety of the group in mind. Chrom, his wife, and their Pokémon carefully guide the soldiers through the sweltering battlefield as sweat and ashes begin to cover their faces and armors. Chrom, Luke, and Say'ri lead the attack as they begin to make their way to the Cho'sin general with their friends by their side. As they draw closer to the general, they parry off another soldier as Chrom took down at least three more or so before he hears a shout.
"Chrom!" Robin's voice shouts.
He turns around and sees her, Drago, and Say'ri fighting against two soldiers while two more come from behind. He and Luke rush over to their side cutting down soldiers that tried to stop them before they block the two enemies attack from reaching the women's backs.
"Prince Chrom!" Say'ri looks back in surprise.
"G-go!" He manages to mutter out before he and Luke push the two soldiers back with all their strength. "Hurry!"
"Take this chance and go!" Luke tells them and the two cuts down a couple of soldiers.
Robin and Drago quickly nod before the tactician grabs Say'ri's hand and drags her away from the prince and Ellade. Once the three reaches to Yen'fay, Say'ri takes a few steps forward.
"Brother. I won't ask you why... We are well beyond that point now. I will speak it plain: I cannot forgive you, and neither can I let you live." Say'ri bluntly states.
"I've asked you for nothing, Sister, least of all your forgiveness." Yen'fay replies.
"But you will have my justice, like it or no! You, who stood by in silence while everyone around you suffered! While villages were razed and fields burned, you watched but said nothing... When Father and mother were murdered―you said nothing! Nothing before you ran to the arms of the one man responsible for all of it! Your silence was deafening. Maddening. Even now...have you nothing to say?!" From her outburst, Yen'fay didn't say anything causing the swordswoman to shout, "Damn you, Yen'fay! Then I will make your sword answer for you! Draw your blade, and let it sing your final words!"
"Say'ri, Drago and I will be here just in case something happens." Robin tells her.
"You have my thanks."
Meanwhile, as Kai cuts down a soldier, Reina lets an arrow fly towards the mage that was behind the soldier just before he about to cast a spell and then another soldier jumps behind her with an overhead swing, Éclair appears and uses Iron Tail to deflect the soldier from her trainer.
Reina turns her head and smiles at her Pokémon. "Good job, Éclair." She praises as the Pikachu lands in front of her.
"Pikachu!"
Reina then looks around seeing the numbers of the enemy soldiers are dwindling down and looks towards where Say'ri and Yen'fay are fighting with Robin and Drago standing at the sidelines. However, something isn't right.
"Why is Say'ri pushing him so easily?" She questions.
"You noticed too?" Kai asks. "If he's what Say'ri said about him, then Yen'fay wouldn't be like this."
"Yeah, but why?"
Just before the two can reach to a conclusion, Say'ri dealt the last blow to her brother, knocking him on the ground with blood flowing from his chest and his sword away from him. From where she stands, Say'ri can only look at her brother with sweat pouring down her cheeks.
"Say'ri... You have grown...so strong…" Yen'fay breathes out.
"...Do...do you mock me?" Say'ri questions. "I have seen your best swordplay...that was not it. You went easy on me...but why?"
"What I could not tell you in life... I say with my death…"
"But, Yen'fay…"
"You have found...strong comrades... I no longer need fear for you... ...I die...in peace…"
Hearing this, Sa'yri kneels beside Yen'fay. "Yen'fay, wait! What do you mean? Why?! Don't leave me with more silence—not this time! Yen'fay!" Say'ri cries out on the now dead Yen'fay.
After leaving her for a moment, Chrom, Luke, Reina, Éclair, and Kai approach to Say'ri, Robin and Drago as everyone else begins to regather. The swordswoman regains her composure as she stands back up and turns to them.
"Our victory is secured... Yen'fay has fallen." She reports.
Kai frowns. "Did you find a clue to why he sided with the enemy, Say'ri?"
She grimaces and shakes her head in disappointment. "No. He never told me why. I will never understand why he joined Walhart... His reasons die with him."
Suddenly, a bright light appears in front of them causing everyone to be on their guard as a smug tone is heard.
"But oh, what a death it was!" That voice was Excellus with a grotesque overjoyed expression on his face as he continues with a side grin. "Did you see the grief etched on his face? The mix of longing and pain in the eyes? He had become such an accomplished actor, but that was all too real, hee hee!"
"Excellus..." Say'ri growls in anger. "What would you know of my brother, you loathsome toad!"
"More than you, princess of Chon'sin." The mage replies with a chuckle. "And I would watch that mouth of yours... I am honoring Yen'fay's sacrifice by not killing you now... but even I have my limits."
By this, Say'ri freezes. "...What? What do you mean 'sacrifice'?"
"Oopsie! Did I just spilled the beans?" Excellus laughs as he glances over the direction of the corpse. "I'm so sorry, but I promised your dear brother I'd never tell..."
Say'ri growls. "Explain yourself, snake―or die!"
Hearing this, Excellus spat angrily, "Bah! As if YOU could harm ME! YOU only live by MY grace, your ungrateful WRETCH! I could have you killed countless times! And I would have, if not for him..."
Before anyone can say another word, Say'ri shouts, "Enough talking around it―say what you mean!"
"Oh? Did Yen'fay not groan out the truth as you cut him to bloody pieces?" The mage questions darkly with a smirk. "No, I suppose not. He always was so quiet. And proud... honorable, I think they call it? Yet he swallow his pride and cast aside his honor... all to protect his beloved kin. That's right, Little Sis. He did it... to save you."
"What? ...Lies... You're lying!"
The enemy's face twists into rage once more. "No, I'm telling the truth, which I admit is a rare treat, so you best shut up and enjoy it. Before you met these Ylisseans, I could have your head with a word. In Chon'sin, at Valm Harbor... Did you really think yourself so elusive? You were my leverage for Yen'fay. Unwitting and unbound, but a hostage all the same. I let you live; he fought for us. That was our deal and he kept his end, right TO his end!"
"No... No!" Say'ri screams much to the mage's delight.
"Phew..." Excellus grins triumphantly. "Well, I don't know about you, but I feel MUCH better having that off my chest. Maybe I will give this truth-telling a try more often! Yes, I shall resolve to do so!"
"Why you little!" Reina shouts as she whips her bow out with an arrow notch to it.
"In any case, good-bye friends! I which your safe travels, and so sorry about Yen'fay... Oops! I broke my resolution twice already! Tee hee hee!" After he said this, Reina let her arrow fly only for there to be a flash of light as the arrow lands into the ground causing the female archer to click her tongue in irritation.
Say'ri's shoulder shakes. "N-no, this isn't... This can't be... Yen'fay, no..."
"Say'ri..." Chrom calls as Kai goes over and picks up Yen'fay's sword, Amatsu, lying on the ground.
"Gods..." Say'ri grimaces. "The things I said to him... The things I did... I wronged him beyond imagining." Nobody can say a word as she continues, "If he had only spoken! Told me! I could have joined the ruse, I..."
"Milady," Lucina speaks up. "I know well the grief of losing family with so much yet unsaid."
"I am wretched." Say'ri states with a grimace. "I've repaid my brother's kindness with death! Oh, Yen'fay, forgive me... Please, oh please... Please..."
"S-Say'ri, I..." Lissa frowns as she begins to wipe the tears away from her cheeks. " I'm sorry... I'm so sorry!"
"Say'ri." Chrom speaks. "You did all you could. Your brother knew that... You are blameless in this. Excellus and the empire are at fault here. And they will make to answer for it I promise you."
"Sir Chrom, I..." Say'ri mutters as she wipes away her tears that almost flow. "Pray, forgive me. You have done so much for this land while I can give nothing in return. Or worse... What help I offer turned against us..."
Robin shakes her head. "WE'RE the Resistance now, and we've yet to lose a battle! Ye'fay would be proud. And he'd also want us to fight on... to make sure his sacrifice has meaning. And we will, Say'ri. Until this land is free."
"Aye, my lady..." The swordswoman replies with a nod. "And thank you. I owe my life to you all and to my brother... I swear to you, and to him... I will make the most of it."
Kai then walks over to her. "I think this belongs to you now."
Say'ri looks at the sword her brother once held in Kai's hand and hesitantly grabs the blade.
Suddenly the ground soon begins to shake once it was all over and Lissa screams after she dried her tears as her brother grimaces before ordering, "Everyone, we need to get out of her now! Those too tired, get on the wagon! Hurry!"
Everyone immediately follows his commands as Lissa jumps on into the wagon with a few other Shepherds before they run to the exit with all their might. As they close in, everyone takes their last step and jump as a blast of cool air blows into their faces. Almost everyone, except Sumia, land on their feet as they continue to run while the rumbling intensifies. As this happens, the molten begins to slowly flow out of the mountain.
Fortunately, the wagon is spared from the lava as it continues to move until it stops on a hilltop far away that gives them the full view of the event. Some follow the captain and glances over to the scenery while the others return to rest on the cool grass wiping their faces from the ashes. Not only everyone is covered in ashes, but also the smell of smoke as the sweet scent of grass comes to their noses. Everyone is taking this time to regather themselves taking a deep breath of the fresh air. There is little tension left since the first part of the strategy is over. All that's left is to return to the fort where some of the Feroxi soldiers are stationed. However, seeing the sun has set just over the horizon trees, Chrom decides to find a safe location to camp for the night. Miriel advises the captain to move further away from the area as the ashes and smoke from the volcano is rather deadly if taken if for too long. Éclair notices the Chon'sin princess glancing over to the volcano and the Pikachu pulls her trainer to her now that Reina sees the solemn expression over her face as her hand rests on the hilt of her brother's blade.
"Say'ri..." Reina whispers silently.
~Next Day~
After a night rest and healing any injuries and burns, the company walks through the cool damp morning for hours now since they got up first this at dawn. The majority of them had to eat whatever they had on them. It wasn't long before they've reached back to the fort untouched with the Feroxi guards at front welcoming them back. For a while, the healers immediately continue with their work as they check on the patients since they didn't have the time to finish on them during the march, then sounds of running footsteps can be heard throughout the hall.
"Milord!" At the sound of a soldier rushing over, Chrom turns to see the soldier who is catching his breath. "K-Kahn Basilio, he... He has been killed in battle!"
"No!" Lucina exclaims in horror.
"Damn it all!" Chrom yells with a look of disbelief. "You're certain?"
"I am." They turn and see the remaining Khan walk over to them with a firn expression as she continues, "He's gone, Chrom. I saw him fall myself. He's gone..."
"Flavia!" Meena calls out with slight relief.
"Flavia! What happened?" Chrom asks until his eyes soon grew wide. "Wait... You're hurt!" Though unharmed on one side, her other bears numerous bleeding cuts and gashes, some of which others look fresh. He quickly turns to his future daughter. "Lucina―Fetch a healer at once!"
Just as the woman about to leave, Flavia stops her as she mutters angrily with a scowl, "I'll be fine, gods, damn me... Gods damn me for outliving that one-eyed clod! That big, bald oaf! That... That..." She then screams out in frustration and anger strewed across her face with shoulders shake in rage.
"That's twice now I have failed..." Lucina mutters quietly breaking the short silence.
"I'll kill him!" Flavia swears. "I'll cut that dastard Walhart down myself! I swear it before the gods!"
Before anyone can shout along the line, Chrom speaks, "No, Flavia... for now, you need to rest and to heal. When the time is right, we will avenge Basilio. You have my word."
After some hesitation, Flavia slowly nods. "Then know that I will hold you to it..."
Lucina grimaces as she whispers to herself, "...Why did I let him go..."
Before anyone can answer, Flavia speaks again, "Chrom, there is something else. Something important. Basilio asked I give you this..."
With that, she pulls out a strange red orb from her small bag around her waist earning gasp from some of the people around them.
Stun in disbelief, Chrom gaps. "Wait... is that...?" He stops himself as he speaks firmly with a nod. "Ah... I can feel its power resonating through my whole body..."
Luke nods. "Yeah. I can feel it too."
The Khan nods. "It's Gules, one of the Gemstones you need."
"How-"
"Don't ask me why in hell's name the oaf hid it from you." Flavia cuts Kai off with a bit irritation in her voice before she sighs. "He always did love his surprises, damn him."
Chrom nods. "Whatever his reasons, I accept his gift now, and gladly."
With the orb in his hands now, Flavia sighs once more and shakes her head. "It's hard to believe he's truly gone... The large the man, the large the void left in his wake..."
"And Khan Basilio was a titan." Lucina adds cautiously. "There is no replacing him. I should have tried harder to convince him..."
Reina pats her shoulder. "It's no one's fault but the empire's, Lucina. We know that Basilio would have gone regardless of what we say."
"Pikachu." Éclair nods.
Lucina grimaces before she finally nods.
Just then, Say'ri, walks in the council room. "The scouts have reported back." Suddenly, the tension is in the air as Say'ri speaks carefully. "Walhart's army... has retreated to the imperial capital."
"Retreated?!" Robin exclaims.
"It seems the dynast turncloaks are withdrawing their soldiers as well."
"I don't believe it..." Chrom mutters in disbelief.
Say'ri continues with the report, "Steiger and Yen'fay have fallen; it's no shock Walhart might pull back to regroup and, of course, the dynasts now see cracks forming in the empire..."
Chrom frowns. "Maybe they'll reconsider which side they will fight for?"
Lucina nods. "Possibly, if they can see an advantage in it for themselves. WIth them or not, it seems a decisive battle is upon us."
Say'ri nods. "To think, how quickly our fortunes have shifted..."
Robin frowns. "We have Basilio to thank for it. His sacrifice made it all possible..." Her face changes to grimace. "If only there had been some other way, though..."
"No second guessing!" Flavia snaps. "Basilio would have hated that. You did your duty as best as you were able, same as he." She lets out a sigh before a calm smile takes place. "Now clear the doubts out of that clever head of yours―we're going to need it. The fate of Valm―and all our homelands here―hang on this next battle. For the sake of history and all our fallen comrades... We will bring this empire crashing down!"
Chrom nods with a stern look. "Shepherds! Comrades! Soldiers! We make for the capital! This 'Conqueror's' reign ends now!"