"Oh, father." Lucina said with a smile on her face. "I hope I'll be as great a warrior as you one day."

"Father…" Brady's eyes shifted around, and he couldn't meet Chrom's gaze. "I understand that we must fight to protect this world, but does there come a point where the violence becomes excessive?"

"Oh, Chrom." Maribelle said, tilting her head in a coyish manner reserved for her husband. "It's alright if you're nervous about being the Exalt. You're a soldier in your mind, and your actions say the same."

Lissa gave a warm smile. "I admit it sometimes gets a little scary out there, but I know I'll be safe as long as you're here to fight the bad guys with me!"

Emmeryn smiled at Chrom, though her expression was more solemn. "Oh, Chrom. I see so much of our father in you."

Gangrel gave a very twisted smile. "You and I aren't so different. We both come from very different backgrounds, but we were both made who we were through war. Our place in history comes through war!"

Walhart nodded to Chrom. "You may have defeated me, and you may have destroyed my empire, but I hold no hatred towards you. You were the stronger warrior. Your will was superior to mine, and I was not strong enough to resist your might."

Caracalla nodded to his son. "You couldn't protect Ylisse in the end, boy, but I knew you would become a strong warrior. Ever since I saw you pick up the Falchion."

Robin appeared last, but his expression was nervous. Afraid. "Chrom… what did you do? T-to our friends? Our family? What have you become?!"

Images of Chrom fighting countless foes throughout his life began to play, and they grew more severe until they were all that could be seen. The voice of Chrom's younger self began to speak. "Don't you get it? You're the lord of the story! You're supposed to fight! You like it don't you? The adventure. The fighting. Your life has been defined by war. Everything you've done has involved it! Even your relationships have been characterized by war. You met your wife because she was a soldier in your army, not because of any arranged marriage. Your sisters and children saw you as a great warrior. You were never going to be a nobleman in Ylisstol. You chose to become a warrior, even as Ylisse became pacifistic under your sister. You chose to pick up a sword again when the grandchildren of the women you killed asked for help. Even now, you continue to fight! Time and time again, you choose to go into battle. It's what makes you who you are. You enjoy war! You don't know what else to do with your life. You enjoy the killing!"

"NOOOOAAUUGGH!" Chrom shot up, his body drenched in sweat. He looked around to see that he was now in bed back at the inn room. He took deep breaths, as if he'd been running, and it was a great effort just to set his feet on the floor.

"Chrom?" Chrom tried to stand as he heard Gaius' voice coming through the door, though he immediately felt light headed. "Was that you? Is everything alright?" The door opened, and Gaius stepped in to see Chrom vomit. "Sounds like someone's awake-EW! Ew, no! Come on, man! Gross!" Gaius watched Chrom with an alarmed expression as he sat back on the bed. "Are you okay?!"

"No." Chrom responded, his voice cracking. "I'm not. I just had the worst dreams, at least I think they were dreams." He immediately shot back to his feet. "Where are Soleil and Caeldori?!"

"I don't know?"

"What do you mean you don't know?!"

"What?! I know as much as you do about them!"

"Wait…" Chrom looked down, a sadness taking them. "They were never here… were they?"

"You… thought they were here?"

Chrom buried his face in his hands, knowing how severe his nightmares were becoming. "Gaius, I saw them. They came here, and we rescued them from the Grimleal! Then… Soleil attacked me."

"Attacked you?"

"Then I started having the strangest dream. A horrible dream." Chrom looked back up. "I just don't understand when I fell asleep. Obviously Soleil and Caeldori weren't really here, but I don't even remember falling asleep."

"Well, you were unconscious after I hit you in the forehead. Again, I'm sorry about that."

"Forehead? No, you hit me in the nose."

Gaius looked at him curiously. "Nnnooo? I hit you in the forehead. You were instantly knocked out. That's probably when you started having these dreams."

"What? I-I was hit in the nose! You broke it! I saw Pheros to heal it!"

"Chrom… none of that happened. Your nose is fine."

"What?!" Chrom pulled on his nose. Surely it would still hurt if it had been broken earlier, even after the application of a healing staff, but he didn't feel anything. "I-I didn't lose consciousness! You hit me in the nose, and we talked and… none of that happened?!"

Gaius slowly shook his head, clearly disturbed by what he was hearing. "Chrom, listen to me. I hit you in the forehead, and you immediately lost consciousness."

Chrom ran his hands along the side of his head. "Oh gods. I didn't pass out! I swear it was like I was hit in the nose. I can't, I don't know what's real anymore! We had a whole conversation, Gaius! Are you saying that never happened?!"

"Chrom… are you okay?"

Chrom took deep breaths for several seconds, trying to pull himself back together. When he finally did respond, his voice was even more shaky than before. "No, Gaius." He repeated. "I-I'm not."

"Chrom…" Gaius put on a smile, unsure of how else to diffuse the situation. "L-look. Let's just get something to eat. How about that? This place serves breakfast."

Chrom looked back to Gaius, and his old friend's cheerful look brought him some peace. "A-alright. Yeah." He looked back to the vomit on the floor and awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. "I, uh, I'm sorry about that. I guess I'd better clean it up."

"Why? The staff will get it."

"Gaius! There's no need to be a slob!"

"Pssh. Now you sound just like Cordelia. Come on. Let's get some food."

Chrom and Gaius met Pheros by a small table at the inn's dining area. Chrom could smell breakfast being made, but the staff wasn't finished yet. Pheros had tea ready at the table, and she nodded as he approached. "Well, look who's finally conscious. I was wondering if your friend here had killed you."

Gaius sat down. "How many times do I have to say I'm sorry?! Anyways, is this tea paid for?"

"Help yourselves."

Chrom and Gaius sat down. Chrom was about to reach for his own cup, hoping that it would help to ease his mind, but he couldn't help but notice Gaius putting teaspoon after teaspoon of honey in his drink. Pheros noticed too, and she couldn't hold her tongue forever. "So… you want anymore tea to go with your honey?"

"Leave me alone, crazy lady. I haven't had anything sweet in a long time."

"You're like a child in a middle aged man's body."

"I have a medical condition!"

"Oh I bet you have medical conditions alright."

"Not like that! I'll have you know I'm perfectly healthy."

Pheros shook her head. "You know, Gaius, I'd heard of you when I was serving Walhart. He made his generals study the urban legends of the Ylissean continent, and I heard the tales of 'Sticky fingers' Gaius. The thief who would work for sweets. Have you honestly been eating like this for the past thirty years?"

"Yep." Gaius said with a smile, as he finally finished scooping honey in his tea.

"Your teeth alone must be horrible."

"Ridiculous! I've never even had a cavity! I mean, sure, sometimes my teeth hurt. Sometimes I can feel it in my gums when I first put something sugary in my mouth. I've never had a cavity though!"

"Gaius… that sensitivity could be from cavities."

"Nonsense! A cavity is when the tooth falls out completely. That's why they call it a cavity! Because there's, you know, a cavity where the tooth used to be. Duh! I still have all my teeth."

"... you know what? I'm not even going to touch that. You're middle aged. You're beyond saving."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Chrom couldn't help but snicker at the exchange, and Gaius glared at him. "Don't laugh at that."

"S-sorry." Chrom finally gave a genuine smile, his mind taken off his hallucinations. "But that was kind of funny."

"Oh yeah? Don't be so quick to laugh at my health, Blue. You don't look so great these days. Hell, you're starting to look like Validar."

Chrom perked up. "What?!"

"You're getting the wrinkles. Saggy skin."

"L-like Validar?! You take that back!"

"Oh, doesn't feel so good does it? You've even got a beard going on, though yours has no color in it."

Chrom ran his hands along his chin, having forgotten about his beard until just then. "Huh. Right. I shaved it off for Cordelia… but…" Chrom looked back into his tea. "I guess that doesn't apply anymore."

"Well it is pretty scraggly. Get rid of that thing. There's a reason almost none of the male Shepherds had facial hair thirty years ago."

"Well hey now. You don't have to listen to him." Pheros' eyes fell to the table, and she bit her lip slightly. "I think it looks nice on you. I always did think some facial hair on a man was handsome."

"Oh… heh. Thanks."

Gaius' annoyance with Chrom became less light hearted, especially as his eyes fell to the scar Pheros had cut through Chrom's birthmark. "Yeesh, Chrom. She says your beard doesn't look like crap, so suddenly she's like family? You're too trusting."

"Family?" Chrom suddenly stood up. "Where's Henry?"

"Junior? What made you think of him?"

"He is my brother-in-law."

"Oh yeah. He did marry your sister didn't he. He's still sleeping. He's been sleeping a lot actually."

"A classic sign of depression." Pheros chimed in.

"I think he's taking Blondie's death pretty hard. He still hasn't said a word to us."

"Gods." Chrom almost whispered. "I think we should wake him up."

"Ah, let him sleep."

"I don't want him to miss breakfast."

"I don't think that's such a good idea, Blue."

Chrom squinted at Gaius. "Are you afraid of him?"

"Junior?" Gaius shrugged. "A little. He always was… off. He used to joke about blowing people apart and casting time reversal curses on enemies so he could make them die over and over. Now we learn he helped the Arch Surg brainwash people, and they let him practice curses on prisoners. Are you not afraid of him?"

"N-no." Chrom straightened his posture. "No. He's my brother-in-law."

"And as we all know, in laws always get along so well."

"I'm going to get him."

"Hold on, Chrom." Pheros added. "He's just trying to process what happened to his granddaughter. He needs time to himself."

"What would you know about him?"

"Recall that Henry was an Arch Surg junior officer. I've worked with him before. Just give it time. We can save him some food." Chrom sat back down, only for Pheros to get out of her seat. "I believe our food should be about ready. One last thing. Gaius, if we could talk after breakfast?"

Gaius just gave her a confused look. "Uh… sure thing?"

Pheros nodded. "And I'd like to speak privately with you, Chrom. If you wouldn't mind."

"Oh, of course."

Walhart's former general walked off, and Chrom turned to see Gaius making a finger gun at her. "It'd be that easy. Pow! Buried in the desert."

"Gaius!"

"That woman is not our friend, Blue. Remember that she's on the same side as Keith. You know, the crazy boy that dresses like your daughter! Beyond that, I've heard countless stories about the Arch Surg. Let's just say they're not nice. They aren't heroic just because they're fighting the Grimleal."

"Gaius, I don't want to start anything here!"

"You know what your problem is? You're just a big softie with the ladies. If we were dealing with Cervantes or Algol, you'd be as skeptical as me, but a passably attractive wench gives you the smallest compliment and suddenly it's okay that she cut a SCAR through the Mark of Naga on your arm!"

"That has nothing to do with anything! I just don't want to fight, okay?! Besides, what do you about women?"

"Hey come on now, Blue. I've been a real ladies man in the past."

"You… you were unfaithful to Tharja?"

"W-what? Hell no. She'd have burned me alive. I meant before, and a little after." Gaius leaned in. "Heh, let's just say there's another reason they called me sticky fingers Gaius."

Gaius looked at Chrom expectedly, but he just got a blank stare in return. "I don't get it."

"You don't… hell. I thought that was clever." Gaius' expression became more serious. "I'm just worried about you."

Chrom didn't respond with an argument, but instead disarmed Gaius with a warm smile. "Gaius, I really am glad you're by my side now. With everyone else… gone… I don't know where I'd be without you. As violent as it was, I'm so glad you were there at Cordelia's homestead. Still, I just don't want to fight anymore."

"What do you mean anymore?"

"I…" Chrom thought back to his nightmares. His hallucinations. "Gaius… war has defined my entire life. It's how I met you. It's how I met Maribelle. It's how I met all the Shepherds. My father wanted me to fight like he did, and war characterized my relationship with my sisters. Even my own children came before me as warriors. It's everything that I am." Chrom shook his head. "And I don't think that I've gone down the right path in life. I wonder if I ever had a choice. Was I destined to fight? Like some kind of character in a story?"

Gaius' eyes widened. "Uh… yeesh. That's some heavy stuff, Blue. Look, I'm glad you're thinking about these kinds of things. Part of why I hated you so much when we met again was because I thought you'd gotten away with what you did to us. Then I realized how much it was eating you, and it helped remind me that it wasn't your fault. I'm glad you're thinking about what happened, but you need to move on. You can't let your guilt ruin you."

"That's the thing, Gaius. This isn't guilt. I'm trying to find what I should be." Chrom became very determined, and Gaius had to lean back to feel comfortable again. "I'll tell you this. I will never be who I was again. The Shepherds did a lot of good, and we fought for a good cause, but my younger self was too accepting of death. Too willing to kill anyone in his way. He was part of an endless cycle of warfare, and he thought he could somehow end it with more killing. I see now what Emmeryn wanted. When I was younger, I thought I was different from Walhart, and Gangrel, and my father, and all those other conquerors because I believed I was doing the right thing. Because I cared about those who fought by my side. But… I was just a hair away from what they were, and I killed just as they did. Emmeryn was the only one who was different. She didn't become part of the cycle."

"Well, I'm no historian, but Emmeryn's way didn't work. Diplomacy didn't work on Gangrel, and it won't work on Gangrel and Aversa now. It definitely won't work on the Fell Dragon. You can't hug it out with Grima. If there's a lesson to be learned from the Shepherds, it's that you need a middle ground between Emmeryn and your father."

"Maybe."

Pheros returned with a tray. There wasn't much food on it, but Chrom was grateful for anything. Pheros set it down on the table, but she didn't let Chrom and Gaius help themselves yet. "Hold on. Before we start eating." Chrom could've sworn Pheros almost smiled, but she suppressed it. "I have a gift for you, Chrom."

"A gift?"

Gaius eyed her nervously. "What kind of gift?"

"Since Chrom has chosen to abandon the Falchion, I figured he needed a weapon to defend himself. So I visited the local blacksmith."

Chrom smiled. "You bought me a weapon. Pheros, you didn't have to do that."

"You need one. I'm happy to help." Again Pheros almost snickered, and this time both Chrom and Gaius noticed. "Close your eyes, and I'll have it right out."

Gaius scowled. "Close our eyes?"

"I want it to be a surprise."

Gaius looked back to Chrom, but he just shrugged. Both men chose to close their eyes, and Pheros returned about a minute later. Chrom opened his eyes at the sound of Gaius laughing, and the sight that awaited him was one of the downright silliest things he'd seen in a long time. In Pheros' hand, in place of her normal healing staff, was a battle axe. It wasn't a small weapon either, as it was as tall as Pheros and almost as tall as Chrom himself. As imposing as that sounds, the weapon was anything but. Sculpted into the shining white weapon was a stylized rabbit and egg, and four carrots, colored orange and green, stuck out from the blade. Chrom couldn't tell if this was a weapon or a joke. "What in the name of Naga is that?!"

"BWAHAHAHA!" Gaius pounded his fist on the table. "I'm dead! I'm dying over here!" He pointed at Chrom, who wasn't nearly as amused. "It's not exactly the Falchion is it?! Crazy lady has a sense of humor after all!"

Chrom looked to Pheros, then back to the weapon. "W-what? Is this a weapon?"

Pheros tried to keep a straight face, but the sight of Chrom's confusion, annoyance, and even embarrassment brought a smile to her. "Of course it's a weapon, and it's yours now. The blacksmith called it the Carrot Axe."

Gaius almost choked on his tea. "The Carrot Axe! HA!"

Chrom had manners and behavior fitting of a royal drilled into his head since he was a child, and it was almost an instinct to smile and thank Pheros for the gift, but he couldn't bring himself to do it easily. He just gave an awkward, disingenuous grin. It only made Pheros smile more. "T-thank you… Pheros."

"Y- *snicker* you're welcome, Exalt. Now let's all have some breakfast, shall we. After our conversations, if you'd be so kind, we can head for The Saltworks."

Chrom eyed the weapon as Pheros leaned it against a wall. "Oh I'm sure we'll have a lot to talk about."

Following a small breakfast, Pheros and Gaius talked for only a minute before he left her room. Chrom walked in afterwards, Carrot Axe in his arms, to find Pheros getting ready for the trip back. "Exalt." She spoke without turning. "Thank you for coming." She motioned for Chrom to sit at a table, and smiled as she looked to see him setting the weapon against a wall. "So? How do you like it?"

"Well… it's a weapon. I guess I did need one. W-why-" Chrom scratched the back of his head. He tried to find the right words, but gave up and said exactly what he was feeling. "Why that thing?"

Pheros smiled as she sat down by Chrom, but her voice was serious. "It may seem like a joke, Chrom, but that was the best weapon I could get you. The Grimleal restrict who can make military grade weapons, and blacksmiths in small towns like this aren't usually allowed to get the permits. This blacksmith makes weapons like that as a loophole. He calls them decorations, but that axe is real enough."

"Oh." Chrom decided Pheros had no reason to lie to him, and she didn't seem like she was known for a sense of humor. "Thank you then. I really did need a weapon."

Pheros stared at Chrom, her look inquisitive. She studied his expressions very carefully. "Why did you abandon the Falchion, Chrom?"

Chrom leaned back in the chair and returned a stern look. "Let's make a deal. I'll answer your questions with complete honesty if you'll answer mine."

"Alright."

"I gave up the Falchion because it represents a legacy of death. It seems like my family is defined by fighting. We all know Marth created the United Kingdom of Archanea, but only the details of his fight with Medeus are known. Anri is known for fighting against Medeus. The First Exalt created Ylisse, but nobody knows what he did other than that he defeated Grima. My father went down as a conqueror. I spent my life fighting. Lucina, gods, she was never anything besides a warrior. I just feel like that sword represented a legacy of violence, and I, I couldn't be a part of it anymore. I can't be what I was." Chrom pounded his fist on the table with more force than he intended. "I feel like you took me to Shepherd's Folly because you wanted me to be who I was. You thought I would just swear revenge and help you kill your way to a better world, but I can't do that. I can't be part of this cycle of endless war anymore. That's why I gave it up. What we tried to do thirty years ago didn't work. Something has to change."

Pheros nodded in the way that people did to show they were paying attention. "You want to change things?"

"I think I've always wanted that. When I was younger, I didn't agree with Emmeryn's pacifistic vision, but I didn't want to be like my father either. Especially after I became Exalt, I think I believed myself to be a middle ground… but I failed. I don't, I don't know what I should be, but I can't be like I was anymore. I see now that I wasn't that different from the warriors of the past. I wasn't following in Emmeryn's legacy by sticking my chin in the air and saying that I was killing to bring peace to the world. Making war to bring peace. What a horrible gods-damned lie."

"What you call a lie was the basis of Walhart's Empire."

"Walhart failed, Pheros. You need to let it go."

"He failed because of you-" Pheros caught herself. "I'm not going to argue about this."

"Well, my turn then. Why did you want me to see Shepherd's Folly?"

"You weren't wrong. I wanted to inspire you to fight again by reminding you of what you lost, but I also wanted you to move past your guilt."

"Huh?"

"I was a priestess. I handled a lot of confessions. I know when a man is being consumed by guilt. Chrom, I believe that you tried to suppress your guilt for thirty years, but it started coming back to you when you met Ophelia, Soleil, and Caeldori. When you saw Cordelia, Gaius, and Henry again. I thought taking you there would help you move past it, and I'm not sure that I'm wrong. I think these nightmares and hallucinations are because your brain isn't able to suppress those traumatic feelings anymore, and that's a good thing. We just have to help you get through this. Gaius told me about what you told him. Chrom…" Pheros hesitated for a second, wondering if this was the most appropriate thing to do, but she eventually reached out and gently placed her hand on his shoulder. Chrom didn't think it was awkward, or even threatening. It was absolutely surreal that the two could interact like this when Pheros had been torturing him to the brink of death not long ago. "I want you to tell me about any strange dreams or hallucinations you've had. Anything that seemed odd."

"You're going to sit there and tell me you care?"

"I do care." Pheros said, her expression completely genuine. "We're not friends, and we don't see eye to eye, but I care that the Arch Surg gets a man like you to help them, and I'm worried about you. I'm worried about your state of mind. Please, I'll listen. I promise."

Chrom couldn't help but trust Pheros, even though the more rational parts of him told him there was no reason to. More than that, part of him desperately wanted to talk about the things he'd seen. To make sense of it all. Chrom told Pheros everything. He told him about his alcohol induced hallucinations in Nowi Falls, and how he'd heard the voices of Ophelia, Soleil, Caeldori, and Cordelia in his head. He told her about his dreams of his father. Of how he saw Gangrel and E-13 at Isaiah's homestead, and his chess game with the Grimleal. Finally he told her of the butterfly he saw at Shepherd's Folly, and of everything he'd seen the previous day. Pheros wasn't lying. She listened intently to everything Chrom said. He somehow felt himself getting closer to Pheros as he spoke, and this only made him talk more and more. Twenty minutes had gone by without either realizing it. Pheros placed her hand on his shoulder again after he finished, and she took out several pieces of paper from a nearby bag. "Chrom, thank you for sharing all that with me."

"T-thank you for listening." Chrom found himself taking deep breaths, unsure whether he was tired or emotionally moved that Pheros really paid attention. "I feel better."

"Chrom, I believe you're suffering from something called psychosis."

Chrom's easiness around Pheros instantly evaporated. "WHAT?! Y-you think I'm psychotic? That I'm crazy?!"

"The word psychotic has a bad connotation. People think it means violent, or insane, but it only means that you are suffering from psychosis. You're not crazy. In fact, it's exceedingly rare that anyone suffers from psychosis because of legitimate mental illness. It's usually a symptom. I think the trip to Shepherd's Folly caused a lot of mental trauma for you, and now your mind is trying to come to terms with it."

"So what exactly is psychosis?"

"It's a condition of the mind that results in difficulties determining what is real and what is not. Symptoms may include false beliefs and seeing or hearing things that others do not see or hear." Pheros arranged her papers and took out a pen and ink container. "Now, I want to ask you a series of questions. You can refuse to answer them if you want, but please be honest with me."

"Okay."

Pheros prepared to write. "Why did you create the Shepherds? I want you to try to answer that in the mindset of your younger self. When you were a teenager, what made you create the Shepherds?"

Chrom thought about it. "I didn't believe in Emmeryn's pacifism. I respected her, I did, but I thought Ylisse needed more soldiers to protect its people."

"The people, or the borders?"

"The people."

"And these brigands and outlaws that you killed. You didn't think of helping them? You didn't think Emmeryn should have enacted social reforms? You thought they needed to be killed?"

"I-I guess."

"Do you still think that?"

"I… I don't know."

"You don't know? Or you don't want to answer?"

"I really don't know."

Pheros made note of that. "When you were leader of the Shepherds, before you met Robin, how did you decide what the Shepherds would do in battle? How did you plan your moves?"

"I… I let the Shepherds do what they wanted. There were only a handful of us back then."

Pheros made note of that. "From what I've learned about you, it seems you didn't always make time for the Shepherds on a personal level, while Robin did. You didn't talk to Cordelia much, for example, but you did speak with Sumia. You spent more time with Gaius and Olivia then you did with people who were there from the start, like Stahl and Miriel. You personally recruited Henry and Tharja into your army, but then never talked to them afterwards."

"How do you-"

"Just answer the question. Why is this?"

"I don't-" Chrom sighed. "I took people for granted, I think. I just got so used to everyone following me that I assumed they would always fight by my side."

"If you could go back, would you change that?"

"I would."

Pheros made note of that. "How often did you spend money when you lead the Shepherds?"

"Only when necessary. To be honest, I let Robin handle a lot of the financial decisions."

"How often do you spend money now?"

"Almost never."

Pheros made note of that. "How sexually active are you? I understand you were close to Cordelia in Nowi Falls? How often was there activity?"

"W-what? I-I am not talking about this!"

Pheros made note of that. "Would you say you loved her?"

"Why do you need to know?"

"Did you love her more or less than your wife?"

"Not answering that!"

Pheros made note of that. "Now I'm going to ask you about some people you knew. How would you characterize your relationship with your mother?"

"I barely knew my mother, Pheros. She died when I was only four."

"How would you describe your relationship with her?"

"I really can't."

"How about your father then?"

"I didn't really know him either. I remember he was strict. I remember that I wanted his attention."

"If you could describe your relationship with him in one word, what would it be?"

"Uh-"

"The first word that comes to your mind."

Chrom thought about it. "Expectant."

Pheros made note of that. "How would you characterize your relationship with your wife?"

"Maribelle?"

"Is that her name? Why do I have Maria written in my notes? Anyways, continue."

"I loved her. I mean, what do you want me to say? Am I supposed to talk about what we did together?"

"Anything you want to talk about."

"Well… I-I don't want to talk about this! We loved each other! That's enough!"

"What about Sully, Sumia, and Olivia?"

"Why them?"

"I understand you were close to them?"

"I… I suppose. Hell, I've known Sully since I was a child."

"Did you ever desire them?"

"Desire?!"

"It can be as simple as finding them pretty."

"I don't know-"

"Why Maribelle over them? Was it her noble lineage?"

"Not answering!"

Pheros made note of that. "How would you characterize your relationship with Vaike?"

"Vaike?"

"I understand that most of the Shepherds that joined before you met Robin were knights and nobles, but Vaike was lower class. Why did you recruit him?"

"I don't care about his class. He was willing to fight for us. He believed in our cause. I used to compete with him, but I also respected him. I was glad he was with us."

Pheros made note of that. "How would you characterize your relationship with Gaius?"

"I did spend time with him while we were in the Shepherds. I'd say he was my friend."

"Would you say you're closer to him now?"

"I… I would."

"He tried to murder you."

"I don't care."

"You don't care?!" Pheros said, her calm voice somewhat alarmed.

"No. His rage was justified, and I don't deserve to have friends like that with me now."

Pheros made note of that. "How would you characterize your relationship with Frederick?"

"Frederick? He was one of my oldest friends. I trusted him completely, and I was glad to have his council. I was also sure that Lissa would be safe so long as he was around."

"He was your friend, or servant?"

"Friend."

"Don't act like you were equals. You could command him, and he never disobeyed."

"He was a knight! He wanted to serve, and he chose to fight with the Shepherds. I respected him. He was not a servant to me!"

Pheros made note of that. "How would you characterize your relationship with Robin?"

Chrom took a second to respond. "My closest friend. He was the wind at my back and the sword at my side."

"Who would you say lead the Shepherds? Him or you?"

"I honestly never even thought like that. I trusted him to make battle plans, and he trusted me to lead. We weren't two officers leading an army. We were friends. More than that."

"You-" Pheros made a gesture with her hand that encouraged Chrom to finish her sentence, but he wasn't sure what she wanted. Pheros sighed and continued. "Would you even say that you loved him."

"Yes." Chrom responded. It wasn't a conscious thought. The word just rolled off his tongue. "He was like a brother. Maybe… more than that… somehow. Back then, I wasn't sure I could keep fighting without him. The Shepherds became so much more after he joined."

"This love for him, would you say it was… confusing?" Pheros thought about how to phrase it. "Did it bring out feelings at all like what you felt around your wife?"

"Huh?"

"Uh… let's just skip that one. Do you feel responsible for what happened to him? For him becoming the Hierophant?"

"Yes." Chrom responded. Once again, his response was automatic.

Pheros made note of that. "How would you characterize your relationship with your sisters?"

Chrom thought. "Well, I worried a lot about Lissa. I was afraid she'd be hurt."

"From what you say about her, you don't seem to think of her as an equal. You think of her as a lesser being to be protected. Coddled."

"What?! I just wanted her to be safe! I was glad she was by my side, but I couldn't let anything happen to her."

Pheros made note of that. "What about Emmeryn?"

"I never agreed with her policies, but I loved her, and I never went against her directly. You know, as the years go by, I see her courage and wisdom more and more. Her vision for the world was beautiful. Mine…" Chrom's breathing became irregular. "I've become what she hated."

Pheros was briefly taken back by the response, but she regained her stoicism. "Do you feel responsible for what Gangrel did to her?"

"So much. I thought keeping her in the Shepherds would keep her safe, but it only ended up getting her killed. Oh, Emm, I keep failing you."

Pheros could tell this particular question was upsetting Chrom. She quickly made note of what Chrom said and moved on. "How would you characterize your relationship with your children?"

Chrom had to think about it. "What a strange relationship we had. They were already adults when I met them. I loved them. I did."

"Were you proud of what they became?"

"Of course I was proud of them."

"No. Not were you proud of them. Were you proud of what they became?"

"I…" Chrom looked down. "No. I would never want my children to have to live like that. Lucina and Brady, and all the other children, were younger than the rest of us, but they'd already seen more combat. Lucina… I loved her so much. She was one of the strongest and most courageous people I've ever met. Still, whenever she asked to train and looked at me with those hopeful eyes, I died a little inside. I could tell she just wanted to spend time with me, but she never thought to do anything else. Only train. She was, I think, the culmination of my family and its violent history. She was a woman honed for war, and little else. When it was all over, I wanted to spend time with her in other ways. I wanted to give her that peace she was fighting for. She cared so much about saving humanity, and giving her younger self a better life, but she never thought about her own life. Deep down, I don't think she thought of herself as my daughter. She was glad to be with me, but she also thought she'd get in the way of her younger self's life if she stayed. I think she was planning to leave when everything was over."

"And would you have let her?"

"She was a grown woman. She could have left, but gods. I would have begged her to stay."

"What about your son? Brady? You don't talk about him as much. Did you love Lucina more?"

"WHAT?!"

"Did you feel that Lucina was your daughter, and Brady was Maribelle's son?"

"Ridiculous! I loved them both! Of course I wanted Brady to stay too. I saw so much of his mother in him. I even saw his aunt in him. I… gods. Both of my children." Chrom couldn't look at Pheros anymore. "Taken from me."

Pheros made note of that. "How would you characterize your relationships with Ophelia, Soleil, and Caeldori?"

"Oh gods." Chrom shivered slightly. "I can't keep answering these."

"Just answer this."

"I loved them. Like I loved Lucina and Brady. I thought… I thought…"

"You thought they were a second chance."

"Yes. Heh." Chrom gave a morbid smile. "The granddaughters of those I failed, come to make me a hero again. A jaded, bitter old man, learning to care about the world again. Get ready for the ride of your life, Chrom. Heh. Makes quite the story, doesn't it?" Chrom looked back to Pheros, and even Walhart's former general was unsettled by his gaze. "Well life's not so forgiving."

"You blame yourself for what happened to them?"

"I wouldn't entertain the notion that anything else was responsible for a second. I failed them just like I've failed everyone that I've ever loved."

Pheros made note of that. "Well, we can stop there for today. Thank you for cooperating."

"Thank you for listening." Chrom continued to sit there as Pheros put away her papers and prepared her things for the trip. When she finally noticed him staring, she returned a curious, rather than annoyed glance, and this only encouraged Chrom to ask what was on his mind. "Pheros… I know you said we weren't friends, but do you hate me?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you hate me? As you did before?"

Pheros took a deep breath. "I… I hate everything you stood for, and I hate what you've done to the world. But… no. I don't hate you, Chrom. When I saw you again at Nowi Falls, it was everything I could not to strangle you, but now I see that you're a far more thoughtful and introspective man than I ever could have imagined. You're not a bad man, Chrom. Never let anyone tell you otherwise, and that includes yourself. From what you've told me, I realize that taking you to Shepherd's Folly was never going to inspire you by itself. You can't be filled with hatred of the Grimleal because you're too full of hatred for yourself."

Chrom shook his head. "I don't want to be full of hatred at all."

"Hmm."

Chrom stared at Pheros silently for a few seconds, but he spoke up as she prepared to go back to packing. "Pheros, I'm sorry about what happened at Nowi Falls."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you remember when we fought? I told you that Walhart joined the Shepherds, and that he forgot about you."

Pheros' eye twitched. "Yes?"

"Pheros, I said that to anger you. However, it's true. Walhart really did join the Shepherds after we defeated him. He was with us until the end."

Pheros was visibly suppressing frustration, and Chrom could see it. "Why are you telling me this?"

"I know you think Walhart abandoned his dream when he joined us. That he was betraying everything you fought for. But… he wasn't. I didn't talk to Walhart much, but Robin told me about what he was like. Walhart followed us because he believed us to be the stronger warriors, and he wanted to learn from us. He wanted to be part of that strength. He wasn't a beaten man, Pheros. Walhart believed that your force of will gave you strength, and that those with power could define their own values. He joined the Shepherds because he cared about stopping the Grimleal, but also because he believed us to be superior. He joined because he still believed in his dream."

Pheros' eyes slowly lit up as she thought about what she was hearing. "Y-yes. Yes! Walhart believed that he was powerful because of his dedication to creating a better world. When you defeated him… he would have wanted to learn from you. He… he didn't abandon his dream." Pheros smiled. In fact, Chrom didn't think he'd ever seen her give more than a smirk. A tear even ran down her eye.

"You're crying?"

Pheros wiped the tear away, still smiling. "Heh. So I am. I'm sorry. It's just… all this time I thought Walhart gave up. Even as we kept his dream alive, and even as we continued to fight against the tyranny of gods, I thought Walhart joining the Shepherds meant he had abandoned everything we fought for. Now I realize he never did, and I feel thirty years of anger and resentment melting away. And… to know that you allowed him to fight by your side, even though he hadn't changed… that says a lot about you. Maybe your trusting nature didn't work with Gangrel and Aversa, but I see now why so many people have been willing to follow you. Thank you for telling me all this, Chrom."

"You're welcome."

Pheros nodded and prepared to leave, but she paused at the door. "One last thing. You were completely honest with me, so I'll be honest with you. I lied about the permits. The blacksmith had other weapons."

Chrom looked back to the Carrot Axe. "And you chose that one!"

Pheros smirked. "Enjoy it."

Chrom looked at her in exasperation as she walked off, but she didn't return. "I don't know if I'll ever understand that woman."