"Don't move, or you'll be dead where you stand." Reinhardt boomed loudly, yet calmly, from where Hector was, and began walking in their direction.
The imposters calm appearance began to break a bit seeing Reinhardt approaching because just a hint of fear surfaced. He took a defensive stance readying his weapon that appeared to be Vergaun, but was most likely an imitation. His movements were quiet, despite the imposter appearing to wear the same chains that Berkut possessed.
Ike stepped to the side as Reinhardt walked forward.
Reinhardt stared the shapeshifter in the eye, his demeanor was was calm, but his presence was threatening. "Now, you will answer some questions for me."
"I won't do anything for you." The imposter hissed.
"Is that so?" Reinhardt took a step forward bringing his hand up in front of him. He opened it quickly and electricity arced between his fingers. "I suppose you require some convincing then?"
The creature gulped and took a step back. It looked around the crowd, taking careful notes where each of the captains were. Takumi was nowhere in sight.
Reinhardt took a step forward, "So, tell me who or what you are."
The creature just stared defiantly at him.
"Perhaps it really isn't smart." Ike scoffed
"Nothing more than a parrot." Reinhardt commented
"I am smart though!" The creature retorted, slightly frustrated.
"Then why didn't you answer my question."
"Because... I don't know. I never thought to give myself a name. I figured I would do what I was told and that was that." The creature stopped suddenly afterward, realizing their mistake.
"What you were told?" Reinhardt leaned forward, "So you have a master." He put reached slowly towards the creatures face. "Care to share who?"
It scrambled back quickly, "I really don't know! I just woke up out here and went on my way. I'm just surprised I wasn't able to get in." It continued, looking down thinking, almost like it forgot anyone was even there. "All the rats got in fine, so why is the door making noise now…" It's head snapped up, it's puzzled expression changing to that of surprise, like it remembered that it wasn't alone again.
"So your saying there are already shapeshifters among us."
"No no," It waved it's hands, "I mean there are, but none of them even match to how smart I am." It gave prideful grin.
"Good to know none of them are any smarter than a fly." Ike mocked.
The Imposter just glared in response.
"So you are here to follow us back." Ike looked at the creature. "But what I want to know is why did you pick him of all people to impersonate."
"Well," The creature shrugged, "I just picked the one who had no friends. I figured if he didn't have any friends I could go undetected longer."
"How would you know that?" Reinhardt asked the creature.
The creature smiled, "I've been watching, each time you come out, I watch and I learn."
It went quiet for a moment.
Ike thought for a second, "Now that I think about it, where even is Berkut?"
"Oh yeah. That's right." Reinhardt looked around at the crowd and then back at the creature, "What did you do with him."
"My companion probably finished him off a while ago." It sneered.
"I doubt it." Ike said condescendingly.
"Now tell me," Reinhardt said "Are there more that are as smart as you."
The creature just held Reinhardt's stare not saying a word.
The sound of heavy footsteps could be heard approaching quickly. Off in the short distance a large figure could be seen bounding in the groups general direction.
"I guess this is where I bid my farewell." The creature said.
The large animal barrelled forward with no signs of stopping. It appeared to have a flat eyeless face on a large ferret like body. The monster's head and spine donned a colourful plumage while the rest of its body remained as wrinkly tan flesh. It's a decently large creature.
The shapeshifters head snapped in the general direction of the monster concerned. Not concerned of the monster, but the sound of rattling in the close distance behind the ferret creature.
The monster came barreling directly into the group, causing the heroes to scramble out of the way to prevent from being trampled.
This is a type of monster the Denfolk had never seen before, or even seen anything remotely similar with it.
"Riesa!" the imposter called out, at that moment the ferret creature veered into his direction.
The moment the imposter turned to call the creature, Reinhardt lunged forward, only to be suddenly tripped.
The Imposter noticed Reinhardt's attempted attack and moved out of the way. It tripped Reinhardt with a long scaly tail that had suddenly appeared behind the imposter. It took this opportunity to make a run for it, down the splitting crowd moving out of, what everyone assumed to be Riesa's way.
There was a streak of blue light and next thing anyone knows, the imposter is on the ground. A blue arrow shaft stuff in the back of his thigh for just a moment before fading away.
Ike turned around to see Takumi standing behind them, bow in hand and ready to fight. They gave a silent nod to each other before rushing off towards the shapeshifter.
"As much as I like this form, I can't fight very well in it yet." The shapeshifter huffed. Suddenly there was a bright flash of light that lingered only a few seconds.
A large lizard like creature stood before them. It sat on its hind legs, regardless of the injury it had. The lizard was slightly taller than an average man. It had a similar feather placement of Riesa, in addition to being covered in scales. It's most noticeable feature was it appearing to almost have a second lower jaw, outside of its normal one.
"That's better." the lizards voice was gruff and hissed. It dropped what seemed to only be an ordinary lance now.
Ike rushed forward and the lizard only stared intently at him getting to its feet now. Ike went in and was immediately blocked by the creatures heavily armoured tail, and it continued to block any incoming blows.
Takumi came up from behind the creature and took a shot at it.
Riesa jumped into the arrows path, taking the arrow in the side. It landed on it's feet, but seemed entirely unbothered by the wound it received. It turned to look back the way it came, its dog like ears folding back and it shrunk back like a anxious dog.
Not too far off, a very angry Berkut came charging loudly at a quite impressive speed.
Riesa's neck began to puff, it's face split in a plus pattern only slightly.
Takumi drew his bow as Riesa looked at him.
Sensing a potential attack, Takumi, along with everyone in that area scrambled out of the creatures line of sight.
Riesa bobbed it's head only once before letting out an ungodly shriek.
It was like the world stopped at the sound. Everyone was still, with only the sound of the night wind.
Riesa looked at the lizard and it only responded with a pat to the head. The lizard gave a slight chuckled before climbing onto the back of Riesa, none of the Denfolk responding with even so much as a sound.
Everyone began to slowly reanimate, everyone's faces twisting into a mixture of confusion and fear.
The pair of creatures bounding off, completely avoiding any people in their path.
Everyone moved in what seemed to be slow motion, gradually regaining speed as the seconds passed.
Only after regaining almost full speed again, was anyone able to even utter a word. By this point Riesa and the lizard where gone.
Berkut stormed up to the group, not saying a word. He wasn't too badly hurt from what everyone could see, just extremely dirty and in an unusually foul mood. He did however, have the cut that Ike mentioned that he did.
"Let's speak about this when we return." Reinhardt said looking back at Hector.
Hector gave a nod and turned back to the door.
The door gave a slight hesitation before fully opening, and everyone started to slowly shuffle in.
"That was wild." Gray looked at Subaki, "It wasn't a normal encounter was it."
"No," Subaki shook his head, "That was something else."
"Not being able to move like that was scary." Nino commented.
"What even was that thing?" Stahl looked at Subaki as they walked back to the wall of weapons, "Not the lizard, well yes actually the lizard, but more the other one."
"It's nothing I've ever seen before." Subaki said as they reached the wall.
Slowly the Denfolk piled their weapons against the wall, none of the legendary weapons have been rested yet.
"I don't think anyone has seen it before," Subaki continued, "I don't think we've ever seen a creature that can speak before either."
"I want to know something," gray looked at Subaki, "When the shapeshifter revealed itself, why did no one else react? Why wouldn't you let me react."
"If there's one thing that you'll learn, It's to not cross paths with certain people."
"I made that mistake." a man said putting his weapon down.
"Yeah, nearly got himself killed." A woman chuckled behind him, setting her weapon down near his.
The man continued, "You don't want to get involved in something the captains-"
"Or Reinhardt." The woman added,
"Or Reinhardt right, but, you don't want to get in their way if they've already engaged something. Depending on who it is, you might get hit."
The two people wore similar armour, it was dark coloured and basic with the exception of golden ribbon like patterning on parts.
The man pulled down his chest armour a bit to show a long scar on his shoulder. "Takumi's arrow just grazed me, but any more over and I would've been killed."
"Some are too hard to tell what they're going to do." The women took her helmet off and let her long silver hair free. The man wore a similar helmet, except his appeared to have feathered wings.
"Who are you?" Nino said looking at the pair.
The man removed his helmet to reveal short brown hair, "My name is Solomon, and this," He gestured to the woman, "is my wife, Eleanor."
"Oh! Your married. Well I hope you didn't have to wait too long for your partner to be summoned." Nino said.
"Summoned?" Eleanor squinted, "Oh I see, your one of those heroes from another world."
"And your not?" Stahl questioned.
"No," Solomon sighed, "We are from right here in Askr. Joined to defend our country."
"But…" Eleanor looked at her husband, "We never thought we'd be stuck in a situation like this."
"Wait." Gray looked disgusted, "Your saying that dirty prince put his own people down here too."
"Half the people down here are native Askrian people." Eleanor said looking around.
Stahl looked around at the people in the Dens, there seemed to be many people wearing armour similar to Solomon and Eleanor, some variation but all retaining the similar golden patterns and feathery accessories.
"And being common folk, you had no chance of being above, with that being the Royal Army, and thus, only consistent of royalty." Nino said sadly.
"Actually that's not true." Subaki said, "There are non-royals in the Royal Army."
"And even royals down here with us." Solomon added.
"You said royals," Gray looked confused, "As in more than one member of royalty down here. Like I knew there was one, but not multiple."
"There is royalty down here with us?" Stahl looked surprised.
"Three actually." Subaki said.
"Three!?" Gray exclaimed.
"Yes, Hector, Eliwood and Takumi." Eleanor said counting her fingers.
"Wait then that means there is four." Gray looked at her, "You forgot one."
"I did?"
"Yeah because Berkut is royalty too."
"We thought that was just a lie." She looked at her husband.
He just shrugged. "Everyone assumes it was just a scare tactic, I'm surprised he's still trying to hold it."
"I'm pretty sure that's just his personality." Gray scoffed.
"Regardless of whatever his status is, he's a force to be reckoned with," Subaki warned, "So I advise against intentionally angering him."
"Yeah, I kinda figured that." Gray grumbled.
"Speaking of forces to be reckoned with," Stahl looked at Subaki, "What is the deal with Rein-"
"Don't." he was cut off by Solomon, "Don't say his name." he said, slight nervousness in his voice.
"Why?" Stahl looked at the Askrian puzzled.
"Just don't."
"Okay…" Stahl continued with slight confusion, "What's the deal with him. Don't you need like, a book, or something to use magic?"
"Well, yes." Nino popped in, "but doesn't just have to be a book. It just needs a physical object to draw physical existence from."
"Like Gray's sword." Subaki added.
"Yeah. But how magic works is when you use spells, it starts to break down whatever the words of power are on." Nino explained.
"So that's why you mages books break." Stahl said, "But Reinhardt didn't use a book."
"Could be like Grays sword, maybe it's bound to his gauntlets instead of a book."
"Oh alright then." Stahl said, "I was just wondering because I've never seen a person use magic without a book or weapon."
"He didn't use any words of power…" Nino pondered.
"Maybe he just said them quietly?" Gray commented.
Subaki suddenly grew concerned and he looked at Nino. "Do you know how to fight without magic?"
"No, not really. Why?" Nino looked at him.
Subaki's face darkened, "When we go into the field you need to keep a look out for tomes from enemy mages. Because if the one you have breaks before you can get another, you'll be left completely defenseless."
"Yeah, we don't exactly have an abundance of books in these parts." Solomon commented.
"Unfortunately darling," Eleanor looked at Nino, "If you lose your form of defense, we can't defend you."
"If you become unable to fight, you'll die out there, or…" Subaki trailed off.
"Or what?" Gray inquired.
"You'll die in here." Solomon finished for him.
"What do you mean?" Nino shrunk back a little bit.
"Someone who cannot contribute has no place here." Takumi said, walking past them. He went back to the vacant corner and set Fujin down gently.
"What do you mean? What will you do with me if I can't fight?" Nino said, frightened now.
Takumi only continued past in silence.
"What will happen?" She looked Subaki.
"One of two things," He sighed, "Either you get banished to the catacombs where no one ever comes back from, or you become a scavenger on the field, looking for useful things."
"But being a scavenger isn't always easy." Eleanor said, "Because if you fail to retrieve anything, you'll end up in the catacombs. Or you'll just flat out die on the field."
"So your best bet is to do what he said and keep a lookout." Solomon said. He looked behind him and back at the rookies, "Careful they are coming."
Stahl turned to see Hector, Reinhardt and Ike walking in their general direction. The entire group shifted out of the way. Just as they were passing Ike just stops and looks at Nino.
Hector stops and looks at him, "What is it?"
"She's the reason the door didn't open."
Hector looked at Nino and back at Ike, "Why her?"
Ike put his hand on Nino's shoulder. Something small could be seen moving under the folds of her cloak, moving towards Nino's back.
"What is that?" Gray exclaimed stepping back from Nino a bit.
Nino pulled away from Ike, "I don't want you to hurt it!"
"What is 'It'." Reinhardt inquired.
"I-I don't know." Nino stuttered. "But it was so small and scared."
"Show me."
Nino backed up a step from him looking nervous.
"Or will I have to do it." Ike clicked the talons on his gloves together.
"Do what he says sweetheart." Eleanor urged gently.
Nino gave a little nod, watching Ike. She reached her hand under her cloak behind her back and grabbed the little critter. She pulled it out to reveal a small creature, maybe only about the size of a small rat. It looked almost like a hermit crab, but tiny little paws instead of claws. It gave a small squeak before trying to scramble up Nino's sleeve.
Ike picked up the animal by it's shell before it could hide itself in Nino's clothes.
"Don't hurt it." Nino pleaded, "It's so small and defenseless."
The critter stared up at Ike with big frightened eyes. It curled it its little legs and its longer snail like tail close to its body.
Ike began to dig his nails into the critters hard bud like shell. It gave an alarmed squeak and began to flail its legs.
"Please don't kill it." Nino begged.
"Wait." Reinhardt looked at Ike, "Don't kill it."
Ike stopped squeezing the animal and looked at Reinhardt somewhat confused.
"Give it to me." Reinhardt said holding out his hand.
Ike placed the animal in his hand, it immediatly curled to try and reduce contact with Reinhardt's cold metal gauntlet. It trembled and looked up at him scared.
"What are you going to do with it?" Nino asked.
"I'm going to let you keep it."
Both Hector and Ike looked at Reinhardt with a mix of concern and confusion.
"I do not believe it can hurt you. But it would be good to be able to study one of these abnormal creatures up close. This one looks to have some emotional capabilities that we really haven't seen before." Reinhardt held his hand out to Nino.
Nino picked the animal back up and it immediately reacted by crawling into her sleeve, its little antenna left poking out.
"If you say so…" Hector said.
"But that thing isn't going to be using any of our resources." Ike said sternly, "You want to keep it, your going to have to find a way to feed it yourself."
"Yes I understand." Nino nodded nervously.
"Now," Ike leaned in closer to Nino, face only inches from hers. "If that thing hurts anyone, it dies. And you will pay the price." His stare was cold, voice dripping with malice.
Nino grew stiff, "Yes sir." She said quietly.
Ike backed up and continued on his way to the wall of weapons.
"If it does anything interesting, tell me." Reinhardt said as he walked away with Ike. Hector joined them.
"You brought that back with you?" Stahl bent to peer into her sleeve.
"Yeah. I found it, it was so scared."
"Well you can't just keep calling it, well, it." Gray said also bending to try and look at the critter, "You should give it a name."
Nino lifted her arm closer to her face. The critter crawled slowly out of it's hiding place in her sleeve. It looked around and made a little noise.
"Well it's shell kinda looks like a flower bud." Stahl studied the critter, "So why not something like Rosebud?"
Nino looked at the little animal, "Rosebud…. I like that. I think I'll call you Rosebud."
"Now you just have to learn how to take care of it." Subaki gave a small smile looking as Rosebud.
Nino looked at Gray, Stahl and Subaki. "Will you guys help me take care of it?"
"We can try." Stahl chuckled.
"I think our friend is waiting for us." Solomon said looking over his shoulder, "We will see you guys around, perhaps to see your little pet more." He looked turned to leave, followed by Eleanor.
Stahl yawned loudly, "I don't know about you, but I'm beat."
"I suppose we should claim a spot for the night," Gray turned to head towards a nearby corridor, "That is if you want to stay with us, It's warmer that way."
"I would love to." Stahl smiled.
The group headed towards the hall, into the maze that is the living quarters of the Dens.