Cordelia and Flora - My Life for Loyalty


Day 40, midday


It had been little more than a month since the Shepherds received their Hoshidan and Nohrian allies, and Cordelia had it set to personally get to know (in a polite and totally non-creepy sense) all the new Shepherds. Then again, her personality and abusive relationship with perfection distanced herself from the majority of the army in the first place, so she went to the roster in hopes that she could learn some more. Considering that the camp was always on the move to avoid being caught by Valmese scouts, things were still hectic, leaving Cordelia very little time to actually commit to her off-objective goal.

Finally, a time came when the period between supply runs and armory inventories left a gap long enough for Cordelia to allot a few hours to reading the roster. Handing Robin a clipboard of her inventory reports, the Pegasus Knight stayed in place while the tactician hummed unaware and set out to the blacksmiths himself to requisition the supplies needed. Pausing at the door, he turned back to the anxious woman.

"Looks like you're done for the day, Cordy. Feel free to relax for once, yeah?"

"Of course! I mean... will do, sir."

Robin walked out, leaving Cordelia all by herself in the tent...

Sneaking the roster in all its incomplete glory out of its chest, Cordelia found what she was looking for and sat down, closing the tent door behind her. Opening the roster, the Pegasus Knight began her examination with both curiosity and eager anticipation.

"So these are all our new soldiers..." Cordelia went back, forth, and over the list a couple more times, noticing how the current Shepherd roster had nearly tripled in size. All of the names were unfamiliar to her, but their origins and backstories seemed normal enough. Coming to a stop at a familiar name, the scarlet-haired knight winced.

"Designation Y017: Cordelia, Pegasus Knight

Birthday: July 7th

Preferred Weapon/Role: During the Plegian War, Cordelia was an experimental Pegasus Knight that also utilized magic alongside lances. More to follow once a proper interview is done.

[Commander Corrin's Note] She seems interesting! Robin is jotting down the names and a brief summary for the soldiers we haven't got to yet in the roster, so when the time comes, they'll already have a page ready for them! All that we need by then is an interview, and given our time, that probably won't be happening for a while. And by the time we get to everyone, we'd probably know all about them at that point! Still, I'm set to completing this task even if Robin doesn't have time for it, so I'm gonna handle this roster business myself!"

Cordelia noticed a shift in ink density between these lines, signifying that Corrin had recently put down her note while Robin's words were much earlier in comparison.

"[Commander Robin's Note] Effectively proficient with swords, lances, axes, bows, magic, and staves, Cordelia is, without a doubt, one of the most versatile members of the Shepherds, easily adaptable to anything the mission may require.

The last Pegasus Knight, her entire regiment was wiped out during the Plegian invasion, with Cordelia's superiors securing an escape for her as she relayed vital information to then-Prince Chrom. Ever since, she's been an official Shepherd, though by no means was her experience any less than what was expected of her.

The Shepherd most prone to sighing..."

"That can't be right..."

Reaching for the quill by the study desk, Cordelia prepared to modify the words before reconsidering the truth behind the statement and, with a sigh, continued to read.

While it may look like her head is in the clouds sometimes, don't confuse that state for her being off-guard. Whether she is reminiscing of her days before the Shepherds, or perhaps a specific person, it would be wise not to press the matter further*.

*Personal experience: Robin."

"I can't quite get over Chrom being married," Cordelia admitted, taking the mental note to tone things down when in close proximity to the ground the Exalt walked on. Turning to another page, Cordelia began reading again.

"Designation N000: Corrin, Princess of Nohr

Sub-designation H000: Kamui, Princess of Hoshido...whoa. How does that even work?

Birthday: December 9th, December 19th (Kamui)."

Underneath, Robin scrawled a happy face with the words 'Happy Belated 19th Birthday Corrin!' on the page, leaving Cordelia smiling at the not-so-subtle gesture. Shaking off her grin, she continued reading.

"Preferred Weapon/Role: Swordsman, Pointman, Field Commander. Wields the Yatogami, to phenomenal effect. Dragonstone can be used to hold off an area for a few minutes at a time. As Commander, she will give orders on the fly as well. And good ones at that. Corrin is truly remarkable for one so... green.

[Commander Robin's Note] From what I've seen, she gives Chrom and Lucina a run for their money as far as swordsmanship is concerned. Once preliminary sparring is complete, will revise personally.

[Continuation, Day 28: Aside from both her elder brothers, Corrin is one of our better swordsmen skill-wise. Lon'qu, Chrom, Lucina and Say'ri can all best Corrin more often than not, but they can't shift into a dragon or match her in other areas like magic.]

Horribly naive, but has a good heart and a kind spirit. Only just now experiencing the real world, from what I've heard.

[Subtext] After this is where I'll probably insert the soldier's abilities, quirks, et cetera. But for now, I'm liking this format but once I start my interviews and have more to work with from everyone, then I can expand as required. For Corrin, it will probably go along the lines of: Part Dragon, can utilize a Manakete/Taguel-like shifting ability in combat, using a Dragonstone. Most likely to develop an understanding of things on the first try.

[Edit: Now that we've gotten a couple more people in the roster, I can finally finish up Corrin's entry. Hopefully, she doesn't mind...

Obviously, she has the ability to turn into a dragon in the same manner as a manakete. However, her form, abilities, and tendancies in that form differ vastly from Nowi. Also, Corrin is still a swordsman and has also shown promising potential in magic combat with tomes, scrolls, staves, and rods. This goes hand in hand with her remarkable tendency to show affinity to tasks she doesn't know a thing about on her first try. Azura tossed her in the river one day and all of a sudden Corrin went from sinking like a rock to now being one of our fastest swimmers. Whether this talent is due to an incredible learning aptitude or something else entirely is yet to be determined. However, while she isn't exactly prodigious like Cordelia-

Ugh. There are goes again with that word.

...Cordelia... she is no doubt a quick learner at the very least and I'd be a fool to not take advantage of that. Along with her amazing understanding of tactics and combat that she'd acquired at a young age, she's adapting to our strategies well and she's clear on the path to becoming my equal or even surpassing me in intuitive poise.

Still hates shoes as of Day 28.

Wow. I seem to have been carried away with describing my fellow Commander's proclivities.].

Robin... is that admiration I sense? I support it!

Here, the ink was lighter, signifying that Corrin had written down her note much earlier than Robin's segment.

[Commander Corrin's Note] Okay, so maybe I am naive, and slightly proficient at learning... But I am getting better by the minute! Just you wait! And if this is the real world, then this is so much better than all of the books I've read alone in that fortress. Xander and Ryoma are much better swordsmen than me, though. I'm not too sure if Robin wants to embarrass everyone by putting them against my humble self. But if it means I can prove my loyalty to all of you, then I'll do it. I'll gladly fight for all of you, and if I have to fight some of you in the process, then we'll both get better!"

The knight laughed, glad she finally had the opportunity to understand her new commander better. Of course, it didn't help that Corrin was younger than her by a couple years, but all things aside, the Nohrian princess was doing a wonderful job.

Still...

"I... If people are going to accept the idea that I'm the token 'prodigy,' then I'll just have to prove them right... With Corrin setting the bar high as a newcomer, we'll see who has the greater potential! My sisters mocked that I was a prodigy, but above that, they believed in that lie! I will not let them down... It matters not if she is part dragon or full dragon and royalty from two countries! *sigh* I'll show them! Anything... For Chrom-

...what am I saying? He's married..."

Shaking her head, the knight continued turning pages, scanning the portraits for a certain prince.


"Designation: Y001 - Chrom, Exalt of Ylisse and Ruler of the Halidom

Birthday: May 27

Significant Other: Queen Olivia of Ylisse..."

Focus Cordelia! You just have to accept it! Just keep reading!

"Next of Kin: Princess Lucina (both present and future) and Prince Lazward (now goes by Prince Inigo)*

Proficient Weapon(s): May or may not be the rightful wielder of the Falchion. Commander Robin claims that his sparring sessions with Chrom have ended in a 19-1 deficit, Chrom's favor, so at the very least, he can swing a sword without poking his eye out. Is a nasty shot with a javelin, if we can find ones suitable for him to equip without hampering his speed.

Suitable Role(s): As unorthodox as it is for the ruler of a kingdom to be throwing himself into the front lines, this is where our Exalt belongs. His skill with a blade will keep him in the heart of things for extended amounts of time, and even then, he has other soldiers at his aid to protect their Exalt. Until further notice, Chrom will lead our charges on foot, at least for the Ylisseans.

[Commander Robin's Note] My most trusted friend since he found me in that field. He is brash and thinks more often with his sword than his head. But it's a keen sword and a loyal head that I have the honor of fighting beside.

...Asides from him breaking nearly everything in sight when he gets mad, that is."

Does he really? Come to think of it, yeah! He's always hitting things like a child...

"[Commander Corrin's Note] His puns are unbearable and unending. I have been in Ylisse for three days, yet Robin claims that everything that rhymes with the Exalt's name in this whole kingdom is no doubt replaced with Chrom's moniker. Do the sick Ylisseans get administered tonic? Nay, for they have chromic. Do they embalm their dead? No, for their deceased are emchromedinstead. Gods help us. I have doomed Hoshido and Nohr both."

I remember this! Back when I was in training, Captain Phila had a running joke that the first to 'Chromplete' the obstacle course would get a prize! Did Chrom come up with this?

"[Chrommander Chrom's Note] So, this is a side note, but I was thinking of my son just now. Why not combine Lazward and Inigo? I'll figure out a name somehow... Laslow perhaps? Ah, nothing serious. I'll Chrome up with something.

*It's Laslow now. Prince Laslow of Ylisse, Retainer to Crown Prince Xander.

"Interesting," Cordelia remarked, going back a few pages and continuing her reading.


"N001: a designation, for lack of a better term, as far as the roster is concerned."

Ah, so the 'N,' 'Y,' or 'H' signifies your country of origin. Back when I was just '017,' we didn't need a country-of-origin prefix. Now Y017 makes a lot more sense!

"Jakob, head butler to Princess Corrin.

Birthday: December 3

Proficient Weapon(s): Throwing daggers and a healing staff. Can wield a sword and lance to a fixed degree, no doubt to previous training in those weapons.

Suitable Role(s): Combat support. Perhaps not as a front-line unit, but something right behind it. His daggers can attack from a hefty range and his proficiency in healing means he can keep our knights and cavalry in optimal shape. If required, he may be able to reclassify to a cavalier himself, if the need for more arise.

[Commander Robin's Note] Despite being a butler, he hates mornings just as much as everyone else combined. But despite this, his loyalty to Princess Corrin is second-to-none. He may be... a bitscalding to others, but if what she claims is true, then Jakob is as true an ally to us all, as long as we prove allies to Corrin.

[Commander Corrin's Note] Okay, maybe he is a bit rough around the edges, but he's a really dependable and caring person. His quality of work is top-notch, no matter the task I ask of him. And even if I don't ask him, if he sees it necessary or beneficent to our cause, he'll do it without question. One time, he polished up the silver in the Northern Fortress so intensely, I woke up thinking it was already midday because of how bright it was! Oh, and if any of you reading this want a mean cup of tea, then by my absolute authority as Commander of this army, seek Jakob out first! My only suggestion is to embrace the euphoria that comes after. .."

He does make such wonderful tea. I'll have to ask him for pointers, if he'd mind-

A shadow loomed over Cordelia's head, accompanied by a brisk chill. Behind her stood a young, rather serious-looking maid with ice-blue hair and a freezing-cold aura.

"Can you repeat that, milady?" she asked, no emotion making itself evident. Cordelia hesitated, but repeated the last few words on the roster page.

"His tea is really good?" The maid frowned and shook her head. Her composure turned a bit towards the warmer side, and Cordelia in turn relaxed.

"No, no, sorry... the part about him hating mornings!" The Ylissean nodded and paraphrased the summary Robin wrote.

"Well, according to our roster, it says that Jakob hates mornings." The maid stared off with confused thoughts before craning her head again.

"That can't be right... How do you know this roster is valid anyway?"

"Well," Cordelia began, thumbing over the roster nonchalantly, "Robin and Corrin, being our Commanders, are still personally interviewing each member of the army- if they haven't already, and they write down said information in the roster. And seeing that we are all strangers to each other, either they derived this information themselves through analysis (trust me, Robin in particular is really damn good at it) or the party in question just tells the truth outright."

"Ah," the maid sighed. "That must be why they called me a few weeks ago, then?"

"Correct," Cordelia nodded.

"But where could he have gotten that Jakob hates mornings? He's up before anyone else and personally patrols the Northern Fortress well before dawn! Not to mention that he waits patiently at Lady Corrin's door for hours before the sun rises... just to say good morning the moment she stirs! He refuses my- our help even though it's not even his job, but ours!" Cordelia noticed the wavering in her voice and smirked.

"It sounds to me that it's not the fact that he ignores your assistance that offends you. Are his efforts in vain? Or am I sensing admiration in his actions?" Cordelia asked daringly.

"It's admi- Gah! It's none of your business!" The maid replied harshly.

"What's he like?" Cordelia asked innocently, opening up the roster to Jakob's page and thumbing the portrait casually, keeping the book out of reach from the helpless maid.

"S-stop it! It is unprofessional for you Ylisseans to transport us up in your world and mock our personal lives!" Cordelia winced as her sharp words were accompanied by a sudden drop in the room's temperature.

"Uh-oh," She whispered, cowering behind her chair as the maid fumed. Suddenly, the maid relaxed and outstretched her hand.

"S-sorry... that was unbecoming of me. My name is Flora of the Ice Tribe. Servant to Princess Corrin, along with my younger sister Felicia. Seeing that the Commanders interviewed me quite a while ago, would it be safe to assume that I have a segment dedicated to myself or my sister, perhaps?"

Cordelia relaxed slightly, shaking Flora's hand with a clammy wrist and nervously flipping the pages until she found the portrait of the blue-haired maid.

"Designation N003: Flora, assistant maid to Lady Corrin

Birthday: February 19th.

Next of Kin: Felicia, her younger sister

Proficient Weapons: Like Felicia, Flora is skilled with throwing knives but can also manipulate the water in the air to create rapid changes of temperature in the form of ice. Whether they can channel this energy backwards to create hot temperatures is yet to be seen. Her magical affinity is much higher than Felicia's, though her physical strength is not as stable.

Suitable Roles: Healer, Combat Support. Potential to reclassify to a mage/dark mage unit, but Flora's proficiency with tomes and scrolls is minimal.

[Commander Robin's Note] She's much quieter than her sister, though I can tell there's a lot going on in her mind. Piecing together what I've heard from her and Felicia, there seems to be some blackmail in play that has been keeping the twins in servitude to Corrin as blackmail to Kilma, the Ice Tribe Chief. Corrin never knew about this, but Jakob does. Will see if I can delve deeper and perhaps employ Shepherds to assist the situation accordingly."

"Oh no..." Flora muttered, paling even more than her usual skin tone entailed.

"[Commander Corrin's Note] I figured it out! King Garon used Felicia and Flora as leverage to pacify the Ice Tribe when I was a kid. If only I knew this sooner, I could've done something. Still, I suspect danger would come to all three of the Ice Tribe members were he to find out my involvement in this issue. I hope Flora doesn't think of me any less for keeping her and her sister in the tower instead of with their family."

"Corrin... you have been such a dear friend... if only I could have proven my loyalty without a knife to my throat..."

Cordelia grimaced at Flora's sorrow, but kept reading.

"Xander and the other Nohrians won't like this, but I have to oppose Father. If he used Felicia and Flora when they were girls to pacify the Ice Tribe, then there is no limit to what other things he is capable of manipulating. Unfortunately, if I defy Garon, we'll likely lose supports of the Nohrians, so I have to tread the middle path until..."

"It's scratched out," Cordelia explained, eyes scrolling down until she found that Corrin had not resumed that train of thought.

"[Commander Robin's Note] Once I find out more, I will have to make a decision whether Flora and Felicia should return to their people or if they are safer with us. Flora in particular seem devout to her people in the 'Ice tribe,' so that could be a thing of concern. The way I see things, if my suspicions of Garon are correct, Flora will either have to betray Corrin or betray her people should the crisis arise. I am going to have to plan a contingency for both scenarios. Either way Flora is certainly one of the more important characters in our army to figure out, and quickly. For now, we need to focus on the matter at hand before we can deal with politics and blackmail.

"They... figured all that out just by asking..."

Flora's eyes widened at the Commander's discovery.

"Looks like there's a lot more to you than just being jealous of your master," Cordelia attempted, trying to light up the glum mood.

"Please don't say things against Lady Corr-"

"You harbor jealousy towards Corrin... Because of her, Jakob has no reason to notice you-"

"Stop!"

Tears started falling, Flora's backstory now fully realized. Cordelia turned, recapping the story of Flora in her mind. The situation developing, she realized that there was an immensely real potential of danger from the woman next to her.

"Garon... made you choose between two people you loved..." Cordelia began. "And a heart that is forced against itself only breaks down the middle..."

"...Stop."

Ice started forming beneath Cordelia and Flora's boots.

"You were going to choose your family, weren't you?" Cordelia guessed. "The conflict that could have come upon you would have resulted in you betraying the ones you swore your life to- Had we had not paused Corrin's escapades when we did. And now, with your alliance here, you can't bring yourself to look upon your former friends... Even if they'll never know what could have happened."

"I said stop it!" Flora cried, plummeting the temperature to below zero and causing her tears to freeze in mid-air. The Pegasus Knight backed away, but shook off her fear as she instead rose to embrace Flora.

Still nervous, Cordelia instead smiled, walking up to the shorter maid and hugging her shivering form.

"Our mission as Shepherds is to change the future," The knight whispered, her own tears falling in sync with Flora's. Flora sobbed into the knight's breastplate quivering in both temperature and mortification. "You are one of us, and you have fought as one of us. You deserve a second chance just as much as the rest of this world. Flora, it's going to be okay."

"W-what have I..." Flora whimpered, burying her head in the stranger's chest. "I deserve no freedom... I must pay for even considering the thought of betrayal..."

"No... Fate has given you a chance to defy Garon and protect Corrin and the Ice Tribe. While the rest of us are off saving the world from tyrants and dragons, this is an opportunity tailored for you and you alone. There is no better time than now than to challenge it."

"What would you know?"

"M-my name is Cordelia," the knight recited slowly,

"Like you, I pined over the attention of someone who never turned a second glance to me. Chrom saved my life and captured my heart as a young trainee, and I have struggled to rekindle what brief attention he paid towards me all my life. As a Pegasus Knight of House Ylisse, I was the sole survivor of a group of elite protectors.

I escaped from a massacre alone, having f-failed the duties as defender of the Halidom... And defender of my love. And now, every day, I see a ring I wished was mine... around another's finger. As testament to the failure my shortcomings have cost me... and Chrom.. and our country. What reason does he have to look upon the one that let invaders enter his beloved Ylisse... And kill his sister?" Cordelia closed her eyes in pain, holding Flora tightly.

"..." Flora remained silent, seeing how Cordelia's story fit in with Ylisse's recent history.

"Trials were meant to be overcome, Flora. Do not make the same mistakes I did... Take advantage of our opportunities," Cordelia advised with a sliver of hope.

"I promised as a child to keep Lady Corrin safe. I promised my Father that I would because that would keep him safe... But... You're right! Garon doesn't know where we are, right? I'll keep Corrin safe, and my Father! And when this is all done... me, Felicia, Jakob... we'll be safe..." Flora nodded with a determined smile.

As both women left the tent, Cordelia noticed the roster out of the corner of her eyes and went back inside the close it. Seeing the page it was open to, she gave it a quick double take before closing it and returning the book to its shelf.

"I thought that was me for a second."


"Designation H002: Subaki. Retainer to Lady Sakura.

Birthday: February 7th.

Son of a Pegasus Knight, or 'Tenma Knight' as Hoshidan Pegasus Knights are called, he followed in the footsteps of his father. A perfectionist by heart, and a leader by example. Will not accept even the slightest flaw, possibly the most devoted to his goals.

[Commander Robin's Note] Reminds me of Cordelia. Perhaps I can work something out between the two? It would certainly make Cordy smile if she had someone like her. In both aspects of the word, 'like.' Will exploit this opportunity at the first chance.


Day 42, midnight

"Can we talk, Commander Robin?"

"Ah, Flora. Of course. What's the matter?"

"Nohr... is a dark place, but it is a place where some of us will one day return."

"I've heard stories from both sides. Your tale, and pardon Corrin and I for trying to figure it out, is rather... bleak."

"First things first, let me say this: I will fight and devote my life for Lady Corrin, Jakob, and everyone else in this army."

"Corrin and I never doubted your loyalties, Flora. I only hope that your heart can handle the burden and guilt you so narrowly evaded."

"In the event that it cannot... Promise me the Shepherds will take care of the Ice Tribe... especially Felicia... in my stead, should my ineptitude render me unable to."

"You'll return safe and sound to your village, Flora. I promise you that, upon my honor and ability as tactician... No harm will fall upon you and your people."

Flora looked at Robin in surprise, unable to stop the tears of joy and hope that came down.

With a single promise, the Commander vowed to protect a people he had never met.

"Your people are our responsibility now."