The Night Before

Akane awoke to the sound of movement in her kitchen. Wondering if one of her two guests had gotten thirsty in the night, she quickly donned her robes and scurried toward the voice. As she got closer however, she started to hear the oddest things.

"Of all the forsaken… Mets could have been a lot more forthcoming with the information on the whole reincarnation thing. For instance, a little FYI that my memories could lead to a truly obnoxious case of multiple personality disorder would have been great to know up front." There was a satisfied grunt. "Is that worth a punch?" he mused, "Pixie would probably say it's worth a punch. To Amala with it. I'm gonna punch him."

"Corrin? Is that you?" Akane's voice wafted into the kitchen as she approached. Seemingly confused at his silence, she continued. "What are you doing here? Did you have trouble sleeping. I could make you some tea if you'd like."

The figure sighed. "Speaking of people that deserve a punch… And there's another thing that's been pissing me off, so many damned dragons." The figure turned to glare at Akane and she found herself staring into two golden eyes. "You know, at least Naga had the decency to introduce herself. Do you really think that mask is fooling anyone?" He waited for a moment for Akane to explain herself. When she remained silent, his eyes narrowed. "Now are we going to act like adults, or am I gonna have to rip that face off for you?"

Akane didn't back down "Such ferocity… and here I was thinking the apple had fallen quite far from the tree. A pity. I was starting to like you."

"Please don't confuse me with that idiot Corrin. You'll find there is a literal ocean of differences."

"You're not Corrin?"

Shin wagged his finger even as an air of malice emanated from him. "That's strike two, dragon. Play dumb again and you won't live to regret it.

"Oh, ho, ho. I'm sorry my boy, but I'm far too old to be intimidated, even by someone as terrifying as you." Akane paused as Shin raised an eyebrow. "That said, I'm admittedly shocked. I was under the impression you were supposed to have amnesia. In fact, if someone had told me earlier tonight that Corrin was only a façade, I would've said they were insane. You're quite the actor."

"Your point? If you think flattery will save you…"

"No, no. I wouldn't dream of that. I'm just trying to get a grip on-" Akane's eyes widened as Shin raised a finger and pointed it at her. It didn't take an immortal dragon to guess what would happen next if she didn't cooperate. "Fine, fine. I give up. I'll tell you my name… on one condition. You and I share a cup of tea. Understand?"

"That is not how this works." Shin deadpanned.

"Aren't you a little curious?"

"Only at how you've managed to live this long." Shin said, exasperation leaking through his threatening demeanor. "The fact some random demon hasn't ripped your arrogant throat out is almost more shocking than Ose showing up."

"And the fact you haven't killed me yet; tells me you're enjoying yourself."

"... You do know what I could do to you, right?"

"Your reputation is quite extensive." Akane admitted. "But I'm afraid I must insist. My name for a cup of a tea. Take it or leave it."

Shin nodded slowly. "Well…" he smiled, "I guess I can respect that. You know, I'll take you up on that tea after all."

"Do you have a preference?"

"Surprise me. But try to be quick about it. We only have until Corrin wakes up."

"Hmm, you two aren't on the best of terms, are you?" Akane poured them each a cup and took her place opposite Shin. Now that the mood had turned more amiable the almost suffocating atmosphere of murderous intent had vanished. However, neither of the two were under any illusions that it couldn't return in an instant if Shin was provoked. Akane had to choose her words carefully. "Whatever happened between the two of you? Did you massacre a small village when he wasn't looking?"

"No, nothing like that. Damn, just what have you heard about me?"

"One of your subordinates has been spreading horror stories."

"Oh for Amala's sake Pixie…"

"Yes, quite." She paused. "Out of curiosity why did you atomize that city?"

The Demifiend rolled his eyes as if the question was ridiculous. "Same reason I wound up destroying the entire planet. Why the hell do you think?" Seeing that the woman was serious, he sighed before continuing. "There was a huge risk of a demonic bioweapon being released. We tried to do it the nice way, infiltration, subterfuge and the like. But in the end, something went wrong, someone betrayed us, the virus was released, and the entire planet was overwhelmed. So instead of letting that kind of cancer fester into something actually terrifying, I made the executive decision to blow everything to hell. Huh, now that I think about it, that truly was a nasty weapon, even by my standards. What was it called… Atma or something or other? Eh, probably doesn't matter. Bottom line, any virus that can turn humans into demons needs to be eviscerated pronto."

Akane's eyes widened. "Are you serious? I didn't actually believe it…"

Shin scoffed. "Honestly, you'd be shocked what can be cooked up in a lab. Or maybe you didn't think I'd do that? Heh. You gotta give Pixie more credit. She'll gossip up a storm, true, but she'll never lie, especially when I'm involved."

"I'll remember that." Akane said solemnly. "I will definitely remember that."

"Make sure that you do."

"So how did you two fall out? You and Corrin, I mean. You sound like you're still quite fond of Pixie."

"Damned straight I am." Shin waved his hand dismissively. "But we're getting a little ahead of ourselves. I believe I was promised a name. And you know, now that we're at it, I'll have the reason you're here as well."

"That wasn't part of the deal."

"Humor me. You've gotten your questions in after all."

"Fine, fine. I suppose that's only fair." The old woman grumbled. Taking one last moment to glance at the Demifiend in apprehension, she raised a hand and snapped her fingers sharply. As she did, the air around her began to contort and twist. It was almost like the space around her had been cut and glued into a kaleidoscope, twisting in random, chaotic patterns as it turned. Eventually, the movement slowed, and space re-knit itself, though instead of a woman, there was a very old man in her place. "I, who forged the sacred blade... I, who committed the great sin... I, who wove the divine colors... I am the Rainbow Sage. One of the last four Silent dragons of this world."

Shin looked up and down the man, noting the newly formed staff as well as the beard. For a moment he continued to study the old man, then, seemingly satisfied he nodded. "Kay. Neat."

The old man's head bobbed to the side. "Did you not hear me?"

"No, no I did. I'm just a little disappointed. I was expecting something more on Naga's level and instead I got… well, an old man talking about colors. But, fine, fine… I'll bite. What is this 'great sin' you were talking about? Did you forget to clean your dentures one night or something?"

But now it was the Sage's turn to smile. Ignoring the Fiend's disdain he spoke, "That's not how this game works Managi. I've answered your question Fiend, now you'll answer mine. How did you and Corrin split. How did something that should never have happened, something that was barred by heaven, take place?"

"One, you seem to be confused. We were never playing that question for a question game. We were playing the 'Shin asked me a question so I better answer it or I'll get punched' game. Two, even if we were playing the question game, and we're not, you don't have anything else to tell me so why would I keep playing? As far as I'm concerned, you're a washed up old man that spends his free time cross-dressing. Tsk, to think I was worried you were a threat. You look like you have trouble going up the stairs. I actually feel bad now."

The old man shrugged. "You're right, there is nothing I can offer. Well, if you consider a way to re-knit the barrier between you and Corrin nothing, of course. If that's the case then by all means walk away. I could use some more time to sleep." Seeing the flash of surprise cross Shin's face, the Sage chuckled softly. "Come now boy. You may be older than you look, but we elderly take pride in our ability to torment the youth."

"You're lying."

"Oh? Then I guess you'll be leaving." The Sage shook his head. "I know the barrier is breaking boy. I saw all of the cracks in your dragonstone when you chased after Azura this morning. I wonder how many transformations you have left until it shatters. I also wonder if you've told Corrin what'll happen when it does…"

Shin opened his mouth and closed it slowly. The Sage had him and they both knew it. But rather than get upset… "We were attacked at Fort Dragonstone. I wanted to cut and run. He wanted to stay and protect his friends. If he'd been slightly smarter about it, I might've respected him for it. There, that should answer your question. Now about that carrot you just teased…"

"And it had nothing to do with a certain Hoshidan princess, I'm sure." The Sage said, changing the subject back to his own question and clearly ignoring Shin's.

Shin paused and cocked his head to the side, not sure whether he should be annoyed or impressed at his audacity. "Well, for one she isn't Hoshidan. Isn't Nohrian either. I'm reasonably sure she's Vallite actually," Shin smirked as Akane's eyes widened in shock, "pretty sure you're Vallite too based on your aura, but we'll come back to that later. Oh come on, it isn't that surprising!"

The Sage opened and closed his mouth several times but no sound came out. After taking a moment to regain his composure, he clutched at his chest and let about a slow laugh. "Ho, ho, ho. Please don't pull a trick like that out of your hat. My old heart can only take so much."

Shin's smile widened. "Surprised? I wouldn't be. You've heard the rumors about me after all. Being able to sense aura is child's play."

"I was more talking about breaking the curse so brazenly. I've gone without saying that word for a thousand years. To hear it said so nonchalantly… well, it caught me by surprise."

"Well get over it." Shin said with a roll of his eyes. "Now where was I… oh ya. Auras. Without a reference point they wouldn't have been much use; like staring at a starry sky without a chart." He chuckled. "Thankfully for me, Arete more than sufficed on that front. One look at her was all I needed to match the aura to its home dimension. Convenient huh? But there are other problems besides just where she comes from. The idiot has developed feelings for her."

"Ah, young love."

"Seriously. Romeo's got it pretty bad. It's taking all of my efforts not to stab the boy out of pure annoyance." Shin paused to sip his tea. "Though, I will admit, through all the anger, the potential betrayal, all the mistrust, there are times where I wish I could just let the two of them run off together. It is what we originally planned for after all. A way to destroy the Magatama…"

The Sage remained silent, watching closely as Shin pondered. It stayed like that for a while, the two sipping their tea as they reflected. Eventually, the Sage spoke. "You said Arete's aura helped you discover Azura and my own heritages, correct?" When Shin nodded, the Sage smiled. "I'm glad. She would be happy to have been able to help."

For the first time, confusion appeared in Shin's features, prompting the Sage to raise an eyebrow. "You didn't notice did you?"

"Obviously not. Care to elaborate?"

"Well… I'm afraid the woman you've fought has been dead for quite some time. The thing you've met has been a shell; a revenant if you would. Just a magically adept puppet dancing to another's tune. But before that… she had been a wonderful person. Forceful at times, even a spitfire if you'll believe that, but she was always kind. Especially to her daughter. Alas, that was to be her downfall. She eventually yielded to the curse in a failed attempt to save her husband and daughter. After that she was resurrected and enslaved by a monster."

Shin's expression had grown steadily more and more murderous as the Sage had continued. "A necromancer?"

"Partly. I'd love to elaborate, but unlike you, I have no way to counteract the curse."

Shin groaned. "Such a bloody pain. When I return that will be the first thing to go. Wait, the daughter… and her husband, they lived?"

"Yes."

"Hmmm…" Shin trailed off, looking at the Sage curiously. "I wonder…"

"Some mysteries can be more trouble than they are worth." the Sage warned. "Some thoughts will serve only to divide."

"And some dogma's can bind more tightly than any chain." Shin snorted. His expression turned serious again. "Speaking of binding, there is something I want to request of you. the Hoshidan princess..."

"Azura?"

"Yes. I want to leave her with you."

"Hmm?" If he was surprised by the request he didn't show it. "I'm honored to receive such a request, but I do have to ask. Why? What could I do, that you cannot? Are you just irritated that Corrin has a crush?"

"I'll admit my lesser half's feelings are a problem, but they are a lesser one. Azura reeks of demonic influence. She's already made one attempt on my life. Well… two, but one was unintentional. I think. Anyways, she's too much of a hassle. Best thing to do would be to kill her and be done with it, but leaving her with you might be better. If only could it would piss off Corrin less. Besides…" Shin lowered his gaze onto the Sage, "once you tell me how to fix the barrier and my dragonstone, I'll need to move as fast as possible. She would only slow me down."

"Hmm. I see. How unfortunate." The Sage muttered. And it was. He had hoped the boy, fiend or no, would have been able to look past his animosity and reconcile with the girl. Two Valite royals reconnecting across space and time. Why, it was almost like something out of a fairy tale. Not to mention it was the last true way for Valla's reclamation to come about. But Shin was right… the danger was too real. If the stone broke, Corrin and the Demifiend would merge, and then all of Nohr and Hoshido would burn. "Well, I suppose you're ri-"

The Sage frowned as a new thought entered his mind like a star streaking across the night, bring light with it. Why hadn't he thought of it before? It was so obvious. He just had to repair the relationship between the three. It was clear Shin did not trust the other two, and Azura had to be forming some suspicions about Corrin by this point. But if the Sage could force them to reform their bond… He might just be able to save Valla after all. He might be able to right the wrong he had committed those three thousand years ago. "Wait."

"Great, then I'll leave before morning- wait? Wait what?"

The Sage shook his head. He would have to lie, but so be it. There was more than one world at stake here. "You cannot leave the girl here."

Shin's face contorted in anger. Abruptly sensing his life might be at risk, the Sage raised his hands sharply. "It's not because I can't take her. I can if you're desperate. It's just that you will need her in order to rebuild the barrier in your consciousness." The Sage took the fact that he was still breathing as good sign and continued. "As you know, the barrier between you and Corrin breaks down bit by bit, every time you two use either your demonic powers or, though to a far lesser extent, your draconic powers the cracks grow. Eventually the stone will break and there will be nothing stopping your two personalities from rushing and recombining with each other. There has been a danger of this happening ever since you fought Ose and only the stone has prevented this from happening. But you know this already, don't you?"

"Yes." Shin admitted. "But I've been careful to keep it from Corrin. If he found out, he might do something stupid like hold back in a fight. Recombining is bad, but dead is worse."

"Very true for you, though I might argue it would be better for this world." Seeing Shin about to protest, the Sage raised a hand, "But that is an argument for another time. For now, let me get to the point. You can mitigate the damage to the stone by getting along better with Corrin. The more in tune the two of you are, the less strain it puts on the barrier. Conversely, given how at each other's throats you've been, I'm surprised it hasn't already shattered."

"Alright, I guess. But that's more a stop-gap solution than anything. I thought you said you had a solution."

"I do. Or rather you did. You remember the Yato I take it. The golden blade hidden in Hoshido?"

"Yes. Corrin's flying sword. We left it behind when Azura accidentally teleported us to Ylisse."

"That sword was made to reconcile the two warring nations of this world with each other as well as to seal away dragons. It has a unifying power matched only by the first dragons themselves. Truly it is a sword to bridge any divide, even one such as yours."

"You're saying the Yato can help me reform the barrier? How come I didn't know this? How come you do know this?"

The Sage smiled sadly. "Because I made it. The Yato is my great sin. The seal of flames…"

Shin nodded, taking in what the Sage had said. "So, get the sword, fix the barrier, be nice to Corrin. Alright, and I assume I'll need to come back to you in order to get the sword working, am I right?"

"Yes. You catch on quickly."

"Alright. But I don't see why Azura needs to come along for this. I could easily get the sword and come back by myself."

True. The boy was right. It would probably be safer as well. Why had he insisted on Azura going again? The Sage blinked rapidly. That was right, he had to help fix his mistake. He had to save Valla. "The girl's power is necessary should the stone break prematurely. Her song might be able to buy you a little time should all else fail."

"Her song is absurdly painful."

"I'd expect so! It is an ancient weapon handed down through her family to combat and contain dragons! If you're ever in the 'proper setting' you ought to ask her about it."

Shin stood and paced back and force, grumbling to himself. "I don't like this. In fact, I really don't like this. I have half a mind to tell you to shove you're Yato and just leave the girl here. Or maybe I just blast this hut and let Corrin wake up in the trouble. I can blame demons or whatever." He clenched his right hand into a fist and the Sage began to panic. But then the hand unclenched and Shin sighed. "But you're right. She will have her uses. And I'll need her if I'm going to make right with Corrin."

For some reason the Sage got the impression 'make right' meant 'pretend to trust and forgive her while secretly wait for the right moment to kill' but there was nothing he could do. He'd have to hope the Demifiend came around and realized that she was the victim not the culprit.

"So what now?" The Sage asked.

"Now I go to bed and try to figure out how I can tell Corrin all this without having him panic." Shin rolled his eyes. "This is going to be fun."

"Good luck, Shin Managi. I look forward to speaking with you again once you have returned with the Yato."

"Thanks Gramps. Try to look after yourself. Maybe not be so snarky to the next demon you come across."

"Ho, ho, ho. I'll try, Demifiend."

As the Fiend walked back to bed, the Sage couldn't help but feel a bit on edge. Shin had taken his recommendations a little to readily, hadn't he? Why it was almost like he hadn't really wanted to leave Azura after all.

He shook his head, re-donned his Akane disguise and headed to bed. No that was impossible. Shin hated Azura. And besides, it had been his idea to send them off together. Hand't it?

"And that is the extent of your report?"

Iago clenched his fist, confident that the King of Nohr could not see it. "Yes, your grace. That is everything I know."

A growl from the throne. "So you say. Yet I'm inclined towards skepticism."

"Your grace?"

"You are brought before me not only as my advisor, but also as my chief of intelligence. Now as war rages and we find ourselves not only losing said war, but on the brink of an invasion by Hoshido, you choose this moment, this critical moment, to neglect your job." Garon glowered down at him. "Explain yourself."

Iago glanced to the other members of the royal family looking on. "As you wish… But are you sure this audience is… appropriate?"

Xander's hand flew to his blade as he stepped towards him and Camilla's was already on her ax when the king's voice roared from the throne. "ENOUGH. Xander, take your siblings from the throne room and await my instructions."

"Father!"

"Go." Garon commanded. "And Iago, you will apologize to them upon their return. I will not have you shame the royal family. Is that clear?"

Iago nodded, only slightly amused at the king's obvious attempt to placate his offspring. He wasn't surprised though; with Corrin's disappearance, Garon needed to consolidate any power he could. Though he severely doubted Garon actually cared about his progeny, he needed to keep up appearances, especially since they were losing this war. Well, he was losing anyway. Iago really couldn't be bothered to care about such a human war.

After the heirs had left, Iago stood, dusting off his knees and looking up at the King defiantly. "Well. Where shall we begin?"

"Must you dwell on theatrics?" Garon asked.

Iago smiled sadly. "Come now, I'm only trying to help liven the mood. Speaking of which, why don't we talk about the string of attacks in the western region."

"Yes, lets." Garon said.

"So as you know, not including the recent string of losses to the Hoshidan army, we have suffered a series of domestic losses. Of course what makes these attacks unusual is the fact that they are embedded deep into Nohrian territory, well beyond anything the Hoshidans should be able to accomplish without making a break through our lines."

"And yet…"

"And yet multiple towns have seemingly disappeared over night. No bodies, no signs of a struggle at all really. Just empty beds and an eerie, unearthly silence." Iago finished. "Yes, it's quite odd. But thanks to intel gathered by archduke Vanderheim, I believe I've managed to identify the culprits."

"I thought Vanderheim was one of yours."

"We are all yours, my king." Iago said stiffly. "Some of us just contribute more than others. Vanderheim carries out your will by aiding my ability to gather intel."

"So you say. And yet you have contributed a startling small amount as of late. Perhaps I need to expand my circle of advisors. Now that I think about it, I've heard good things about the current jewel of the Sorcerer's Academy. What was her name... Kamui I believe?"

Iago had heard similar stories. In fact, everything he had heard about the young woman had been nothing short of exceptional. He had been entertaining the notion of recruiting her into the Assembly for a few months now, but whenever he had gone to meet her she had been mysteriously absent. After the third time it had happened he had stationed an agent to keep watch, a human one, not a demon. As of yet, they had not reported anything out of the ordinary. Maybe she had just been busy when he visited.

Unlikely. Iago smelled a rat.

He shook his head. "Perhaps I'll recruit her. If it please you your grace. Regardless, to get back on topic. We've managed to discover the identities of our two culprits."

"Two? You're saying this was all accomplished by two individuals? No less than thirteen towns have been razed to the ground. From what I've heard, entire platoons have slaughtered."

What he meant was that any Vallite forces he had sent had been exterminated upon making contact. Iago's agents had been sure to tell him that much. Of course they had been the ones doing the killing but there was no need to tell the king that. "I'm afraid so." Iago said sadly, keeping his knowledge to himself. "And it's worse than you know. The two culprits, well… I'm afraid they aren't as unknown as I originally believed. We've met them before."

"Oh?" Garon asked, eyebrow raised, obviously unimpressed by this revelation. "And just who, pray tell, are these-"

"Kaze, the traitorous ninja from Hoshido and Lilith, the daughter of the forgotten god and former stable girl to Lord Corrin."

Iago had expected a reaction to his lie and he wasn't disappointed. The emotions that flashed over the king's face were like a well-choreographed dance descending into a swirling mess. What began as indifference rapidly descended into shock, then came the storm of confusion, and yep, there was the rage. Honestly, it was almost too easy. Like playing the fiddle, all he had to do was pluck the right string.

"Iago…" Garon began, the anger dripping from his voice almost palpable. "How long have you known this. And for that matter, just how in the name of the first dragons did you manage get this information?!"

"You said it yourself my King. It is my job to know." As the words left his mouth, Iago felt a shiver go up his spine. At that moment he realized that he and Garon were no longer alone in the throne room. Something else had joined them, something slimy, dark, and old. Not a demon, not a human either; no, this was something that could very well broker the two sides.

It would seem that Garon's master had come.

As the invisible presence crept ever closer, Iago instinctively through up an anti-curse barrier. Noticing the change, Iago felt the presence's attention turn towards him like a singular rotting eye. Was it surprise that it radiated? No, it was amusement, amusement that the ant in front of it dared think it could block its power.

As the foul being slithered around them, Garon's eyes grew cloudy and his jaw slack. And as Iago watched, his skin began to bubble and boil, almost as though the very flesh underneath it was becoming excited. With a sickening crack, the king's neck snapped and fell to his right shoulder. Then, unbelievably, his mouth opened and he began to speak in a guttural drone, like the king's voice was little more than a filter that some unseen monster was pushing its emotions through in some imperfect attempt to communicate. "Human… can you hear it? It grows… grows… growsssssss… The silence, oh how it grows…" The head twisted around before jerking rapidly towards him. "And yet you stand in its way? Why Iago? Why stand in its way? That's what you wanted, wasn't it? That's why you knelt to me. Prayed to me. Prostrated yourself to my glorioussssssss will." An unearthly laugh emanated from everywhere and nowhere, reverberating in Iago's very being. "But now… now you withhold yourself… you… hide… yourself…." Garon's lips curled back into a feral grin. "you defend yourself? With that poultry shield? Silly little human…. arrogance is for the gods. For humans, there is only the dirt… the maggots… and the rot." In an instant Garon's hand flashed forward, stretching faster and farther than should have been possible. In the blink of an eye it had crossed the ten feet between the two of them and-

The creature howled as the hand erupted in the light of Iago's Radiance, cast on instinct. Pulling back its now smoking stump, the puppet master let out a long, low hiss.

Iago smiled. "Oh please, you overestimate yourself even as you underestimate me. What do you want dragon? Me dead before I have the chance to tell you anything? Or maybe you think you could just bring me back and have me sing like you did with that pathetic queen of yours?" He scoffed. "Like I would be so easy to kill. You have lived in seclusion for too long. You've grown complacent in your power, or rather in your weakness."

"The clock chimes… chimes… chimes… it never stops human." The hiss softened and became a low chuckle. It was the bubbly sound of insanity spilling out from the confines of an asylum. "But I see… oh yes, do I see… your protection… your patron… even dead and gone it is quite powerful. But will it be enough? Should I manifest… should I show you my magnificence…. I wonder… will you be able to hold onto that scrap of impudence in the face of my glory? Or will you bend and break like this toy?" Garon's head snapped around again to emphasize its point.

Iago shrugged. "There's no way to know, is there? You could try and appear but, wait, you can't, can you. Not completely anyways. That's why you need the, eh, 'King's' compliance, isn't it? You can send your agents, but not come personally."

"A barrier beyond my knowing exists…. A glowing light… so bright, yes so very bright. Ethereal yet unbreakable… It seals me for now…" The chuckling grew louder. "For now… for now… for now…"

Metatron's barrier, it had to be. What an interesting side effect. He'd have to discuss this with his agents. "How unfortunate. You have my sympathies. Truly it is a pity that no dragon can enter our world... Oh, but wait that isn't quite true is it? After all, not one but both of your children have graced us with their presence." Iago sneered. "Lord Anankos."

The chuckling stopped. For a moment, the two beings stared each other down. One wondering why the curse had yet to activate, the other waiting for the dragon to get to his point.

"Your power… disgusting." Anankos finally said. "Like Ose… yet different… Congealed in a core of emotion. Filthy, dirty, decrepit…" Iago opened his mouth by the dragon continued. "My daughter… born of my flesh, yet more of a leper's leavings than any true scion. And my son…" The chuckling returned. "Oh he shall be broken. Oh yes! YES, YES! How fun it will be!" Garon's head jerked back into place. "But… not yet… nonononono. First the first must end. Returned to her father's embrace. Ever mine. Yes."

"You want me to kill your daughter?"

"Yes filthy one. Your report… the information came from… from a power alien to mine… your sight is long indeed. I cannot see them any longer. They are beyond my sight, beyond my gleaming eye. Not the boy. Corrin. Oh, I can still see the prodigal one. How he flounders between worlds. Visiting the realm of the abhorrent divine one. But the daughter? The traitor? She is invisible. Power like yours, perhaps?"

"I couldn't know." Iago answered, getting slightly worried. Had the two retainers already mastered their COMPs to such a degree. This merited further investigation. Regardless, the dragon was beginning to break down. Anymore of this and he'd become impossible to understand. "So let me get this straight, you want me to kill Lilith, Kaze and Corrin?"

"NO. I will take the boy... Him and his have invaded my domain. Killed my toys. Souls drained of energy. Husks becoming husks. No, the aunt will take the nephew. And the daughter while she is at it. You will erase the ninja who escaped me. And the retch born of my majesty."

"And why would I help you?" Iago asked. "What do you have to offer in trade?"

Garon's flesh began to reconstitute and Iago could feel the Silent dragon's presence leaving. "A war on two fronts is… terrible… messy… brutal… painful… but avoidable. Play with your power… but never forget… your patron has not been resurrected yet."

Iago watched as Garon 'woke up'. Looking at his advisor with a new found trepidation, he asked, "You understand your orders I assume."

"I believe so. I will send my solders to kill the retainers while 'it' deals with Corrin and your adopted daughter."

Garon nodded. "Good. Then go. And call my children back in while you do. There is work to do."

"Of course, your grace." Iago replied, bowing as he left.

Upon exiting the room, the royal heirs saw what they were supposed to; the face of a humbled advisor bidding them to speak to their father. What they didn't see was the triumph Iago had buried deep. True, he hadn't expected to speak with Anankos personally, but that hadn't ended up mattering.

Iago would acquiesce to the dragon's request. He would kill Kaze and Lilith. He'd intended to anyways. Just like how he'd sent demons into Valla to prey upon Anankos's solders, just like how he had destroyed entire towns to form his army. And just like how he had manipulated the insane dragon by telling him just what he had to in order to sick the Vallite forces on Corrin.

Anankos had been right about one thing; fighting a war on two fronts would be incredibly difficult. Maybe Corrin was in league with the Demifiend, maybe he wasn't. Whatever the truth, his retainers certainly were. If Anankos managed to kill Corrin and make a puppet of his corpse... To say his retainers would be distracted would be an understatement. And after all, the Assembly, now almost fully mobilized, would only need the slight edge to kill Kaze and Lilith.

Now all that was left was to order Vanderheim to unleash his hoards.

Corrin awoke the next morning feeling very odd. For one he felt fuller than he had when he'd gone to bed. For another, he could have sworn he got enough sleep last night, yet his body ached and groaned with tiredness.

And last but surely not least, he had the faintest instinct that something was very, very wrong.

Author's Note-

Hey guys! It has been a LONG time since this was updated. Sorry about that, but rest assured, the story is not dead! Or rather, if it was it is no longer.

Also, sorry for leaving you with that cliffhanger for so long, but rest assured that we will be seeing a LOT more of Kaze and Lilith going forward. In fact the next few chapters are going to be almost entirely focused on them. I can't say exactly when the next chapter is coming, but rest assured it will be relatively soon as most of it is already written. See you then!

Next Time- On the run from the Assembly.