Author's note: Looking back, you may have seen what happened last chapter coming. However, know that even as I wrote it, I was still debating the details. I'm a big hater on the concept of killing characters, unless it leads to the growth of a character. In this instance, there was nothing left I could really do with that character, so I tried to put him in a role where he could promote growth in our main character, Will. I hope you don't hate me for it. Especially after what's going to happen next.
Also, this marks the finale of my three-part upload for the story. After this, I can hopefully get out 65 and 66 in the next couple weeks, but I may need a couple weeks before I start posting again before or after. The fatigue has been catching up to me hardcore and I'll admit I thought I could do more than I can in one day. Once August ends, I'll hopefully be down to just one job and won't have as much time eaten up by work. So until then...
Please enjoy.
Chapter 64: Defeat
To my dearest wife,
If your receive this, it means that something has happened to me. I am deeply sorry I broke our vow to grow old together, should that be the case. Know that I only did what I did to make the world a better place for you and Eliwood.
You are my pride and joy. There are few men blessed with so wonderful a family. I promised I would do what was necessary to keep you both safe from harm.
Raise Eliwood well, assuming he is still young when you receive this. He's a good kid, but a bit too naïve and trusting at times. I hope he knows the world isn't always as kind as he would like to see it as. Take care of yourself as well. If you choose to remarry, I understand, but please place yourself in the same role of importance as you do Eliwood. It wouldn't do for you to follow me too soon.
I leave the running of Pharae to my rightful heir, Eliwood, once he comes of age. Until then, it shall be run by my wife, Eleanora. Should both be unable to do so, the first paladin should take the role. Failing that, it will fall to the authority of the Lycian League.
Until we meet again in the afterlife,
Elbert, Lord of Pharae
Found in Lord Elbert's Personal Belongings at Castle Pharae
The door slowly swung open. The explosion had subsided some time ago, but they found themselves unable to open the door even still. Mostly because they didn't want to see what had happened. As they did so, they were met with an empty room. Soot from the explosion dusted the floor, but nothing of Ephidel or Wallace remained.
Will felt sick. Wallace had been right there, by his side, only moments before. If he hadn't taken the blow... no, that would've meant he and Marcus would've died alongside Wallace when the dragon exploded, most likely. Why was it his mind wanted Wallace's death to be justified? He wanted to rage and scream against it, tears beginning to fall down his face, but he couldn't dishonor the man's memory by saying any of his thoughts out loud.
"Is it… gone?" Eliwood asked, asking the question they all wondered. The explosion had seemed final, but none of them knew what it took to kill a dragon. However, it did seem as if the dragon was truly gone.
"Curses!" The angry voice of Nergal made them all shiver, as the man teleported just in front of them. "I've failed to summon the dragons thanks to your interference! Nils… I'm disappointed in you. Now, both of you come here!"
"What?" Ninian asked in surprise. In the wake of Wallace's death, none of them had realized Ninian had returned to her old self. "No!"
"We'll never follow you!" Nils said firmly, gripping his sister's hand.
"You…" Nergal growled.
Another factor they had forgotten. In Wallace's death, Hector had placed Lord Elbert down. He failed to reach out as Elbert dashed past, a dagger shining in his hands. Elbert leapt, driving the dagger into Nergal's chest. "You… will… not!"
"What?!" Nergal cried in surprise. "Impossible… not by your hand!"
"I told you." Elbert panted, continuing to hold the dagger's hilt. "I will oppose you… Always."
"Why… won't… you die!" Nergal shouted, unleashing a blast of dark magic that engulfed the room. Elbert yelled in pain, but no one could tell what was happening. When the darkness cleared, Nergal was gone. Elbert lay on the floor, his own dagger stuck in his chest, gasping for breath.
"FATHER!" Eliwood shouted, scrambling over and clutching his father desperately.
"Eliwood." Elbert managed, grimacing in pain as he tried to speak. "Be prepared… Nergal will… return."
"Fine, but we need to get you off this island!" Eliwood said desperately. "Let's leave together!"
"No… my son." Elbert said, tears welling in his eyes. "I'm done here. You… Eliwood. You must finish this."
"Don't say that!" Eliwood cried. "Mother is waiting in Pharae. She's waiting for you, Father!"
"Ah… Eleanora..." Elbert said, a soft smile spreading across his face. "She will be… most cross with me. Your mother… I'm sorry… Eliwood… tell her… I'm sorry." His eyes closed, and the hand Eliwood had been so desperately clutching went limp.
"…father?" Eliwood asked, shaking his father's shoulder. "No… please… not now. Not after all we've done to find you again… Father! Open your eyes!" Eliwood cried, the tears falling freely. "Faaaatherrrrrrr!"
"They're in here!" Came the sounds of voices.
"We have to go!" Hector shouted, grabbing Elbert's body. "I'm sorry Eliwood, we have to move."
Eliwood shook his head, but said nothing.
"Will, can you…" Lyn asked.
"We're moving." Will said. "We've got to get back to the ship. Fast."
They ran. Marcus had Matthew on his steed to help with reconnaissance, but with such a small force their best option was simply to keep moving. They couldn't stop, or the forces that were now surely pursuing them would catch them.
They continued deep into the night, but they finally found signs of the rest of the group. Thankfully, everyone there was relatively okay. The injured were all on horses or in the wagon, Which Merlinus led with just enough confidence to keep them going.
"Lord William!" Merlinus exclaimed in relief. "You've returned."
"Not with news of victory, I'm afraid." Will said simply. "We're pulling back to the ship, double time. Can your horses manage?"
"A continuous march?" Merlinus asked, biting his lip. "At some point we have to rest. If enough of us aren't on our feet, my wagon will be too slow with the additional weight." He explained. "My horses can only pull so much without slowing us down. If we're being pursued…"
"We are." Will said. "Any horsemen and Pegasi able to carry someone without slowing, please do! Even if it means you have to walk with the rest of us!"
Marcus and Legault (who volunteered to give the exhausted Matthew a break) took the head of the pack, while the rest of the horses and Pegasi were devoted to carrying the injured. Kent and Sain, both injured themselves, shared their horses with Wil and Raven. Priscilla helped Guy onto her steed before setting her into a gentle trot. Lowen walked alongside the rest of the group so his horse could focus on carrying a now armor less Oswin (whose entire torso was covered in bandages) and Lord Elbert's body. Florina and Fiora kept their Pegasus calm, while also transporting Dart and Dorcas. Bartre sat on the wagon seat next to Merlinus and a few others were inside the wagon, most prominently among them Leila, who was still unconscious.
Their progress was slow, but the forest of Valor seemed to be working for them this time, rather than against them. Keeping close together, the thick fog only seemed to cover their tracks and escape from their pursuers. The aggravation they had originally felt for the island began to wane. However, their morale was at a first time low. Very quickly, the party had learned that of the group from the Dragon's Gate, Lord Elbert was dead. Lord Wallace was nowhere to be seen and trying to ask about it merely made the return group walk faster. Will in particular seemed not to want to think about it, not until they were back on Fargus' ship.
"Once again…" Fiora muttered.
"Once again what?" Nils asked. He hadn't met the Pegasus woman before, but he was now walking alongside her and Florina with Ninian.
"I came here with my sisters. They're gone now. When I joined to get my revenge… I could not imagine escaping again in defeat." Fiora sighed.
"There's not much of a choice." Nils said. "All of us are tired or injured. If you guys tried to fight the Morphs Nergal has under his command now… we'd all die."
"I know that." Fiora stated firmly. "I know it, yet…"
"It's the first time…" Florina said sadly. "The first time one of us hasn't made it through."
"It's remarkable that tactician has kept everyone safe this long." Fiora muttered. "Even I must admit that."
"Lord Wallace… Will went traveling with him after Caelin, right?" A soft voice spoke from behind them. They turned to see Renault, who looked apologetic. "Apologies, I did not mean to overhear."
"No, it's not a problem." Florina said quickly. "Will traveled with Wallace and Lucius after he left Caelin. I haven't heard all of it, but it seemed like… like a fun journey."
"I see." Renault said, glancing behind them. "Losing a close friend… is never easy. Perhaps I shall attempt my own method of healing."
"Your Excellency?" Fiora asked, confused. Renault shook his head softly, before making his way past them up towards the front.
"Lady Lyndis, would you allow us a moment?" Renault's voice called from behind. Lyn had been sticking close to Will as they continued their trek back on the path. She didn't know what to say to Will, or how to help him, but at the very least she knew she needed to be next to him. Renault's request came as an unwelcome gesture, but she knew she couldn't be rude.
"I… Well it's just…" Lyn began, trying to find a way to deny him.
"It's alright, Lyn." Will said. "Could you make sure the wagon isn't falling behind? We can take packs on our backs if we have to."
"I… I understand." Lyn said, crestfallen. "I'll be back shortly then."
She turned, hurrying off towards Merlinus. Renault took her position by his side. Will wondered what the Bishop would say. Renault smiled. "Do you hate him? Nergal?"
"Hate?" Will said. "I… I don't know. I'm… angry. I want Wallace to be here and he's not… it's like…"
"Like a part of you has gone missing." Renault supplied kindly. "Let me guess. Though you were also friends, Wallace was as a mentor to you?"
"I've never… had that connection." Will said. "Well, I mean… I think I had it with my parents, but I can't remember them too well these days. Any days." He rubbed his eyes. "It was… nice. I had someone to… to confide in. To be… I dunno… childish with?"
"Your desire to change yourself was one that took a tremendous amount of spirit to accomplish." Renault said. "Wallace… to you, at least, was a validation that you had changed. This man… this... Crag of Caelin, so to speak, trusted you. He trusted you to the very core of his being. That, more perhaps than even the trust of close friends like Lyndis or Eliwood, gave you what you wanted."
"He was… a rock. A stubborn ass rock that refused to give into the stream. I just… I never wanted…" Will said turning his head away.
"You feel responsible?" Renault asked. Slowly, Will nodded. "I won't pretend that feeling will go away with time. All I can tell you is this… Wallace was his own man. He made choices that he himself could live with. If you, for all you have tried to change, cannot accept what those choices may bring… perhaps you should not be in this role."
"Role?" Will asked. "Tactician? But I… I chose that. I wanted to help Eliwood find his father. I wanted to… stop the Fang."
"You have found Lord Elbert." Renault said. "The Black Fang, while it may sound callous to say, was never your affair. You were forced onto a path. One you never were meant to be on. All because of a cruel trick of fate. Yet here, now, you stand upon a new turning point. Will you continue to sacrifice yourself for the world, a world that you owe nothing to?"
"Sacrifice?" Will asked. "I haven't been…"
"Giving up your life, your friendships, your very emotions of happiness and love… Come now, I am not called an Excellency without reason, William." Renault said.
"So what, do you have the solution or something?" Will asked.
"No." Renault said. "I don't. In fact, I'm afraid I will only make your decision even harder for you."
"Harder… what do you mean by that?" Will asked, turning to the bishop.
Gently, Renault pushed a parcel into Will's chest. "You continue to sacrifice yourself for others. This… is yet another sacrifice you may yet make. Even so, while placing this burden on you… I hope you choose to find happiness for yourself. If that means you walk away, so be it. If that means you find happiness while still fighting for the world… I could accept that as well."
"What is…" Will began, but Renault placed a finger to his lips.
"Open it only when you are alone." Renualt said. "It is your decision to make, not another's."
"But Renault, what are you…" Will tried, but once again Renault cut him off.
"I will not be going with you." Renault said simply.
"…What?" Will asked, dumbfounded.
"Surely you realize this already, William." Renault said. "The Black Fang is mere hours from us. We will not be able to march like this much longer. Add in timing the flare and waiting for Fargus' ship, not to mention the boarding time… You will not make it."
"But… but what does that have to do with you staying?" Will barked.
"I am the only one of us able to slow them down enough for you to escape." Renault said. "Forgive me for being blunt, but any other way and at least two to three of you will perish, even with your excellent tactics."
"But Renault…" Will began.
"I've made my decision." Renault said. "And it is one I can live with. Farewell, tactician."
Renault turned and began to walk away. Will, still utterly baffled, held the parcel in his hands. He had half a mind to call out to the others, tell them to stop him, but before he could, he felt a strange sense of weariness overcome him. Trying to speak, he spotted the strange glowing staff Renault held in his hands. A sleep staff.
As his legs buckled, he could hear Lyn shouting to him. All Will could do was turn to see the Sacaen running towards him, clutching the parcel as tightly as he could. He had failed… again.
Renault sighed. He hadn't meant to become so invested in these young people and their quarrel. When he had met them at the ruins, he had a feeling that joining them meant his long days would soon be coming to an end. Strangely enough, all the people he had met there only made him more at peace with himself.
Was that… alright? He had committed so many evils… so many deaths were on his hands… and yet. To see the son he had spared grow up into such a powerful and fetching monk in his own right. To see the young boy mistaken for a girl so strong and sure, laughing loudly and proudly as he fought for his friends. To see how one man's determination for a fight could still get him to punch a man. To see a loving father fight for his child's future, siblings reunite, lovers rejoice in small miracles… To see the young Lord of Ostia grow smarter with each passing day, to see the young Lord of Pharae fight for his father every step of the way… to see a young man, torn between his mistakes and desire for repentance, struggle with who he really was. To see the young women who wanted nothing more than his salvation, as in a way, it also meant their own.
Had he done the right thing? Giving that young boy yet another burden… he couldn't see it as anything other than an old man's selfishness. And yet… this world wasn't one for old men like him anymore. It was time for the young to cut their path, free from the burdens of the old. So, he would do what an old man like him was capable of. He'd become a shield, blocking the Fang's path to them. So that they could live to see the new day. To see Pharae, Ostia, Caelin, Laus, Santaruz and the other nations all come together as one. To see the world they would create.
Kishuna… have I repented even the slightest of sins I've made against you? Renault wondered, as he pulled a divine tome from his robe. He gripped the sleep staff tightly in his other hand, ready for the fight to come. The people I killed in your name… will you ever forgive me for it? For helping Nergal bring that… abomination into existence, fooling myself into believing that it would somehow be you? For trying to fight the order St. Elimine so clearly laid before us? Will Lucius' parents forgive me, for not letting their son drown in revenge? I could have… no, I should have told him, but seeing him argue so fervently that revenge wasn't the answer to his friend Raven… I could not bring myself to tempt him. Will you, Wallace, forgive me for lying? I am not the man I was then, back when I helped you train. I suspect Renault the Impervious died long ago, and only his shell has been wandering, forcing misguided beliefs forward in a vain attempt to break nature's laws.
He could hear the sounds of approaching footsteps. They were closer than he had imagine. It was a good thing he had turned back when he had. After putting Will to sleep, it was all too easy to slip away. Their look-outs were busy with the front and back, so vanishing into the tress through the side had been simpler than he imagined. Raising his tome, he poised himself to strike.
The first robe emerged from the tree, Renault's arm extending as he fired the Divine spell. With a blast of light, he obliterated the golden eyed morph from existence. Renault's final battle had begun.
"Light the flare!" Hector shouted. After Will had fallen unconscious from fatigue, he had taken charge. Eliwood also, though he was much quieter than usual, was assisting him. Thankfully, they found an ocean bank not far off from where they had originally docked. With it, no rest was necessary as they lit the flare for Fargus to come and find them. They did need to remain on alert so they weren't caught unawares.
"Hang on…" Eliwood said, glancing down at Will's notebook. "Where's Renault? Everyone else is accounted for."
Hector growled. "The hell is that Bishop doing? Is he planning on staying on the island?"
"Maybe." Lyn said. "I know he was talking with Will. Do you think that's what it's about?"
"Far be it from me to guess the mind of the guy who was living here." Hector grunted. "But with the Fang pursuing us, going off on his own seems pretty stupid."
"…Maybe that's why he did it." Eliwood said. "If he planned to stay, he could have also attempted to draw off our pursuers for us."
"But that would be suicide!" Lyn shouted in disbelief.
"Not really." Hector sighed. "We were moving slow. If he drew them off, it allowed us the time to get here and launch the flare without getting caught. Everything after that though…"
"I see." Eliwood said. "I don't like the thought. I hope it's simply that he returned to his solitude..."
Lyn and Hector nodded. It wasn't a thought any of them liked to entertain, especially after what happened with Lord Wallace and Lord Elbert. They fell silent again, scanning the horizon desperately for Fargus' ship.
His Divine Tome lay useless upon the ground. Alongside it lay the Sleep Staff, the light of magic gone from its being. In Renualt's hand, a bloodstained sword remained. He had taken it from the last Morph he had killed with his Divine tome, and used it to systematically dispatch the ones he had successfully put to sleep. Unfortunately, the last one had tricked him, only pretending to be asleep. The wound in his gut was bleeding rather profusely, making Renualt nearly lament not bringing at least a vulnerary along. If he had, he could keep fighting a little longer.
As it was, the morphs now surrounded him, though they appeared to be waiting for something. Perhaps it was simply for him to finish bleeding out, as every moment he felt more of his strength leaving him. Or perhaps, as the shadows gave way, they had been waiting for someone instead.
"Renault." The cruel deep and angered voice of Nergal spoke. The black robed man clutched his chest, the wound from Lord Elbert still not fading.
"How much Quintessence have you taken, Nergal?" Renault mused. "Even so, your wound does not yet heal. Shouldn't that tell you something? The world is done with relics like us."
"Hah! You've merely given up, as do all humans in the end. It's why I prefer my Morphs. It took so much time, but this newest batch is perfect. Mark's Quintessence was absolutely superb. While I could never harness the bottomless power he had inside him, His life energy itself is comparable, to say the least. If only it hadn't vanished so quickly, I'd have many more perfect creations like Limstella to work with. The painstaking amount of time it took to create her and Ephidel... only one of them remains now."
"Perfect… is it." Renault muttered. "That word itself is flawed, Nergal. Humans are what they are precisely because of their mistakes. They grow… learn… change. You yearn for a world of stagnation. Where nothing exists save you and your servants. Puppets, more like. But even puppets eventually lose their purpose. Then you'll be all alone. Assuming your puppets don't change on their own."
"Puppets cannot change." Nergal growled. "That is precisely what makes them better than humans."
"Yet you send them to deal with humans all the time." Renault chuckled. "I think Ephidel's desire to live shows even your perfect puppets begin to develop a sense of self."
"What would a dead man know of it." Nergal scoffed. "You turned your nose at my gift."
"Because your gift wasn't what I wanted." Renault snapped. "I wanted my friend, not his shambling corpse."
"Kishuna is a masterpiece unlike any other." Nergal said. "Even you should realize that."
"No." Renault said. "He's an abomination. One I allowed you to turn his body into."
"So you will continue this stubbornness until the end, will you?" Nergal growled. "Very well. Then your Quintessence can go to my recovery."
"No Nergal, you will be unable to use my Quintessence as you wish." Renault smiled. "My body may become a shell, but St. Elimine will take my spirit. I've touched one of the things that will forever keep my Quintessence safe from you."
"No… that's impossible." Nergal growled. "No one should be able to access them!"
"Athos can." Renault said. "He still lives, Nergal. He will see you stopped. It will be Eliwood's company that inherits the spirit of our ancestors."
"No… No… WHERE IS IT!" Nergal shouted, as one of the Morph's knocked Renault's tired body to the ground. "I don't believe you!"
"In safer hands than mine." Renault said. "After all, you and I will be having a long partnership in the afterlife… Nergal."
Nergal's scream of rage could be heard, even as he commanded the Morph to bring down its sword upon Renault's chest. I hope… I bought you enough time… William. Renault's last thought dimmed, as his eyes closed. As if in answer to his prayers, it was as though St. Elimine herself had come down to greet him. Alongside her stood a grinning general and a man wearing red hood.
Renault… You have done much with your life. St. Elimine seemed to say. Good and bad, none of it matters once you've passed. However, those touched by you are the ones who inherit the future.
Basically she's saying you've gotta wait it out with the rest of us bosos to see how it ends. The general laughed, his voice echoing strangely.
Come, my friend. We have much to catch up on. The red hooded man said, extended his hand.
Renault grasped the hand, feeling his spirit move to the other side. So this… this was death. It was far kinder than he deserved.
"That's all of ye, right lads?" Fargus barked. They had arrived within two hours of seeing the flare, and quickly packed up everyone to go. The last of them, Legault alongside Lyn and Hector, boarded.
"Sorry Lyndis, but there's just no sign of him." The Former Fang said with a shrug of his shoulders. "I'm pretty sure I knew that guy, too. I don't remember exactly from where, but…"
"It's alright, Legault. Thank you for trying." Lyn said, with a sigh.
Hector grimaced. "Three of our force, gone. Might not seem like much, but..."
"Lord Wallace, Lord Elbert, Excellency Renault…" Lyn counted. "All far more experienced in the world than us. Their knowledge and experience… counts for more than we can imagine."
"You go check on Will." Hector said. "I know you've been worried about him and that package he refuses to let go of."
"Alright… Thank you, Hector." Lyn said.
"No problem." Hector said. Lyn dashed off, leaving him on his own. "Let's ship the hell out." He said. "Before I end up having to take command of the whole freaking ship."
"Ye got it, kiddo." Fargus said. "Mates! We're shipping out!"
The ship slowly pulled from port, heading back towards Badon.
Will awoke. He wasn't sure what had prompted it, but something had tugged him awake. Had it been Renault? No, the man was gone, more than likely dead… Nor was he particularly spiritual beyond the concepts Sacaens lived by. Yet… he was alone. Surely it wouldn't remain that way for long.
Forcing himself out of bed, Will walked over to the table. Placing the parcel down, he rubbed his arms (Which were red from holding onto the package for so long so fiercely, even in his sleep) before slowly undoing the string. He tore of the paper, revealing what seemed to be a Divine Tome. Was Renault telling him it was time to use the next level of spell? But his spells never had the power Lucius, Erk or Canas had even on the simplest of spells.
Wait… there was another book under the first. Slowly sliding the Divine Tome over, Will spotted something he had never expected to see. He collapsed onto the chair, laughing sadly. "What the hell… what kind of burden is this? Why… Why me? What the hell does anyone think I can do? Renault… why would you give your life for this?"
Under the Divine Tome, its magical inscriptions clear for even a novice magic user like Will to see, was one of the Eight Legendary Weapons. Aureola.