Author's Note: Christmas was a great. Both sides of my family were very welcoming and I was glad to be able to spend time with both of them. In spite of that, I do admit I'm still missing my father a lot. This is the first Christmas without him. While we never celebrated it like normal families do, I'm still feeling that sting of those days off he used to spend with me. Ironically, now that I have a job, they're the only days I have off too.

Josh Grinstieinne: Well thanks for your vote/hopes, I guess :P

GhostRhyme: I've never liked the idea either. Mostly because in the main story they never give Lyn a decent enough motivation to leave Caelin the way she does. I hope in this story to either find a better reason or change that ending entirely. We shall see.

Pixelsaber: True. I'm much happier when the characters you're supposed to recruit can survive long enough for you to get to them. It's a pain in the you know what when you have to get to a character by the third or fourth turn because they'll be dead. Thanks for your continued support!

Xillax: Last minute addition! I was so happy to get a review from someone who actually sat down and read this monster from start to finish. I'm really glad you liked the story bits for Renault and Wallace. As for your guesses, we'll have to wait and see how things play out.

Chapter 72: Genesis

Mother,

I've… I've come to understand something. I'm not happy with myself. I've always hoped that my mother and father would return, when in actuality I was just… masking myself. What I wanted was… a family. One to call my own. One where I wouldn't be a burden on you, the other children, or anyone else.

Why do people do things to make others sad? Why do parents abandon their children? Why do people who have nothing to gain take in and help those children? I couldn't… understand.

Mother I… I've met someone. He's crass, and crude, and everything I pretend I'm not, and yet… when he held me, when he told me I was family I…

Mother… what should I do?

Serra's eyes opened. Everything hurt. The sand had suddenly given way beneath her feet, leading to her falling for what felt like longer than it probably was. She had also landed on more sand, which had sunk to cushion her fall. It hadn't helped that her staff had landed on her backside. Maybe she shouldn't have let go of it in her panic.

Looking around, Serra could see that the room she was in was nearly empty. It was what appeared to be ruins, yet the walls were still too high for her to climb over. She was also… alone. "Hello?" She said timidly into the open space. "Everyone? Anyone?"

No answer came. Gripping her staff in one hand, she reached for the light tome hidden in her dress. At the very least, she could defend herself against any threat that was coming. But… how could she find anyone? Were they even alive? What if they needed treatment? She began to shiver as the thoughts crossed her mind.

Broken, battered… crying out… "LORD HECTOR!" She shrieked. It was maybe the first time in her life she remembered being this afraid. "WHERE ARE YOU? PLEASE… PLEASE…" her voice fell, as her shivering worsened. "…save me."

Suddenly, a wave of evil energy spread over her. Her shivering intensified. She remembered this feeling from the Dread Isle. It was from when that Magic Seal had appeared and prevented any magic from being used. Did that mean…

Serra raised her staff. No light emanated forth. She quickly pulled out her tome, and attempted to cast a lightning spell. Nothing. "No… NO… NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"Serra!" A gruff voice sounded from the nearest wall.

She jumped. "L-Lord Hector? Is it… is it you?"

"Thank the gods." Hector said through the wall. "I've been wandering for what felt like an hour with no word. I heard you shouting and followed the sounds. Are you okay?"

"Lord… Hector…" Serra sniffled.

"Wait, what's wrong?" Hector's voice became more urgent.

"No I… I'm okay." Serra said, between sobs. "I was just… so worried."

"I see. Is anyone else with you?"

Serra shook her head, before remembering he couldn't see her. "I'm alone. But Lord Hector, the Magic Seal is here."

"That thing from the Dread Isle?" Hector asked, confused. "How in the hell… no, that's not important. Stand back, Serra! I'm going to blow this wall!"

Serra quickly obliged, backing away as she could hear the sounds of Hector placing something. A moment later, there was the clattering sounds of an axe hitting the wall before suddenly a small explosion blew the wall separating them apart. "Whew! Never thought those landmines Will insisted on getting would be handy, but I guess I owe him one."

"Lord Hector!" Serra cried gratefully, throwing herself around his neck.

Hector froze, Serra sobbing into his chest, before awkwardly wrapping his arms around her. "Sorry it took me so long."

"You dummy." Serra said. "Dummy dummy dummy dummy dummy… I'm so glad… you're alright."

"Yeesh, do you have to call me a dummy that much?" Hector grumbled.

"It's true." Serra said. "But you came. That's all that matters." Besides… you're my dummy. She thought. Perhaps, for now, it was best to keep her joy to herself.

"We should find the others. If you and I made it, I'm sure everyone else has too." Hector said once Serra had pushed herself away.

"Of course." Serra said confidently. "But my magic is sealed, so you'll have to do the heavy lifting, Lord Hector."

"What, like I don't do it normally?" Hector said with a quirked eyebrow.

"I meant don't get yourself hurt." Serra said. "I couldn't bear it if you went and got hurt and I couldn't do anything to help you."

"I… yeah. Got it." Said Hector. Why did it feel like he was always losing when it came to dealing with Serra?

In the silence of the ruins a single figure sat. Around him, fellow Morphs patrolled. Why they chose to protect him, he did not know. Why he had come here, he did not know. Why he had thoughts of his own, he did not know. Yet, for some reason, he could. He could recall. He could feel. As of now, his thoughts dwelled upon his birth. Why was he chosen to become the Magic Seal? Had it been accidental? Purposeful?

"I name you Kishuna." Nergal's voice from that day echoed in his mind. "You are the only morph to whom I've given emotions. It won't suffice to simply give you a number." Nergal's voice chuckled. "It is said man and dragon alike were sculpted by the hands of the gods. If so, then you, who were sculpted by these, my own hands… And I, who labored to give you breath and life…" Nergal's voice paused thoughtfully. How long ago had this event occurred? Kishuna could not remember. Years… decades? "What are we, then? What does that make us? In your fabricated heart, which I gave unto you, what is it that you believe, Kishuna?"

Kishuna placed a hand over his heart. The image of a man, perhaps a friend in a former life, drifted through his mind. Blonde hair, mercenary robes, the sounds of laughter. "…"

Eliwood coughed roughly as he managed to stagger to his feet. Everything hurt far more than it should. "Ninian? Are you here?"

"Yes, Lord Eliwood." Ninian said from just nearby. "I'm alright."

"Thank goodness." Eliwood cracked his neck with a small grunt. "Where are we?"

"I… I don't know." Ninian said sadly. "There are walls everywhere."

"I don't see anyone else…" Eliwood trailed off. "Have we been separated?"

"Ah!" A cheerful voice made the both of them turn. "You've come around. Are you both well?"

"You're… from before…" Eliwood began, though the name escaped him.

"Hawkeye's friend." The man said pleasantly. Behind him, the large form of Hawkeye appeared as well.

"Hawkeye?" Eliwood asked. "Do you know of this place?"

"I do not." Hawkeye replied.

"Eh?" The man seemed surprised. "You don't? Well, I did never imagine a place like this existed."

"My master never spoke of it, if he knew." Hawkeye continued.

"What of everyone else?" Eliwood asked.

"They're… okay." Ninian managed. "They're… nearby. I can't see them but… I can sense them. They must be alright."

"That's good."

"So strange!" The man exclaimed, making the two jump. "So unsettling! This feeling is one I've never experienced before! It's as if the very magic of this place is being absorbed by some unseen force!"

"Absorbed?" Eliwood mused. "Hang on… that sounds like… what happened back on Valor."

"The Dread Isle?" The man asked curiously. "You've been there?"

Eliwood nodded. "We first felt it in the ruins near the Dragon's Gate. It was right before our magicks failed us. Will called it… a magic seal?"

"Not an incorrect term." The man said, suddenly much more serious than before.

"Do you know of it?" Eliwood asked.

"I'm not entirely sure I can explain it in a way to do it justice." The man said with a shrug. "It's someone… something, with a presence that nullifies magic."

"But why would he… she… it be here? And why now?"

"I cannot say." The man shook his head. "However, I can tell you that we are being watched."

"What?" Eliwood whipped around, but could see nothing. Until a bright flash of light nearly blinded him.

"He's… called on others. They are… strong." Ninian said, clutching her head.

"He summoned them?" The man raised his eyebrows in surprise. "I'm beginning to suspect the magic seal may very well have created this place."

"If we kill him, can we escape?" Hawkeye asked.

"Perhaps." The man said. "Either way, if we need our magicks…"

"Then we fight." Eliwood said firmly. "If they have strength, then we'll match their strength and challenge them! We don't have time to waste!"

"I will help you." Hawkeye said. "Pent, if your magic is sealed…"

Pent nodded. "I'll remain here. That way we have a base camp of sorts. If you find any of the others and they cannot fight, send them to me. I believe I am just far enough away from this seal to heal injuries with my staff, should you sustain them."

"Thank you, Sir Pent." Eliwood said with a bow.

"Think nothing of it." Pent returned. "Be careful."

Erk let out a loud groan in annoyance as he felt his consciousness returning. He wasn't used to falls like that one and after a few moments, the pain only intensified. Bending over him was the figure of Dorcas, who he quickly recognized.

"Are you alright?" Dorcas asked kindly.

"Everything hurts." Erk replied. "Seems I can still talk, that's good. I think."

"Indeed." Dorcas smiled. "Take your time. We've been separated from the others, but I was lucky and fell upon a soft bed. Add in my physique and being used to falling from high places…"

"Bragging ill suits you, Dorcas." Erk grunted.

"Forgive me, that wasn't what I-"

"Joking."

"Ah. Of course." Dorcas smiled. "I'll protect you should anything come this way."

"I think I have an elixir in my cape pocket." Erk said. "I'll try to apply it if I can move. In a few minutes. Or an hour."

"As I said, take your time." Dorcas repeated. "I get the feeling everyone else is going to be too anxious to not move. So we should remain where we are until they find us."

"Especially Will." Erk agreed. "He's always warning us to be careful, but the first sign of trouble and off he runs."

"I couldn't agree more." Dorcas chuckled. "Especially when Florina is involved. I do wonder why he never seems to worry about Lyndis."

"I dunno, isn't that more because he trusts Lyndis to be safe without him?" Erk said. "It feels like they're equals. Or at least, treat each other as such."

"Hmm…" Dorcas mused. "In that case, how would you classify your and Priscilla's relationship?"

"Eh?" Erk said, nearly dropping his elixir. "I'm not… entirely sure what you mean."

"Well, at first I thought for sure you were about to mirror our tactician friend's dilemma." Dorcas crossed his arms thoughtfully. "You treat Priscilla very kindly, yet you never pretend not to be yourself around Serra. Yet you and Serra never seemed to reconnect well after rejoining our little team."

"I don't see what's so surprising about that." Erk replied. "I was her guard. Little else."

"I didn't seem like she thought of it that way." Dorcas continued to muse. "Then, she and Lord Hector began to talk now and then, and these days… tell me, have you noticed her nearly following him around?"

"No." Erk said. "I've been trying to learn the staff and teach Priscilla magic, why would I… ah that smarts." He growled as he began to apply the elixir to a nasty cut on his leg. Luckily, both his arms seemed to be working fine. His legs were cut up, but the pain he felt didn't seem to indicate they were broken. Small miracles, he supposed.

"Natalie's no doubt going to be happy to hear it." Dorcas chuckled. "Did you know Serra came all the way from Ostia when our child was born. She was even the one who suggested we name her Dorothy. Natalie liked the name so much she had to go with it."

Erk raised an eyebrow. It was indeed the first time he had heard anything like it. He himself had been too busy to return, though he wished the couple well in the birth of their new child. "I hadn't heard."

"She's more motherly and caring than she would ever admit." Dorcas chuckled. "I do think Hector's a good fit for her."

"And what does any of that have to do with me?" Erk asked.

"As much as you think it does." Dorcas shrugged. "Come now, you don't want to gossip with me?"

"Matters of love are a little…" Erk trailed off. "Not my area."

"Oh come now, you know I can't talk to you about magic." Dorcas said. "I'm trying to find a middle ground."

"Fine. Then what about your friend Bartre?" Erk asked.

"Bartre will be lucky if any woman is crazy enough to spend a night with him." Dorcas said. "Though perhaps he needs to only find the right woman. I couldn't say."

Erk chuckled. "Fine, then we can address the elephant in Will's court?"

Dorcas grinned. What followed was an extremely time-consuming and silly chat about compatibility ratios and which pairing was truly the superior pairing. It was quite the odd chat between two very different people.

Bartre yelled in pain. His arm was most definitely broken. Lucius and Canas, who were nearby, quickly approached. "Are you alright?" Lucius asked.

"My damn arm's hanging the wrong way!" Bartre cursed. "Course I ain't fine!"

"Dear me, that's a nasty break." Canas muttered. "Do you think your healing arts will be of any use, Lucius?"

"They would be, if not for the reemergence of that magic seal." Lucius sighed.

"Ah yes. In my worry I quite forgot about it for the moment." Canas sighed as well. "And if our only fighter is injured…"

"We're pretty much out of luck." Lucius finished. "I'll see if I can't get it positioned into a sling. That way at least you won't do any more damage to it."

"Hurts like hell already!" Bartre growled. "Just do whatever you gotta do!"

A few minutes of yelling and inching later, Bartre's arm had been successfully put into a sling. Canas continued to examine the walls all around them, but found no good way out of their current predicament. "We could make use of a mine and blow one of the walls, but should the first thing to come along be unfriendly, we'll be in quite the precarious spot."

"With Bartre's arm preventing him from holding his axe, I can't recommend that course of action." Lucius said. "Our magic is sealed as well. I say we hold our current position."

Bartre grunted. "Don't be holding back on account of me. I can limp along if that's what it takes."

"No, I agree with Lucius." Canas said, stroking his chin. "In our current state, any situation we throw ourselves into will only end in disaster. Waiting for rescue is simply the better option."

"Tch, fine." Bartre lay back on the ground. "You fancy magic-people are so afraid, we'll wait. I ain't about to do something stupid and get you killed."

"Thank you, Sir Bartre. We greatly appreciate it." Lucius said with a soft smile.

"You're way too pretty to be a guy." Bartre responded. Lucius' face quickly fell into a scowl. "That's more like it."

Oswin was never more grateful for his armor than this day. Sure, it was full of sand, but he had landed flat upon the floor, and yet nothing was broken. Surely, he was more sore than he had been on most days in training, but he was alive and none the worse for wear. Although getting up was proving to be an issue all on its own.

"What is your armor made out of?" A light-hearted chuckle sounded from nearby. "I mean, I know it's made of metal, but this is like… triple metal."

"Maybe you're just not strong enough." A voice of another male sounded. A yes, that was the voice of Guy. The other one was…

Oswin attempted to move, but a large amount of sand doused his lower half as he budged. "Legault?"

"That's me~" The thief said pleasantly. "I did attempt to help, but with my age catching up, my non-existent strength sure does seem to be waning."

"As if you had any honor to begin with." Guy replied.

"Ouch. That stings." Legault chuckled. "And here we all are, stuck together and without a leader to follow."

"Without a leader?" Oswin quickly forced the rest of the sand out, managing to clamber to his feet. "Lord Hector?"

"Nowhere to be seen." Legault said pleasantly.

"You sound pleased." Guy replied.

"Oh come now." Legault chuckled. "What good will come of getting upset? All we need to do is start making our way through these strange ruins and find them, correct? With my lockpicking skills, your sword skills, and Oswin's armor, we're the most likely to find the others the fastest, are we not?"

Guy sighed. "You have a point. But Will would want us to stay put."

"Only because he will take all the risk of finding us upon himself." Oswin returned. "I agree with the thief. We should move and find the others."

"Fine." Guy said. "But don't say I didn't warn you."

"You uh… you didn't happen to bring any of those mines with you, did you?" Will asked.

"No." Lyn admitted. "I'm not a fan of those explosive… things. I feel they're a bit… dishonorable."

"Right… well, then we're out of luck." Will said with a sigh. "I gave my last one to Hector. Since he tends to get himself into trouble."

"Well, you aren't exactly wrong there, but you end up in just as much trouble as he does." Lyn sighed. "Honestly, you make me worry far too often."

"Right." Will said. "Well… sorry, I guess."

"Why don't you…" Lyn trailed off, shaking her head. "So what do we do?"

"We wait for rescue." Will said sadly. "While I would prefer to be out and looking for the others, we really can't risk anything with just the two of us. Breaking our weapons against the walls doesn't seem like a good idea either. Even if the Mani Katti is unbreakable."

"I suppose you're right." Lyn agreed, sitting down next to him. "It's strange. While I had wished we would get to spend time alone… I didn't mean for it to happen like this."

"Does anyone?" Will sighed.

"I suppose not." Lyn said. "Are you okay?"

"With what?" Will asked.

"I don't know… everything I suppose?" Lyn said. "I know it hasn't been easy lately, yet I…"

"When Wallace died I… I felt like I hadn't learned anything." Will said. "Though I can barely remember, I know Maria died. I can't help but feel like part of it was my fault. When everything went down at the Dragon's Gate… wasn't there something, anything I could have done better? I guess it's a vain hope, but I wish I had been able to contribute more. As it was, the best I could do was stand with everyone and hope for the best. And that… wasn't enough."

"Of course not." Lyn said. "Hoping often isn't enough. But can you really claim all the blame for yourself? I'm sure… isn't that why you and Hector fought?"

"Yeah… I'm ashamed to admit it, but I felt like… they had done enough. There were duties Eliwood and Hector would have to attend to. Even you and the Legion would…"

"After seeing what we had on the island?" Lyn gave Will a stern look. "Did you honestly expect any of us to stop the journey?"

"Not necessarily by choice. But think about it, Lyn. Unlike what happened with your greatuncle, we have no way to prove anything we experienced. No one is going to believe us. Even if we tried, our pleas would be ignored, or used as an excuse to call the Lycian League unfit to continue being ruled by the current regime. I didn't want to force that onto Hector and Eliwood. And especially not onto you, after what happened to your grandfather. It still feels like we had only gotten you two to meet…"

"Yes, I… I'm still sad about it." Lyn admitted. "Yet, in a way, I am also glad. I got to spend more time with him then I ever could have imagined. Thinking back, a mere two years ago I can't even say I had any desire to do anything with my life. Now… I want to do everything I can. Of course, if you'll let me, I want to do it at your side."

"You lay it on thick. So you weren't joking about it before."

"Of course not! You know me better than that."

"That I do." Will chuckled. "I just… after Florina…"

"I saw." Lyn giggled. "I do admit you two are very cute together. But this… everything we're going through… it isn't just about you and her. Or you and me. It's about all of us. And putting a stop to Nergal."

"Of course." Will said. "I've never forgotten that for a second."

"Everything else… if it has to, can wait until he's been stopped." Lyn said. "I just… had a hard time. Watching you two grow close while I… waited."

"We're a tangled mess of a group, aren't we." Will chuckled.

"Indeed." Lyn giggled. "Will, could I… hold your hand?"

"Eh?" Will said. "But didn't you just-"

"I know!" Lyn said quickly. "But I just… just until… until the others are back… let me keep you to myself."

Will sighed. Many thoughts were coursing through his head, but he couldn't make sense of any of them. "…Fine."

Lightly, Lyn's hand slipped under his own. Slightly shaky, she wrapped her fingers through his own, letting her head fall lightly onto his shoulder. "Thank you." Her eyes fluttered slightly as she looked up at him, glad to see the blush spreading across his face. Slowly, with warmth in her chest, her eyes began to close.

Another wall gave way before Wolf Beil. Hector was definitely glad he had maintained it so well. Bashing through was never the best strategy, but his trusty axe had held out so far. Thankfully, this time, they had made some headway. For a while it felt like they had been going around in circles, with Serra even berating him when he was about to double back to check their route again. Seems she remembered the route they had taken much better than he did.

"Oh come on. You honestly think Lyndis is going to just let her win because they're friends?" A voice from nearby seemed to be lost in their conversation.

"Not necessarily, but you know Lyndis softens her ways when it comes to Florina. You can't tell me you haven't seen it." A second voice continued.

"But this is Lyndis! I haven't seen her fail once she sets her mind on something."

"Then we'll just have to agree to disagree on that, I suppose."

"ERK, what in the name of St. Elimine are you doing!" Serra shouted at the top of her voice.

From the nearby wall, a few seconds of silence followed, only punctuated by the occasional chuckle from Dorcas. "…Gossiping?" He admitted.

Hector sighed. And here he had thought they were in a more serious predicament.

"Glad you found us." Lucius said gratefully. "That Magic Seal's appearance was not something we could count on, especially so far away from the Dread Isle."

"I must admit it caught us by surprise as well." Eliwood said as he supported Bartre. "I'm just glad you three are okay."

"Does this look okay to you?" Bartre growled, attempting to raise his broken arm before roaring in pain and dropping into back into the sling. "Magic men are useless now!"

"Not quite." Eliwood said. "The Magic seal does have a finite range. Where I set up my camp for the time being is outside of its range. Pent is also an accomplished healer so with him and Lucius we should be able to get your arm treated. Sadly, you are the only ones I've run into thus far."

"Fascinating. So your sense was able to tell you and Eliwood that the Magic Seal was coming?" Canas asked Ninian.

"Well, I don't know exactly but… sort of." Ninian admitted. "I'm just glad these ruins are so expansive. If not, getting ourselves out of danger would be a lot more difficult."

"Yes, naturally. But to escape these ruins, I would not be surprised if we had to head towards the seal." Canas reported sadly. "The dilapidation caused by the desert was lesser where we were located than these walls we are passing now. That means the middle of the structure is the least effected, and likely where the seal is. I'd imagine that's where we may find our path back to the surface."

"I was afraid of that." Hawkeye said simply. "No matter, we'll head back towards the middle once you three are safe."

"Yes. Our first priority is to make sure everyone comes out of this alive." Eliwood agreed. "And who knows? The Magic Seal may leave without any of us doing a thing."

"That, I doubt." Canas replied. "Last time, it was only after it was attacked that the seal chose to retreat. Until it is attacked, it may not even realize that we are here and being affected by it."

"I admit, these ruins are isolated enough." Hawkeye said. "If the thing truly came here to be alone or to ignore humanity, it is a good choice. It is more our misfortune for having fallen into those sand pits."

Eliwood focused his gaze back on the path in front of him. "Either way, we'll take it one person at a time. I want to make sure all of us are safe." He brightened upon seeing Pent up ahead. Hector, Will, Lyndis… be safe.

He could hear noises coming from outside the walls. Rousing Lyn quickly, Will and she placed their ears near to the surface.

"Can't you two hear anything?" Oswin's voice asked.

"Not over the clanking of that armor." Legault answered playfully.

"Unless the people are saying something, or there's a battle going on, there's not much to hear." Guy said calmly. "And yes, the armor doesn't help."

"Well it's not like I can just leave it behind!" Oswin exclaimed.

"We're not expecting you too." Legault chuckled. "Just don't expect us to find anything while we clank along, eh?"

"Hey!" Lyn shouted. "Can you hear us?"

The voices stopped. "Lyndis?" Guy's voice asked cautiously form the other side.

"Yes!" Lyn said happily. "We're so glad you're alright!"

"As I for you." Guy said. "I'm with Oswin and Legault, but the others remain lost to us. Are you alone?"

"Will is with me!" Lyn said. "Do you have any way to get this wall open?"

"I could try my lance." Oswin offered from the other side.

"So uncivilized." Legault yawned. "Come now, I'm the thief among us, shouldn't you be asking me first? And the answer is yes, I have a way. One of our convenient mines, in fact."

"Good." Will said. "Then set one and get back. Lyn and I will do the same."

A few moments later, the wall between them had been broken. "I did only have one of those." Legault said sadly. "Such a shame."

"At least it went to a good cause." Will replied.

"I suppose I'll satisfy myself with that." Legault chuckled. "Now then, which way shall we head next? With our tactician back, I hope you won't mind if we hand over the reins."

Will thought to himself. To be honest, there were many was they could play this. But the biggest thing on his mind was the magic seal. "This is going to sound crazy…"

"I'm getting used to it." Guy said simply. "What do you need us to do?"

"We're going to head for the middle of these ruins and get rid of the Magic Seal." Will said. "To help the others, especially since most of them use magic, the sooner it's out of here the better. As long as we drive it off, that'll be enough for me."

"Got it." Lyndis said, gripping the hilt of her blade. "Let's go then."