Author's Note: So uh… Linus isn't going to be fighting us again. Hooray? Oh, Can I just say that I love Fire Emblem Fates? I played through all of Birthright a while ago while getting all the support possibilities for the main group. I have the children so I may try to get their supports with each other at some point but after getting all the parent possibilities I was drained. At least next time through I can choose my favorite pairings.

Currently I'm on Conquest. I actually prefer the MC in the conquest route to him in Birthright. Mainly because the adamancy about not killing and finding a new path is much more appealing than Birthright where the MC is pretty much all for killing and taking down Nohr except for his siblings. I have yet to touch Revelations, mainly because I'm still working on getting all the parent support possibilities for Conquest. It's a rough road since Birthright has grinding and Conquest doesn't. Have to visit tons of castles and try to get supports that way.

Would I do a Fates fic? Somehow, I don't think so. I already have ideas for potential Sacred Stones and Awakening fics, and I wouldn't even bother touching those until I'm done with this one. So, for now, I'm sticking to my guns. Let's do this next chapter!

As always, review if you get the chance! I like hearing from any and all of my readers.

Chapter 76: The Crazed Beast

Dearest Mother,

I am like, the bestest message deliverer ever! I know you find it hard to send me on missions, but I promise I'm doing the best job imaginable! I hope someday you'll be willing to give me more and better roles to help you.

Oh, I ran into Jaffar the other day! He was all gruff and grim as usual, but it's kind of funny how he always tries to talk in singular sentences. I think he's a nice guy though, even if he hides it. After all, he works for you, mother!

I do miss Will sometimes still. Why did you send him on that really long mission? When will he be back? I wish you could trust me a little more, mother. I'll keep doing as you ask until then.

Until next time!

Your Loving Daughter, Nino

His consciousness was returning. It wasn't supposed to. The world had faded away. He could see the faces. Every single face. Among them, his knowing smile haunted him. And then, he had reappeared on the island. How had he survived? He was sure he had… no, perhaps some part of him had taken it easy on his former teammate. Something about killing him felt… wrong. Just like when Nergal told him to keep the Marquis prisoner on the island. That's why, though he knew it was against his orders, he had… the Marquis had died, telling them all to run. Why had it been so easy for him to throw away his life? It didn't make sense to him. As long as he had lived, everyone… everything…

"Are you awake?" The young girl's voice broke his thoughts as his eyes finally opened. "Oh thank goodness!" She exclaimed in relief. "I was worried."

Jaffar's mouth opened, speaking words before he could stop himself. "You… I know you…"

"Yup!" Nino exclaimed happily. "We've met tons of times before! You even guarded me for a while, remember? Sonia's daughter?"

"What are you doing?" He response came quickly.

Nino blinked in confusion, then tilted her head. "Huh?"

Jaffar closed his eyes. "Have you forgotten the law of the Fang? Sacrifice the wounded to salvage the strong."

"That's…" Nino looked away. It's not that she hadn't heard the phrase, but she'd always assumed that was more like a… guideline.

"I was unconscious and alone outside of our safe halls. You should have obeyed the law and killed me. Then you could flee from the area safely. Yet… you didn't. Why?"

Nino shook her head. "Letting a comrade die right in front of me? I… I couldn't do that."

"Don't be a fool!" Jaffar barked, surprising the young girl with his harsh words. Nino couldn't respond, beginning to cry. Jaffar hated when people cried. It made it difficult to deal with them. "Tsk." He attempted to stand, but going straight from laying on the floor to standing did not actually go as well as one might think. He staggered suddenly as the blood began to rush to his head, momentarily confusing him.

"Don't move so suddenly like that!" Nino reprimanded, her tears suddenly stopping as she grabbed his arm. "Here, lean on me."

"Don't… touch…" Jaffar growled in a low voice, before falling to the floor again.

Nino paled as she hurriedly looked for her stash of vulneraries once more. "Please, don't move! So much blood… oh and your wound opened up too… What do I do? It won't stop!"

Jaffar fell silent, his eyes closing once more. Why is it that his face continued to surface in his mind, as if taunting him?

"Please… don't die… you mustn't die!" The girl's voice called, as his consciousness faded once more.

On the hillside, Lloyd stood over the corpse of his brother. Beaten, abandoned, and not even given a proper burial. It was a fate he had brought upon himself by challenging their enemies, yet it was still less dignified than he deserved. Lloyd knelt down next to his brother, a soft and sad sigh escaping his lips. "Linus, you fool… After everything I told you… after I warned you…"

A single tear escaped his eyes. Grabbing a torch, he lit it before throwing it onto his brother's body, setting it ablaze. This way, he could return to the earth, his spirit ascending to the next plane. At least, that's what Lloyd wanted to believe. Now, he was truly alone.

"Wait for me, brother, I'll be joining you soon enough. And I'll bring you their corpses as a gift."

"Your Royal Highness, His Majesty has arrived." The soldier reported, bowing low.

King Desmond strode angrily into the room. His long blonde hair was adorned by his king's circlet, which was worn proudly on his forehead. His eyebrows were furrowed in anger, and he had a rather decent beard and moustache grown, the same striking blonde as his hair. His normal clothing for walking was currently adorned by his purple robe, another important signifier of his kingly status. "Where's Zephiel?" he barked.

From the nearest room, a woman in rather revealing garments walked out. Her own hair was a brighter blonde than the king's, and her piercing eyes betrayed her as a thoughtful and cunning individual. Her revealing clothing was covered by a robe, indicative of her status as the Queen. "Your majesty." She said, bowing politely. "'Tis a pleasure to see you. What a glorious day that sees you grace us with your presence."

"Enough!" Desmond growled at his legal wife. "Call the boy!"

"Your son," Hellene put particular emphasis on the word 'your,' "is practicing his falconry."

Desmond scoffed. "You knew I was coming and sent him away. As crafty as ever, woman." He eyed the woman piercingly. She would not get her way so easily today. "You'll do then. It's ten days until the boy's coming-of-age ceremony. I would speak of it."

"At last," the woman sighed grandly, placing a hand on her chest. "Once the ceremony ends, our son who has so long lingered in the shadows will be received by all as the legitimate heir to your throne. Do you know how long I've longed for this day?"

Since the day you gave birth, you wretched cow. Desmond muttered in his mind. "Cease your complaints." He barked instead. "You and Zephiel, as Queen and Heir of Bern, have never wanted for anything."

Hellene slapped her hands together, the smallest of grinding sounds coming from her teeth. "WE," she emphasized, "are here in this manse. YOU live in the palace with that WOMAN." She chuckled darkly. "You must be so disappointed your little toy bore you a princess instead of a prince."

"HELLENE!" Desmond roared. "YOU GO TOO FAR!"

"MY CHILD," She roared back, "who through me carries the noble blood of Etruria in his veins, will in ten days be named the right-born heir to the throne!" She giggled, bringing a hand to her mouth as she hit the wretched man where it hurt most. "No matter how you may dote on her, your illegitimate daughter, Guinevere, is destined to be no more than a baseborn shadow. It is MY SON who shall reign in Bern! MY SON, Zephiel!" She began to laugh, much harder than before. "You can't imagine how much pleasure it gives me to say those words!"

Desmond took it. Because he had his ace in the hole. The very thing which had brought him here, back to the vile woman who thought of nothing but power. Not like his darling girls. "Have you said your mind?" He asked, as Hellene continued to laugh. "I have something for you to hear."

"Now what could it be?" Hellene asked. "Here I thought we were merely making foreplay."

"Last night, the Fire Emblem was stolen away by some villain." Desmond reported. To be honest, the loss hurt him very little. Anything at this point to delay the prince's coming-of-age only helped his cause. However, if he didn't inform her, she would likely raise a fuss at the ceremony, blaming him. In fact, even now, she was highly likely to blame him for the theft.

"It can't be!" She shouted predictably. "Hah… you are wicked, your majesty." Just as quickly as she had lost it, her calm returned. "Pray tell, who would believe such a tale? The Fire Emblem is Bern's greatest national treasure. No gem in existence is its equal. Stealing such a heavily guarded object is impossible, is it not?"

Desmond shook his head. "Unfortunately, I speak the truth."

"No…" Hellene staggered, her façade broken.

"You know the importance of the Fire Emblem. It's the symbol of the heir, the heart of the ceremony." With a less than heavy heart, he shrugged. "Without the emblem, the ceremony must be cancelled."

"NO!" Hellene shouted. She glared angrily at the King. "Thi-this was your doing, wasn't it?" he couldn't tell if the tears were real or genuine. "How can you despise Zephiel so? He is of your blood! He is your beloved son, is he not?"

Desmond pondered this for a moment. Perhaps it was time for the other thought he had always had. When Hellene had come to him, the first night was nice. But to become so quickly pregnant right after their first time… while certainly possible, the circumstances were… too convenient for him. For Bern's interests. "I have heard that Zephiel is… a gifted student, a stunning fighter, excelling in almost everything he tries. I've also heard he's much beloved by the people."

"Yes!" Hellene declared. "It's true! Every word! He is a worthy son!"

"I excelled at neither books nor blades." Desmond countered.

"Wh-what do you…"

"I cannot say that I command the love of my subjects either. Zephiel and I are opposites in every way. It's hard to believe that he is my son."

Hellene's face paled. Whether because he had found her out for her lies, or from the mere accusation that her trueborn may be declared false, he couldn't say. "Zephiel is your majesty's child! Your Grace, you know this is truth!"

Desmond didn't know. Nor did he particularly care to find out. "Mine or not, without the ceremony… He will not be named heir. Mark these words and prepare yourself, woman."

Demsond turned and began walking away. For the first time, Hellene felt truly panicked. She grabbed the hem of his robe, her eyes upturned in the first pleaded look she had ever used. "Your Majesty! King Desmond! Please… please…" Desmond glared at her, before pulling his robe from her grasp and storming from the home. Hellene collapsed in the nearest chair, sobbing. "He is your heir… your son… what am I to do? Zephiel…"

A servant entered, but hesitated at the state of the Queen. "I… I beg your pardon, Your Highness, but you have a visitor."

"I will see no one." Hellene sighed. She had too much to deal with now. She would have to find the Fire Emblem herself. "Send him home."

"Your Highness, I…" the servant stuttered.

"It's alright." The kind voice cut the servant off, placing a hand on the servant's arm. "You may go. I will take care of this."

"…Yes, my lady." The servant said with a polite bow.

"Who?" Hellene demanded. It must've been someone important, to force her servant away.

"Lady Hellene." The soft voice said, sounding as if it was curtseying. "It has been far too long. It is I, Louise."

"Louise?" Hellene said in surprise. Looking up, she could indeed see the face of her old friend and somewhat relative. "Is it truly you?" She walked up, and brought the other woman into a hug. "Ah… Louise…"

"What's wrong?" Louise asked knowingly. "Your eyes are so red. It's a shame to see such beauty marred by tears."

"There is something…" Hellene hesitated to tell, even to her oldest of friends. Bern's secrets were not ones easily given. "I…"

"If it please you, I would hear of your troubles. My husband is here with me. Perhaps he will be able to lend you his aid." Louise said kindly as their hug ended.

"Lord Pent is here as well?" Hellene said, though not surprised. Ever since the two had been wed, they were all but inseparable. "I see… To be honest…"

"Lord Pent! Lady Louise!" Eliwood called, waving the two over. They were a little ways from the town where they had fought Linus, safely camped with patrols so nothing would surprise them.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting." Pent bowed politely.

"How did it go?" Will asked.

"I can't say it's a complete failure… yet." Pent said sheepishly.

"What does that mean?" Will asked apprehensively.

"We've a task to perform." Louise said softly. "Queen Hellene is looking for something. If we find it for her…"

"She'll listen to our request, is that it?" Eliwood sighed. "I suppose it's to be expected."

"What will you do? She's given us until the morning of the tenth day from today… the decision is yours."

"We'll do it." Eliwood said firmly. "It's a test we were meant to take."

"What are we looking for?" Will asked.

"We are to find and return one of Bern's greatest national treasures… the Fire Emblem." Pent said calmly.

"Well, that's bound to be easy." Hector growled. Without pause, he turned and began walking away.

"Where are you going?" Will asked.

Hector didn't respond. "Leave Lord Hector to me." Oswin said kindly, patting Will on the shoulder.

"Alright." Will said. He opened his notebook as Oswin followed Hector away, though he spotted Matthew and Leila tailing behind with Serra hesitantly following after. Something was eating at her, he just couldn't tell what.

The Bern royal family is a pageant of power, love, and hate. Eliwood finds himself embroiled in their troubles. He has been sent to recover the Bern family treasure: the Fire Emblem. It has been stolen from the palace vault, though heavens know how the thieves managed such a feat. Hector, however, continues to be distant and moody. I would ask what's wrong, but it's never been Hector who's needed our help. It's… difficult to approach him. I only hope Oswin and his retainers can get through to him.

Sonia strode confidently into the dungeons of the Fang. It was as much her home as any other area of this forsaken castle. The things she did for Lord Nergal were not trivial. She expected to be handsomely rewarded at the end of all this arduous work. Eternal youth was impossible, but a lot of land and money would do very nicely instead. "You there," she barked at the guard. "Open the cell."

The guard stuttered. "Lady Sonia? Bu-but the prisoner is… I have orders that none may see him."

Sonia leveled her gaze at the guard. A true fool, this one. "Open the cell. Or did you not hear me?"

The man bowed quickly, fumbling the keys in his hands. "Yes… Yes!"

He opened the cell, and Sonia entered. "Oho…" A snarky voice emerged as she did so. The man chained to the wall had a thin moustache and grizzled hair, an odd and repulsive combination. On top of that, his voice never seemed to take anything seriously, or it took everything far too seriously. "Aren't you a lovely one? Pray forgive my cramped quarters."

"Pascal Grentzer." Sonia sighed. This man was a waste of her precious words. "Once a great and powerful count of Bern's Landskron. A man whose battlefield prowess was feared far and wide… Until you invited your citizens to your castle and slaughtered them. Stripped of your title, you fled the king and joined the Black Fang. Is that an accurate summary?"

Pascal chuckled darkly. "You know me well, it would seem."

"You were even made one of the Four Fangs." Sonia continued dispassionately. "Spending the rest of your days in this place seems so wasteful. I've heard that Brendan calls you 'The Beast.' A monster who would massacre an entire village to kill one person."

Pascal scoffed. "He just doesn't know how to enjoy his work. 'Never harm any innocents.' BAH!" He spat on the ground next to himself. "'The Black Fang brings justice to those above the law'" he sung in a mocking tone. "Quite droll, don't you think?"

"I'm going to release you, Count." Sonia smiled softly. "I've got a job for you. Something you'll love. What do you say? Are you interested?"

Pascal licked his lips. "Well… why not? Can't be worse than rotting here. And I must say, I do love my work… Now, tell me. What's the name of my target?"

"This area's really remote, isn't it." Hector muttered to himself.

"Few people call this area home, milord." Matthew sighed. "Why are we away from the rest of the group?"

"I paid a small ransom for information on the Fire Emblem." Hector explained. "I heard from one of brother's spies it was lost long before Pent and Louise came back with that little mission. If it cuts out the search, I'll take the chance." Hector viewed the area. "I didn't think Will or the others would approve, especially of me spending my brother's money. I'm a little apprehensive about it myself, but… Ah! See those three run-down fortresses? I was told thieves who base themselves there stole the Emblem."

"Thieves?" Serra asked in concern. "That can't be true…"

"So close to Bern's capital?" Oswin muttered. "I find it difficult to believe myself."

"We simply have to confirm it for ourselves." Leila said softly.

"Milord, I don't think the Fire Emblem is there." Oswin suddenly stated, as a man clad in purple armor atop a black steed appeared suddenly in the evening air.

"Damn." Hector cursed.

"Come on then!" The purple rider shouted at Hector. "I don't want anyone coming and stealing my prey!"

"Prey?" Leila asked suspiciously.

"Stay back, Leila." Matthew grabbed his daggers. "Let Lord Hector handle this."

"Not alone." Oswin stated fiercely.

"No way." Serra agreed, gripping her lightning tome.

"Execution is fun and all, but a death where nobody can see you is fun in its own way!" the rider laughed madly. "Think of it! Out here, no one can hear you scream! If you were to bury the body, nobody would ever find it!"

"Shut your mouth and fight." Hector growled, grabbing Wolf Beil from his back.

"Have you seen a man who is a demon with the sword?" A woman, clad in a strange mixture of Sacaen, Etrurian and Bernese fashion stated, bowing low before Lyn.

"Eh?" Lyn asked in surprise.

"You are clearly the most talented swordmen in your group." The woman stated. "The others are decent, but none close enough to draw him for a challenge."

"I'm sorry, I have no idea who you're talking about." Lyn stated firmly.

"A shame." The woman sighed. "My brother's strokes are truly a sight to behold."

"Why are you looking for him?" Eliwood asked.

"There is something I must do." The woman said. "For that reason, I cannot offer you my blade. Forgive me."

"You're… forgiven?" Lyn said in confusion.

"Thank you." The woman smiled softly.

"Not so fast!" A roar from the group caught Lyn and the woman off guard.

"Who might this beastly man be?" The woman asked.

"I'm tired of being ignored! I haven't even had any good parts in any recent battles!" Bartre roared. Even Dorcas couldn't calm him when he got like this. "I will not like a challenge like her walk away without a fight!"

The woman smiled. "Fine then. Taste defeat at the end of my blade."

Hector, Oswin and Matthew were losing. Serra never thought that was possible. She had heard that Linus had been a fight unlike any they had faced before, but this insane horseman was handling her lord and his vassals without breaking so much as a sweat. Gritting her teeth, she fired a blast of lightning. The man used his lance to cut through the lightning. "That's not even how lances work!" Serra yelled in frustration.

"Milord, I can't believe you were planning to get the Fire Emblem to blackmail Bern! I'm so proud." Matthew pretended to dab tears from his eyes as he clamored to his feet.

"I wasn't doing that and you know it!" Hector barked back.

"Still, trying to get on Bern's good side… you've certainly grown, my lord." Oswin chuckled.

"Can we focus on the crazy guy trying to kill us?" Hector barked, his cheeks the slightest of reds.

Suddenly, a javelin thunked off the enemy's armor from an unknown location. Looking around, The Horseman was quickly attacked by Oswin, who finally managed to down the black horse. "Wow!" A girl's voice cried happily. "That got things started, didn't it? Hey! Grim-faced leader guy!" She waved frantically at Hector, who couldn't believe what he was seeing.

Without really understanding her call, Hector pointed to himself. "Me?"

"You're really pushing yourself, taking on the Insane Pascal with just five fighters." The girl hid her mouth behind her hand. Was she smiling?

"It's not as if we're fighting him this way for pleasure! Who the hell are you, anyway? You're not with him, are you?"

The girl sighed. "The javelin to his back didn't cue you which side I'm trying to be on? I heard there's gold to be made in Bern, but it sure as hell hasn't been worth it so far! Only fools work for this piddling amount! Skills like mine don't come this cheap."

"For someone who didn't even injure him, you sure seem full of yourself." Hector grumbled. Oswin was pushed away, Matthew leaping in and swiping at Pascal with his daggers. A hair's breath away from piercing both his shoulder blades, too.

"Excuse me?" the girl cried indignantly. Her Pegasus, which she was riding on, landed right next to the blue haired lord. "I'll have you know that I am the mighty Farina! Mercenary of the Strongwinds, Ilia's third division of Pegasus Knights! No doubt you've heard of me!"

"Nope." Hector admitted. Farina seemed about to speak, but Hector figured Matthew wouldn't be able to buy much more time. "But I have heard Ilian mercenaries never betray their employers. True?"

"True." Farina said with a nod. "Well, there was that one time… but I'll let that slide."

Hector sighed. "How much?"

"Ah, so you appreciate true warriors after all? I'm yours for twenty-thousand gold."

His? Serra's mind reeled. Wait a second, is she soliciting Lord Hector?

"No sellsword is worth that much!" Hector laughed.

"I beg to differ." Farina smiled slyly. "Your journey is a long one, is it not? More than one battle is ahead, surely. That requires a special contract. Special arrangements, you understand? Not to be morbid or anything, but there is the matter of sympathy payments to my family in the unlikely event of my death. Just an example. Not to mention bonuses, hazard pay, medical treatment, weapon maintenance…"

"Stop!" Hector commanded. "Your fee includes all of that, right?"

Wait he's buying her? Serra's mind squealed. She fired her second bolt of lightning, missing spectacularly.

"NOT HELPING SERRA!" Matthew yelled as he tumbled away, kicked by the spear wielding psychopath.

"I'm pleased you understand. Well, will you hire me?" Farina asked.

Hector glanced at Oswin and Matthew. Neither one would be able to keep fighting. In spite of his own skills, he was certain this Pascal was likely to land at least one blow if he fought alone. Admittedly, he should've ignored her and fought with Oswin and Matthew from the start… "Fine, help me kill him and the gold is yours."

Farina's eyes widened. "Wait, seriously? Who the heck are you to afford that at the tip of a hat?"

"Marquis Ostia's younger brother, Hector." He growled, gripping Wolf Beil.

"Ostia… the biggest territory in Lycia?" Farina squeaked in surprise. Hector recognized that squeak. That Lavender haired… Florina often sounded like that when she was surprised. "Pleasure doing business with you, noble young sir!"

He must be imagining it. "Don't forget: he kills me or you and you won't see an ounce of the gold."

"Sometimes one must prove their skill to earn an employer's trust." Farina stated confidently. "I assure you, despite the high tag, I'm worth every penny."

Okay I have no idea what's going on, but I'm really sure I don't like it! Serra's brain shouted at her, her teeth grinding angrily as she watched the two leap into battle side-by-side.

"That's it!" Hector declared, panting heavily after the battle was won. Oswin had managed to sneak up behind The Beast and stab him while Hector and farina had kept him occupied. Now, both he Oswin and Matthew were being treated by Serra while Leila, after doing a quick search of the forts, declared that the Fire emblem was nowhere to be found here. Just his luck. "You're not nearly good enough to trap us!"

"That guy took forever!" Farina smiled bitterly. "Geez, maybe twenty wasn't enough for whatever it is your involved in."

"Well then you can go!" Serra muttered darkly, her staff glowing with healing light and casting quite the shadow.

"Milord, you shouldn't have trusted this information, even with the amount of money you spent to obtain it." Leila said. "You should have had Matthew or I check out the perimeter first."

"I know!" Hector sighed. "I don't like sending other people out on uncertain information. I thought it best I… I don't know."

"No sense worrying about that now." Farina giggled. "Now then, isn't it time you introduced me to your friends here?"

"This isn't all of them." Hector said with a raised eyebrow.

"Wait, how many of you are there?" Farina asked in surprise.

"Twenty-ish." Hector said, unsure of the number himself.

"That's pretty big." Farina whistled. "What is it your merry band is trying to do all the way out here in Bern?"

"It's a long story." Hector admitted. "I'd rather get back to Eliwood first."

"Eliwood, as in the son of Marquis Pharae? Well, the surprises just keep rolling." Farina shrugged. "Fine then boss, lead the way!"

The trek back was remarkably short. After he had reached the hill overlooking where the battle had taken place, Hector found Will, Lyndis and several others awaiting him. Will looked rather like Lyndis at that moment, with a sharp piercing gaze that spoke his disapproval. "I thought you punched me for trying to act on my own and not trusting the people around me."

Hector looked away sheepishly. "I knew you and Eliwood wouldn't approve of me using my brother's money like this."

"So that makes it okay for you to risk getting killed?" Lyn demanded.

"I… no, you're right." Hector bowed his head. "I'm sorry for worrying you both."

"Good." Will said. "You're your own person, Hector, so whatever decisions you make are up to you. Just don't write us off before giving us the chance to support you like you do us. You may just be surprised."

"I'm more worried about why that Pascal character was there." Leila said.

"Why?" Will asked, confused.

"Pascal used to be a member of the Four Fangs, before he went on an insane killing rampage." Leila explained. "For him to be released… no, that's not right. He was sent there, specifically. If the information was sold to Lord Hector, I can only assume…"

"It was an assassination attempt." Will finished. "So Hector's a target for them now too, it seems."

"I should have expected as much after the Dragon's Gate." Hector mumbled.

"Not only that, but they may have been trying to weaken Ostia or send a message to your brother." Will said, crossing his arms thoughtfully. "We can't take this change in tactic lightly. They gave only you this information. Do they consider you a bigger threat than Eliwood?"

Hector shrugged. "Maybe they just figured I was the only one stupid enough to fall for it."

"Either way, no more expeditions like this, got it?" Will said. "I'd hate to lie to Eliwood a second time. I told him you came here to finish a letter to your brother. You've been acting weird the past day or two."

"I'll come clean." Hector said calmly. "It's the least I can do for him. Thanks, Will."

"Right, well… let's get back then. Everyone's waiting." Will chuckled.

"Thank St. Whoever for that! You all have food over there?" A short blue haired Pegasus knight asked.

"Who… are you?" Will asked, taken aback.

"Farina?!" Florina's surprised squeak came from just behind him.

"Well well, if it ain't the baby sis!" Farina laughed, running over before pulling her younger sister into a headlock. "Been what, over a year now? Look at you, all official and pretty and oh… That's the… oh… the Lyndis…" Farina looked at Will and Lyndis briefly before pulling her sister up into a hug.

"It's good to see you, sister." Florina said happily, a tear falling from her eye.

"That makes one of us." Fiora scoffed, before taking off.

"Wait, Fiora?" Florina cried in surprise.

Farina scratched her cheek in embarrassment. Ah, the family drama was strong in her future. She sure was wishing she hadn't accepted that gold deal now…