Ayeeeee, here's the first official chapter for you guys! Once again, I really hope you guys enjoy this. I'm pretty sure I'll be having a lot of fun adding my own twists here and there throughout the story to change things up a little bit and prevent things from getting a bit repetitive after seeing how everything goes down in the actual game. An example of the twists would be the dialogue in this very chapter (and will also be the dialogue in the coming chapters) that differ from the game's dialogue, though still hold the general and basic gist that was given to begin with. Keep in mind, though- the dialogue shifts are only gonna be one of the more minor changes to the story! Again, if this story catches your eye, please stay tuned for the incoming chapters.

Also, note that I'll be using my own (main) Avatar for this story. Of course, he'll be introduced in this chapter. If you need a visual reference of how he looks like, then just go to DeviantART and head to my account (that is still named WhisperTheChosen, by the way). Just cycle through my gallery and look for the Deviation that's titled, "Terric 'Tyrrence' Achard." Note that he's a Tactician (or Grandmaster)/Dread Fighter cross class.

Let's continue on, now, shall we?

The day was rather pleasant. Sunshine spanned across the well majority of the grasslands, with its temperatures evenly balanced by the forces of a gentle zephyr that blew across the terrain. Distant, horizon-bound creatures skittered along beneath the safety of the greens that were their home, with some of them making their way to the forest's edge some ways off. On minor occasion, those of matching species would find themselves crossing paths with one another, and would give one another a curious, quickened scan before swiftly bounding around and shuffling off as if nothing had occurred between them.

Alas, it was a finely-brewing afternoon in the kingdom of Ylisse.

….Save for one particular abnormality.

Further up on the prairie would be a particular figure- a male one at that. The man looked to be young; perhaps in his later teenage years. His hair was of a light and metallic silvery color, which shrouded over either eye of his with his sprawled-out position across the ground. He was clothed rather darkly against the lightened greens of the nature-filled grounds beneath him, with his coat remaining splayed beneath his figure as he lay on his side. Aside from seeming to catch a nap in a rather odd area of choice, he seemed to be perfectly fine, with his flanks gently rising and falling as he breathed softly.

These actions would soon turn a bit more rushed and broken after a few moments.

Within his dream, the silver-haired teen found himself standing inside a rather grand, yet dimly-lit area. With an axe in his left hand and a tome in the right, he glared at a rather thin, lanky, and darkly-skinned figure off in the distance. Under his breath, he muttered a sort of incantation; a vocalized projection of the text laid within the pages of his book, and one he knew well enough to have memorized by then. After a few seconds, the pages began to flip violently and the figure itself lifted from his hand, remaining opened and flipping as it rose to face its target. Speaking the final words of the chant, the book began to become enveloped within a ring of electricity, with a small circular beam forming at its core.

"…Hey! There's-…over there-…! …"

His focus broken by the sudden words ringing throughout his mind, the axe-wielder quickly clutched his hand into a tight fist, which caused the tome by his command to drop to the ground with a light thud. As soon as it made impact, he felt a sharp pain strike through his head; one large enough to send him onto one of his knees as he desperately grasped through his hair. The only thing that supported him from completely falling over was his axe, with its blade locked into the tiled floors beneath him.

"We have t-… something…!"

By that point, the words seemed to be searing through his mind, though he began attempting to lift himself back up regardless. Clutching the handle of his beloved axe, the boy drew a shaky breath while beginning to balance himself into a crouch at the least. Once this was achieved, he muttered something under his breath before tilting his head up the slightest bit, peering through the narrowed slits of the mask that he wore. Beneath the shade of his masking, his eyes widened as he watched a sudden, shadowy beam-like figure course directly at him.

If the image hadn't abruptly ended at that moment, he would have screamed in some degree of both fear and shock alike. However, instead of finding the pain of the magical collision coursing throughout his being, he was thrust back into the world of reality, rather than his own little dreamland. As a result of the sudden shift, he rolled over a little bit before suddenly jerking into an upright and angled sitting position. He hadn't quite noticed at first, though a couple of people were gazing down at him at either of his flanks, and actually had to spring back quickly to avoid being sharply headbutted.

Wearing a slight, kind smile, the man on the right gave a quiet laugh while eying the newly-awakened lad. "Seems like someone's awake, now," he chuckled.

At the voice, the dreamer briefly froze for a moment. Light, faded, baby blue voids of his stared blankly at the ground between his legs for a second as he registered the tone of the words. …I know that voice, but… From where-…? …

After contemplating various thoughts within his intellect for several seconds following, the blue-eyed teen slowly tilted his head up to meet gazes with the one who had just spoken. A sense of recognition immediately flooded his senses as he saw the face of the other man.

He's… It's that other guy…from my dream just now…

Yet again, the silver-headed fighter seemed to be casting a somewhat blank stare- though at the one before him, rather than the ground like he had done moments prior. In reaction to this, the newcomer tilted his head a little bit while lifting his hand and slowly waving it in front of his face. "Er…hello? Are you alright?"

Taking note of the hand constantly fracturing his line of sight, the sleeper nodded a bit awkwardly before smirking and waving a hand of his own in a dismissive way. "Aha…yeah. Yeah, I'm fine… There's no need to concern yourself over me, Chrom."

With the last statement spoken, it would then be the other two's turns to exchange slightly surprised and dumbfounded looks with one another. From the corner of his eye, the azure –haired man glanced back down at the boy as he sat down and continued giving them a calm, yet internally confused look. "…So you know my name, then?"

Blinking quietly, the coat-clad man took a moment to fully let the reply that he was given sink in. …How would I know his-… …Wait a minute… he thought while finding a sudden interest in the ground once more as his vision met the grasses around him. Laughing awkwardly, he gave a light grin while slowly hooking the eastern extremity behind his neck and scratching it gently. "Ahaha… To be honest, no, actually…" he started off. Despite noticing how this remark seemed to trigger a minor display of odd expressions from both the man and the young woman casting their attentions upon him, he continued on, saying, "As… Well, as hard as it is to believe, it just sort of…came to me. Y'know…the moment I saw your face, at least."

Thoughtful silence would fill the air for the few, following moments after the last remark. Soon enough, it would be ended as Chrom shook his head quietly as if temporarily dismissing the issue. "…I see. Well…that aside for now, we should get you up, friend. …There's better places to catch a nap than the ground, you know." Smirking lightly, he extended a hand of his out for the boy to grab onto for support if he wished to. "What's your name?"

For a moment or so, the other simply stared at the hand offered to him as if contemplating over whether the gesture was some sort of illusion. However, he sighed quietly before allowing his grin to grow a little bit as he slipped his own hand into Chrom's with a newfound sense of strength and amusement. "So long as I actually manage to catch a wink or two regardless, I could really care less where I sleep, honestly… Heh, thanks for the concern, though," the boy replied, giving his helper a quick, amused wink. Within seconds of securing his grasp within the other's he quickly hauled himself onto his feet and brushed his clothing down a little bit before breathing a somewhat relieved sigh and shifting his gaze between the duo with him. "…And to answer your question, my name is-… …Huh…"

"…Your name is…?"

"…Give me a moment." A low mutter escaped into the air as he resumed smoothing his clothing down. …My name… Come on, I can remember the name of some guy I haven't even met, but I can't even remember my name…? he thought to himself. Raising his hands to his chest a bit, he breathed quietly while fiddling around with the armored plating that guarded both of his forearms a bit.

Tilting her head a little bit, the girl nearby quietly looked at the other as he fought to remember. "…Should it really take this long to remember your-"

Before she was able to speak the final word to conclude her inquiry, the blue-eyed teen gave a sharp, victorious laugh while loudly snapping his fingers.

"Terric!" he exclaimed with victorious pride, nodding and grinning widely while shifting his gaze between the pair. "That's my name. My name's Terric."

Though still a bit skeptical with how the reply was given, Chrom gave an understanding nod before crossing his arms over his chest. "Nice to meet you, Terric. …But…er…"

Terric looked at Chrom with a smidge of curiosity. "But…?"

"…But…did it truly take that long for you to state your name…? If I didn't know any better, I'd honestly think that you were trying to fix a cover up identity…"

"Aaaaaah, that… Well, honestly-"

"Honestly, I believe that this is simply a load of Pegasus dung."

Upon hearing yet another new voice, Terric froze for a moment while listening to his surroundings. Alongside the third tone aside from his own, he couldn't help but notice the rapid beating of what seemed to be a horse draw closer and closer to his location. He looked over his shoulder and barely caught sight of a knight, who was secured upon his own, majestic, and noble steed, before he swept around to join the people who were on foot in frontal view. Falling into another thoughtful yet slightly strained trance, he darkly-clothed boy allowed his gaze to shift between the trio before him. They all seem familiar… Even the guy on the horse. But…how-…?

"-expect us to believe you?"

…Eh?

Snapping away from his minor daze, Terric shook his head violently for a quick second before brushing his hand through his hair and aiming another glance toward the knight. Truth be told, he felt a slight tinge of discomfort, as well as a slight chill that trickled down his spine, as he noticed the stern and serious glare-like stare that the rider was giving him. Oooooh… Looks like I somehow made a bad first impression already… That was fast… the young teen thought to himself while slowly slipping his hands into the pockets of his pants. Opening his mouth a little bit, he made it appear as if he were about to say something. No words seemed to come out, however, as he refrained from speaking his thoughts the moment the knight continued his own.

"Truly…! I admit that I did overhear a little bit on your conversation with Milord and Milady, but do you genuinely take us for fools…?" Huffing a little bit, the armored knight shook his head as if in a heavy sense of disapproval, averting his gaze down to his horse's eastern flank for a moment to ensure that his primary weaponry – a sturdy, polished lance of silver – was secured finely within its encasement below. "To think that we would immediately believe that you would firmly remember and know Milord's name, but would have to think a little bit to recall your own…"

"Peace, Frederick- peace!" called Chrom as he looked over at the horseman. Hearing the call and noting the eye contact he was given, the armored, auburn-haired man eventually gave a slow nod, though seemed to mutter something under his breath as he gazed over at Terric once more. Breathing a quiet sigh, the lord brushed a hand through his hair lightly. "I hope that you find it in your heart to be able to excuse Frederick. As you can see, his sternness towards new acquaintances shows no bounds…"

"I am simply showing necessary skepticism to decide whether or not a man is safe to be around, Milord. 'Tis a must when given the task of protecting both Lady Lissa and yourself."

"Yeah, but maybe a task you take a liiiiiiiiittle bit too seriously, Frederick…!" the girl spoke up almost at once, catching the attention of all three males within the area. "I know you're supposed to be our sort of bodyguard and all, but I really don't think it's necessary to follow us around everywhere we go!"

"But what if one from other lands were to recognize who you two were- to recognize that you hail from the Ylissean kingdom?" Frederick shot back in a calm, yet questioning tone.

Lissa pouted while crossing her arms at the horseman in a disapproving manner. "Do you think that we can't defend ourselves?"

"With all due respect, Milady, but I think that you can't defend yourself… Your brother would more than likely be fine in a fight, but I truly do have my doubts when the situation concerns you…"

"Well, Chrom could just defend me if I get attacked or something, can't he?"

"And if it appears that he is away at the moment?"

Lissa fell silent for a couple of moments while just staring at her interrogator. Her grasp around the healer's staff that she held grew a bit tighter as her other hand scratched the back of her head uneasily. "…I…could try to hit them with this?" she suggested while waving her staff a little bit. "Or…maybe throw a rock or two at them?"

"Neither your tone nor your methods inspire a solid sense of confidence within me, and that is the reason why I insist on following your around so closely," Frederick replied coolly. The slightest smile of victory was etched upon his lips as he spoke this.

That statement seemed to be the last straw for the blonde for the moment, as she began dismissing the knight's case in a rather rushed and agitated manner. Meanwhile, both her brother and the awakened boy watched them from afar. Slowly, Terric took a couple of steps over towards Chrom, leaning over a little bit and hushing himself a little bit to prevent himself from being heard by Frederick's ears. "…Are they, like… Are they always like this?" he asked while smirking in a faint sense of amusement at the scene before him.

Shrugging, Chrom teetered a bit from side to side as if quietly debating over the question. "Eh… More or less, I guess," he would eventually reply with a smirk of his own. He watched his sister point her staff at the mounted knight while attempting to engage herself within another debate yet again, chuckling quietly all the while. "I guess it does happen a lot."

"All too much?"

"Yeaaaaah…all too much."

The two would share a quiet laugh for a moment as if they were long-time companions before falling suddenly silent. Aside from the arguments brewing afar, the air grew awkwardly still and silent. In attempt to lift the feeling, Terric began making a few, low-toned clicking noises with his tongue against the roof of his mouth, casting several thoughtful glances around at his surroundings as he quietly surveyed the area. Eventually, he resorted to making popping noises with his lips, though soon gave up on his feeble attempts to effectively break the silence.

…Gods, this isn't gonna work at all…

Sighing quietly, Terric glanced over at Chrom for a moment while beginning to fix a question to continue their conversation. A little bit desperate for a topic, he decided to speak the first thing that came to mind and said:

"…Soooo… He said that we were in Ylisse, right?"

Chrom met Terric's gaze, looking him over for a moment. "…Yes, that's…right…" he spoke in reply while nodding. "…You didn't even know where you were?"

The dark-clothed boy shook his head.

"…Strange," the lord muttered softly while continuing to gaze at the apparently forgetful one by his flank. He took a moment to fully scan him over, noting the type of clothing he was wearing, alongside the weaponry he had on him. Secured upon his back was a rather large axe, with a dual pair of swords kept in sheathes on his back as well, though both were beneath the axe itself. His legs seemed to bear a couple of band-like accessories with rectangular pouches large enough to fit a decently-sized book in. …He doesn't quite look like any of the soldiers that we'd have here… Chrom thought before lifting own gaze to meet Terric's lighter one again. "…You don't look like you're from here. That's for sure…" Tilting his head a bit, the azure swordsman gently crossed his arms over his chest again. "…You truly don't remember anything worth mentioning?"

Terric shrugged casually while nodding in response to the question that he was asked. "Yep. I can assure you that I've been telling you the truth ever since the moment I opened my mouth to talk to you guys."

Silence fell upon Chrom's being once more as he, too, nodded as if confirming the remark himself. Looking down at the ground, he placed a hand over his over the bottom half of his face in thought. His head tilted up after a moment or so, and he lowered his hand as if he were about to suggest something, though found himself cut off before he began as Lissa entered the scene again, with Frederick following close after.

"Well, if what you're saying is true, then I actually think I know what's happening!" the blonde shot out while taking her place within closer proximities of both Chrom and Terric. "I read about something like this in a book one time. I think it was something called…amnesia? …Yeah, it was called amnesia!"

Frederick gave a low, exasperated sigh. "Differing titles will not change the fact that this is all a load of dung, Milady…"

In contrast to the horseman, Chrom actually seemed a little bit drawn by the suggestion that his sister laid out. "Actually, I think I remember seeing something about it in a book or two, myself…" he pondered aloud while gazing over at Lissa. Turning over to Terric, he remained silent for a couple of moments before speaking again. "…What do you think?"

Smiling a bit, the apparent amnesiac simply shrugged while laughing a little bit. "I dunno, man. Honestly, I don't really know what I think anymore, considering how I couldn't even remember my own name…" Lifting both of his hands up, the man gave his shoulders a couple of quick, refreshing rolls before intertwining either extremity of his behind his hand and huffing a little bit. "Buuuut…I guess that it could be a possibility."

"Right… In that case, we'll be bringing you to Ylisstol to discuss matters, then," Chrom spoke with another nod. "We can settle matters there."

The silver-haired amnesiac simply stared at Chrom for a moment.

"…...I assume that I have no say in his whatsoever?"

In response, the lord shook his head. "It'll only take a little while, so you'll be fine. Ylisstol isn't too far from here, anyways, so-"

At that moment, all undivided attention was brought across the grasslands as a rather large explosion went off in the distance. All four members of the group swiftly shifted their gazes over to a town that was some ways away. Despite the distance spanning between them and the horizon-bound location, however, it was clearly apparent that smoke and flames seemed to be furiously veiling over the proximities and perimeters of the town.

His expression growing rather serious upon the realization of what had happened, Chrom turned himself around to fully scan the clearing afar. "…On second thought, Ylisstol can wait." Taking a deep breath, the navy-haired lord drew his sword before looking over his shoulder and at his companions. "The town needs our help! Come! Hurry!"

It didn't take too long for Chrom to depart, with both Lissa and Frederick following after him as quickly as they could. Having fully realized what the situation entailed a little bit later than the others, Terric found himself stepping after the trio a little bit and just staring after them before standing as he was to process the situation. As he watched the others dash off, he scratched his head while scanning the scenery around him.

…If I wanted to, I could make a break for it right now.

He brought his attention back to the burning town afar, alongside the figures resembling the ones who had rushed off. Well enough, with each second that he remained as he was, all three of them grew smaller and smaller to the point where they appeared to be mere dots to the naked eye.

Bowing his head a little bit, Terric allowed a low gross between a sigh, growl, and a groan to escape his lips as he aggressively scratched his head for a moment in thought. Breathing deeply, he gave one last, shifting glance between the town and his freedom before lifting the remaining hand and hooking it behind him. He grasped hold of his axe's handle before leaning forward and breaking out into a strong sprint after the group in the distance.

Screw it… It wouldn't hurt to help the people out, after all…