After leaving Adélaïse with their mother, Coran set off once more to leave Ferox. They were sick of the cold weather, and planned on leaving it behind until their mother's next birthday. Stopping to return the horse and cart to its owner in the town they met Adélaïse, they managed to earn a bit of coin by helping the townsfolk. They went on their way once more, helping people, earning money, and sleeping in the most affordably comfortable inn they could find.
It was in Ylisse, when they were eighteen, that they first encountered the Shepherds. They were a small group, consisting of the prince and princess of the realm, three horse-riders, an axe fighter, and a mage. And a knight who wore a surprising amount of armor, considering how often he was overlooked. By then, Coran liked to think they were quite skilled at casting Light spells, and semi-decent at healing. They assisted the group in fending off bandits, and joined them in their post-battle merriment.
The axe fighter, Vaike, seemed much too drunk to hold an intelligent conversation. Prince Chrom and his sister, Princess Lissa, were being closely guarded by Sir Frederick, their retainer. Coran decided to keep their distance of them as well. That left the two less-experienced horse-riders and the mage. They chose to approach the mage (Miriel, if they remembered correctly) and attempt to start a conversation, as they had a common knowledge in magic.
"Umm, e-excuse me..." They sat down by her, and she seemed to be engrossed in her reading. Coran tapped her shoulder.
"Hmm? Oh, hello. Did you need me to move?" She made to get up, and Coran shook their head quickly.
"N-no, I was just..." They frowned. "I w-wanted to m-meet you properly." She looked slightly bored, so Coran kept speaking. "I s-saw that you s-specialize in the F-Fire branch of Anima m-magic?" They stammered, feeling slightly uncomfortable under the woman's gaze. She smiled.
"And you with Light magic, though I doubt that you would be unable to utilize Anima tomes as well." Coran smiled back at her.
"L-Light magic is what I s-started with back in my homet-town, and what my..." They frowned, not sure what to call him. "... My g-grandfatherly figure? He t-taught me Light magic, and h-how to use a staff. I've been t-trying to learn Anima on m-my own, but it's been d-difficult." Miriel adjusted her glasses.
"Yes, I can imagine branching off into the other forms of magic could be quite difficult. I, myself, only have ken of Anima. I plan to master the art before adding more to my list of studies, though I'm not against a small amount of dabbling here and there." She recalled what Coran said earlier. "You mentioned a grandfatherly figure? Is he anyone well known?"
"H-he was a S-Sage named Julius." Coran smiled nostalgically. "He p-passed away two years ago."
"I believe I've heard of him. He used to travel the lands, giving lessons to those eager and helping people in need."
"Mmm, sounds l-like him."
"You say he was the one who taught you Light magic? I'd like to see your skills sometime."
The conversation returned to that of magic, and Coran found that they got along quite nicely with the older woman.
Word Count: 545
In which Coran meets the Shepherds, proving that this is indeed a Fire Emblem Awakening fanfic.
WOW I haven't been here in forever! I think my dad started reading my fanfic also? Hi dad
Next Time: Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It's Robin!