Posted: May 2nd, 2016
Last Updated: February 13th, 2019
Views as of Posting: 164
Chapters before AU begins: 5
^Note the number of chapters in this story before the AU begins.
Thanks for the feedback/suggestions from the five reviewers! Author's notes will be condensed for the remaining chapters.
We begin at Chapter 3 in the actual game of Fire Emblem: Fates.
Now, onto the story…
"Timidity after all is not caution, but the invention of wickedness."
- Flavius Mauricus Tiberius, Strategikon
Chapter 1: Maiden Voyage (Corrin, Leo)
Thunder cracked above in the murky, cloudy skies. A powerful gust blew, shaking the branches of dead trees along the road. A thick grey mist emanated from the canyon and seeped onto the cold ground ahead where only grass and small mushrooms spread. Corrin surveyed ahead, witnessing the large expanse known only to humanity as the Bottomless Canyon.
King Garon ordered his regiment to an abandoned fortress in the north. Behind the Prince light cavalry trotted forward, followed by a legion of lancers guarding a convoy at the back. Being close to the outskirts of Nohr was a frightening new experience, but Corrin's fears subsided with the people at his side. He was among great veterans of the Nohrian army.
One was Gunter, Great Knight of Nohr and the Prince's first friend. The aged veteran rode his stallion in silence. Despite wearing a newly polished suit of armor, his face was plastered with several thin scars - a testament of his past battles for the kingdom. The man served as Corrin's tutor in the art of war. At this moment, they would serve as equals for the king. It was the first time the Prince embarked on a mission with Gunter. The man has been like a second father to him since he was young.
(I hope I make him proud.)
Then there was Hans - a toned berserker who allegedly won his father's favor after rehabilitating in prison. Corrin's older brother, Xander, warned him about Hans's criminal pasts and advised him to keep a distance. However, he barely spoke a single word while they were travelling. Some of the younger lancers kept their distance away from the former inmate.
It was not long before they finally reached the ledge of the huge void. A grandiose sight laid before Corrin. The chasm stretched across by many yards. Fog made it difficult to see the opposite grounds, where Hoshido stood. Beyond the canyon was a completely different atmosphere. The skies beyond were mostly clear, and the sun shined brightly - different from the oft stormy days near Castle Krakenburg.
Corrin breathed. "The Bottomless Canyon. What a breathtaking view…"
"Breathtaking." Gunter repeated. "Guess that's one way of saying it."
"Is it really bottomless as they say?" Corrin peered over the edge.
(What a strange feeling. It feels like there is something beyond…)
A light fog floated at the top of the canyon near the bridges, but under that the blackness seemed to stretch down forever. A light gust blew dust and loose weeds into the canyon. Corrin felt a desire of leaning forward to observe a bit closer. Before he had the chance to do so, a hand firmly pulled him backwards.
"Ah, let's not find out!" A trembling voice complained from behind.
Standing there was Felicia, a Nohrian maid who had an unusual knack for both healing and fighting. While she was occasionally spilled the tea and her maid outfit made her look timid, Felicia's ability with the throwing dagger made Corrin confident in including her on the patrol. He guessed it was her own clumsiness that made her nervous whenever someone was next to a ledge
"I would be more careful around the ledges. The foundation gives away at the damper portions, there." Gunter mused, "This place was desecrated by powers greater than we can imagine."
The young Prince gulped. Though he rarely spent time outside of the castle, none of the tales the royal guard have told him matched what was in front of them. Nohr was frequently stormy, and nights were long, but the canyon was something else. The surroundings had a strange aura that even Gunter was uncomfortable around; it was something he longed to see but never had the chance to.
"It's a shame we couldn't fly across. Iago didn't give us many supplies to work with." The knight continued to explain. "Regardless, the fort that King Garon wants surveyed is across a few bridges."
"I'm just glad we finally arrived!" Corrin said, trying to lighten the mood. "Coming here by wagon might be tiring but it's worth it. After staying in the Northern Fortress for so long, I almost forgot the outside world existed."
"This side of the cliff does have a good view." Gunter gave a heavy sigh.
(Crap. He isn't too happy. Did he lose one of his friends around this canyon?)
"Nothing to wait for. Advance."
Corrin nodded. Still, it was unusual seeing Gunter so uneased. The Prince stepped onto one of the wide wooden bridges held up by rope that spanned towards a huge, flat stone pillar in the middle of the canyon. After determining it was safe to cross, he signaled the rest of the patrol to advance with him. Gunter and the cavalry was behind him, followed by Felicia and the remainder of the supply convoy.
"Right. First mission. Just remember the basic formations and commands." The Prince whispered to himself. "No one else is here, so we can probably return soon…"
As they crossed the wooden bridge the fog began to clear, revealing the fortress. In front of Corrin were other many other pillars, forming islands in the air leading to the grand fortifications below. Foreign soldiers patrolled the grounds, holding odd swords and bows. Beside them flew the infamous white and red Hoshidan battle flag. Gunter walked up beside the Prince and halted once he caught sight of the enemy troops in front of them.
"Dastards. Looks like a hundred of them – mixed regiment of samurai and… archers?" Gunter frowned. "Looks like Iago's reports were off."
Between the many stone pillars laid a few bridges laid between the Nohrians and the fort. They were long wide enough for large columns of soldiers to pass through. Suddenly a loud horn blared, echoing around the canyon. The men next to the fort stopped in their tracks and scrambled off in different directions. Loud thunder cracked again into the sky, lighting up the flags below.
Felicia squirmed, pointing at the other side of the bridge. "We've been spotted!"
Two men ran towards the Nohrian column. One was a low-ranking samurai. He pointed a sharpened katana towards the young Prince. The other guard fashioned a black headband and dark red cloth, concealing most of his face.
They stopped within a few feet of the Nohrian patrol in a prepared stance. Corrin examined the two soldiers in front of him. He unsheathed Ganglari - the sword gifted to him by King Garon - and braced for the worst.
(A Hoshidan ninja? His attire looks different from the rest of the defense…)
"Halt Nohrians. My name is Omozu, commander of this fort's garrison." The ninja spat. "Crossing that bridge is a violation of border treaty, Section Four. I highly suggest you retreat before something we do something we both regret." He pulled out an iron shuriken from underneath his clothes and held it between two fingers. Never in his life had Corrin seen such an odd weapon before.
"Err, Lord Corrin?" Felicia whispered.
The Prince gazed at the Hoshidan army. About fifty foot soldiers with katanas and the same amount of archers. The Nohrian patrol numbered only forty swordsmen and twenty light cavalry. Even though they had heavier armor, a fight would still put them at a disadvantage. He refused to start a fight and have his friends hurt, not to mention disappoint Father a second time.
Corrin shrugged. "We're not here to scuffle. We'll leave, but I suggest you treat other guests with more courtesy."
(Our objectives were met. No need for any pointless bloodshed.)
"Wise decision, sir." Gunter nodded.
Corrin withdrew Ganglari and took a step back. The Hoshidan swordsman nodded and sheathed his blade as well. Behind them the Nohrian soldiers began a commotion – they were unhappy they were forced to return home. Before he turned the other way, one of the Nohrian soldiers shoved his way towards the front of the column.
Hans was firmly gripping an iron axe.
"Hey, who asked you old man?" Hans spat at the Great Knight.
"Old man?!" Gunter turned to face his steed around to face him.
Before Corrin could react, the berserker charged towards the two Hoshidans. Omozu hopped backwards, as if he expected the attack.
"Gyaaah!" Hans hollered out a battle cry.
He charged towards the lone Hoshidan swordsman, who reached for his sword. He was too late to parry the attack. With a powerful stroke, Han's axe cleaved the soldier's arm, making him drop his katana.
"What th-augh!"
The soldier groaned, stumbling backwards. Still paralyzed with fear, Corrin tried to lunge forward and stop Hans. But the berserker gave another swipe with his axe and brought it down upon the Hoshidan's torso.
He struck a direct hit in the middle of the soldier's stomach and a large crack resonated. The swordsman fell over and rolled to his side in sharp pain. His blood coated from the berserker's axe.
"Take that vagrants!" Hans laughed, stabbing the weapon into the ground and crossing his arms mockingly. "Border treaty my ass. Hoshido doesn't own this sorry fortress, and every Nohrian knows it!"
The soldier's body gave out strong convulsions and he fell into a violent coughing fit, before lying still forever. A thick puddle of dark red seeped out of his wound and stained the dirt around him. Felicia put her hands over her eyes in horror and hid behind Gunter who stared at the body. Corrin gasped, unable to comprehend what happened in front of him.
(Did he just kill...)
"You'll... pay for this!" Omozu yelled.
Corrin snapped out his shock and crouched. Instinctually, the Nohrians lined up in two ordered columns behind the Prince. The ninja sprinted across the bridge to the other side towards his own forces.
The cavalry mounts neighed as their riders swung their lances in the air. Horns continued to blare in the enemy territory in front of them. The situation was escalating out of his control.
"Hans, what in the Dusk Dragon's name were you doing?" Corrin burst with rage. "Only the highest ranking commander deals with diplomacy around here. We aren't here to fight!"
"Pfft." Hans scoffed haughtily, "Don't be a coward. You know that Hoshido should not have occupied this territory."
The young Prince retorted. "This is not how you deal with that situation!"
The enemy soldiers began organizing themselves into tight formations next to the fortress. A few samurai ran onto the bridge in front of the Nohrian patrol, forming a small blockade. Several archers lined up on an opposite platform, where the once-abandoned fortress laid.
"Soldiers of Hoshido, hear me!" The Hoshidan commander yelled at his garrison. "Do not leave a single Nohrian alive!"
"They're looking to prosecute this until the end." Gunter grunted. "It's unexpected, but we have our honor to protect. Get ready to fight, milord."
Corrin whipped out Ganglari. The blade shone a faint purple glow on its edge, giving off an unusual power. His years of training was finally going to be tested. Troop formations and battle commands flooded his head. Gunter, Felicia, and the rest of the patrol were ready to forfeit their lives for him. He doubted himself - a new Prince without combat experience - was really prepared for the royal army of Hoshido.
(Not like I have much of a choice. There's no turning back now!)
"Soldiers! For the glory of Nohr, prepare to attack!"
"Ehh, are we there yet?" The young troubadour puffed her cheeks, "I don't remember the canyon being this far!"
The steed she rode whinnied in agreement. Not far from the Bottomless Canyon, the Nohrian royal family had travelled half a day on the desolate hills. Leo, the Dark Knight of Nohr, rolled his eyes at his sister's complaints. He stroked his pale blonde hair, rustled by the strong wind. His black and purple scale armor clanged lightly as his thoroughbred navigated the bumpy terrain.
"Don't worry too much about it, Elise," Leo reassured, "We'll be there soon enough. After all, we're just checking up on how Corrin is doing. We'll return to the castle with his patrol in no time."
"Boo. I hope Corrin's happy to see us!" The Princess laughed.
Elise's profile seemed miniscule next to her two large yellow pigtails. Her hair extended long past her shoulders and appeared to defy gravity. It was a wonder the wind did not drag her off her horse. Her black and pink skirt fluttered in the wind and her black heeled boots squeaked as she twitched her toes inside them. The girl held a trident-shaped staff with a blue jewel at its end.
Ahead of the two young royals was Xander, crown Prince of Nohr, and Princess Camilla, their two older siblings. A light mist accumulated ahead, making them slowly fall out of sight. If they did not pick up their speed, they would end up being separated in the haze.
"Leoooooo!" Elise continued to whine, "It's getting cold!"
"What do you want me to do, blow away the clouds?" Leo replied, "I told you to dress accordingly."
"Meanie…" Elise huffed, "I didn't know it was that cold here. If Corrin was here, he would pity me, not say 'I told you so'!"
"You're right." Leo sighed, not wanting to get into a fruitless argument, "I'm sorry. Let's forget about it, shall we?"
"Oh, look! Pine trees! I never knew they grew in this hilly area!" Elise piped again.
(She forgot about that quickly.)
"Come on. Let's pick up the pace." Leo ordered, tired of listening to her sister's complaints and descriptions of the local ecosystem.
The Dark Knight pulled on the reins of her horse. His thoroughbred picked up speed and charged forward towards Xander and Camilla, only silhouettes in the thickening fog.
"Ah, coming, coming!" Elise exclaimed from behind.
Ahead, Xander and Camilla kept their pace. The crown Prince of Nohr wore a laurel crown and fastened his trusty Siegfried blade on his back. Beside him, Camilla rode a large wyvern with her purple hair elegantly flowing in the wind, flying with her steed just above the ground. She carried a sharp steel axe and several fell tomes at her side, along with her favorite bonbons.
"I wonder how our little Corrin is doing," Camilla mused, "Isn't it a bit early to send him on his first mission to the border?"
"I have my absolute faith in him." Xander replied, keeping his eye locked ahead, "His sword techniques are developed enough to defend himself. Plus, he's with veteran knight Gunter."
"Oh, I hope so. I'm just so worried…" Camilla said.
A fork laid in the path ahead. A single broken signpost laid ahead with the contents written on it faded long ago. The two riders veered right onto the old muddy road.
"You shouldn't." Xander reassured his sister, "He's a grown Prince now. He can take care of his army."
"He's older now, but in my eyes, he's always my little brother!" Camilla sniffed, wiping away a tear from her eye. "What am I if I'm not his loving, older sister?"
"A perfectly normal person who doesn't over-obsess over her brother." Leo coughed from behind his older siblings.
He and Elise had caught up to the crown Prince and caught the last few words of their conversation. Camilla turned her head to the side in grudging silence. Xander stifled a small chuckle and made space for his siblings to ride beside them. The road ahead became laden with more ditches, indicating the start of the outer borderlands ahead. Despite his harsh words, Leo pondered about his brother's well-being.
(Well, we're almost there Corrin. It's just a simple border patrol. You better not screw anything up.)
"Hyaa!" Corrin shouted, slashing forward.
The enemy swordsman met his attack with a parry from his katana. Corrin withdrew slightly and the Hoshidan prepared for another attack. Breaking a sweat, the young Prince charged in with Ganglari again.
However, just before he reached attacking range, Corrin shuffled quickly to the right. His opponent watched in confusion before seeing what was charging at him.
"A grave mistake!"
Gunter moved in from behind Corrin with his lance up. He landed a precise stab onto the Hoshidan's shoulder blade. The Great Knight then proceeded to crash into him with his horse, knocking the foe off his feet. Cursing indignantly, the samurai slowly picked himself up and limped away in resignation.
"Good move, Gunter!" Corrin called, returning to his side.
The rest of his allies have begun mopping up the blockade of soldiers on the bridge. The remaining Hoshidans broke off from the engagement and ran back towards the fortress. A second line of defense formed.
With the first bridge cleared, only one more separated Corrin from Omozu and his forces. Gunter ordered the cavalry to advance to the next pillar. This time, it was Corrin lagging behind as he, Felicia, and the remaining lancers quickly followed. Someone was missing from their attack.
(Hans. Where did he go? Did he get wounded and fall back?)
Before another thought captivated his mind, Corrin heard more shouts from the Hoshidan army. Archers lined up and primed their bows, aiming at the patrol on the pillar in front.
"Commander, they're firing a barrage!" A Nohrian shouted.
"Box formation, now!" Corrin ordered.
The Nohrians got into a tight rectangular form. Gunter stationed the cavalry at the very front facing the archers, shielding his face. Corrin and the rest of the foot soldiers huddled in the middle and raised their shields to the sky while Felicia hid at the very back, grumbling.
The archers released their barrage at a high angle, raining dozens of arrows upon Corrin's forces. A few bounced off the cavalry's armor while a couple more landed harmlessly on the soldier's shields. Unfortunately, not all were stopped. Some scattered moans of pain emanated from the center of the formation and the Hoshidans were preparing another volley.
"Report!" Corrin yelled, trying to assess the situation.
"Nine hit, three seriously," Gunter shouted from the front.
(Almost a quarter of the patrol is injured already. We'll be slaughtered if we charge across the bridge. What do we-)
CRACK!
Another bolt of lightning flashed, landing on an adjacent pillar. In an instant, the ground burst into flames and burnt out just as quickly. Steam rose from the ground, mixing in with the fog. Through the calamity, the young Prince saw bright light on an adjacent pillar, casting a familiar glow.
(Dragon vein!)
"Maintain formation!" Corrin commanded, "Felicia, tend to the wounded. I'll be right back!"
"Yes. Milord! Err, where are you doing?" Felicia shouted.
Corrin head towards the bridge leading to the adjacent pillar without replying. Heat leftover from the lightning made him perspire as he sprinted across. He had no idea what the dragon vein would do, but it was their only chance in routing the enemies on the other side. The leader of the Hoshidan archers noticed the Prince isolating himself from the patrol.
"Aim at their commander!" The lead archer shouted.
The foes fired another group of arrows at Corrin. The bridge was a lot narrower than the others, leaving him almost no room to dodge. He sprinting forwards madly, hoping for the best. A pang struck his nerves as a quick, sharp pain seized his left thigh. He had been struck.
Wincing, Corrin limped forward on his good leg. Once he reached the other side, the Prince fell forward, placing his hand on the warm dragon vein. The bright light from the ground intensified, blinding the Nohrian Prince. He felt all of his energy drain from his body into the earth below.
"Ah… this power!" He grunted.
(If this doesn't stop, I'll faint…)
The light turned into a ball of energy and burst out from the pillar and flew in the air. It crashed into the side of the pillar, causing it rumble and shake the wooden bridges. Corrin's patrol and the Omozu's garrison watched in awe as the rumbling expanded to an earthquake along the entire Bottomless Canyon.
A large wart-shaped protrusion appeared on the side of the stone pillar. The bulge grew until it pierced the large pillar holding the abandoned fortress. It solidified, forming an improvised stone bridge to the other side.
"What just happened? Pull back!" The lead archer exclaimed. "Let's get the hell away from these freaks!"
"Guys, over here!" Corrin hollered, "Cross while they are out of position!"
The Nohrians broke their formation and charged across the stone bridge. Pebbles fell off into the abyss below, but the structure was stable. Felicia separated herself from the attack, ran to Corrin's side, and raised her staff. The stick glowed, but the Prince's wound did not heal.
"Ah, what?" the maid panicked, "This shouldn't be happening!" She continued to wave around her staff next to his leg.
"Um, let's try this." Corrin grimaced as he gripped the arrow impaled in his leg. With a pained shriek, he pulled the arrowhead and all out of his thigh. Only then did the staff react, quickly sealing the opening. A slit in the armor where the arrow pierced remained but otherwise the wound felt perfectly healed.
"Oh, oops!" Felicia bowed in shame and pulled him up by his hand.
The rest of the patrol have fully made it across the stone bridge and swarmed the archers. Hoshidan reinforcements tried to intervene, but Gunter and the cavalry cut them off from the bowmen. The garrison has been breached and the archers have been pacified. Corrin nodded at his maid and returned to the battle, adrenaline coursing through his blood. It looked like there was indeed hope after all.
"Wait."
Xander halted his horse and looked around. His siblings followed, gazing at the crown Prince intently. Leo and the Nohrian royals have reached the final woodlands before the Bottomless Canyon. The land used to be filled with wildflower and conifers, but a great fire that burned most of it to the ground after the thunderstorm. All that remained was the graveyard of trees, only a reminder to merchants and mercenaries to stay away from the Hoshidan border.
"What's going on?" Elise muffled her voice as she whispered to Leo. His brother shrugged, easily confused. Camilla let out a yawn and jumped off of her wyvern.
After about a minute, Xander finally broke the silence.
"We know you're there. Identify yourself!"
(Someone is spying on us on Nohrian soil?)
Almost immediately afterwards, blades flew from their left flank. Leo yanked on the reins. His horse sidestepped to avoid the sharp metal. Elise shrieked and flailed her staff in the air while Camila hopped back on her Wyvern. In the direction of the ambush appeared a single female ninja with a light orange scarf.
"Intruder!" Xander shouted, pointing Siegfried at the mysterious woman who came out of nowhere, "Why are you here?"
"That was sloppy, Kagero."
The voice came from behind one of the other dead trees. From behind it walked out another ninja, this time a male with all black clothing and red furled hair. Somehow, the two foreigners managed to conceal themselves behind the narrow trees. The male ninja folded his arms as he approached his female accomplice.
"This must be their real commander…" He scoffed. Kagero stood at attention, but did not pull out any other weapons.
"What's going on here?" Leo questioned.
His Brynhildr was ready to summon an attack. The Dark Knight thought it was odd the two attackers would reveal themselves so easily.
"My name is Saizo." The ninja said, "Nohr has launched an unexpected attack on one of our fortresses. They're being led by someone, nothing more than a boy. You know anything about that?"
(Nothing more than a boy? He's definitely talking about Corrin.)
"Maybe." Xander replied, "Now tell us, why are you here instead of defending your own country? Assuming you're from Hoshido…"
"Listen here you half-baked potato." Saizo retorted, "I don't want a full-fledged conflict between our nations. I'm just checking on the scale of the attack. Given that you four are the only reinforcements your baby Prince are getting, I'm thinking we're dealing with more of a misunderstanding that an invasion. Am I right?"
"Yeah, we only sent three patrols there." Xander confirmed, "You say they're fighting?"
"Yes." Kagero said, "Lord Ryoma is right on his way, with more troops."
Leo blinked. Lord Ryoma was one of Hoshido's top commanders, leader of thousands of devoted fighters and samurai. If he was going to be involved in the battle, Corrin would be screwed. Xander's breathing became a lot heavier, knowing that all of his training might not be enough to defeat the Hoshidan swordmaster.
"Ah…" Saizo stroked his chin, "Then I think this battle is as good as won."
"Your forces are fighting Corrin?" Camilla asked, "How dare you! Prepare to be sent back to the hell from where you've spawned!"
"Sure. Whatever." Saizo gave the Princess a sarcastic thumbs-up. "If I were you, I'd run off to get your prepubescent commander and tell him to pull back or else it's going to get real messy down there. I'm here to stop a war, though I'm not afraid of breaking a few necks, either."
Nonetheless, Camilla readied her battle-axe and glared threateningly at the ninjas. Kagero stayed still, defiant but somewhat disturbed. Saizo on the other hand hid his emotion perfectly. His posture was perfectly still apart from a single drop of sweat rolling down his face. Probably from his trip all the way from Hoshido, rather than Camilla's eyes.
(What a fearless man. He just brushes off Camilla like she's nothing!)
"Sir, let's pull back." Kagero whispered, "We have all we need to report."
Saizo threw down a black ball onto the ground. It burst into dark grey smoke, engulfing the two Hoshidans. Leo covered his eyes to shield them from the murky blackness. By the time the dark barrier subsided, the two were nowhere to be seen.
"Wow, what a bunch." Elise pouted, "They are brave for making it this far!" Leo was more impressed with how Xander found out they were being watched. He would have to ask about that later.
"We can talk about this later!" Xander said, sheathing Siegfried, "We need to warn Corrin about those reinforcements!"
With that, the four royals resumed their expedition to the Bottomless Canyon, faster and with more urgency than before. The swifter they reach Corrin's patrol, the sooner they can pull out before Ryoma and his retainers arrive.
(It could mean the difference between life and death. How... intriguing.)
The Nohrian forces finally reached the front of the fortress. Though the patrol exhausted themselves while repelling the swordsmen, they routed the retreating archers with ease. If all went well for the remaining minutes, Corrin thought it was going to a swift and decisive battle.
The leader of the garrison still had not revealed himself.
"Coward, where are you? The Prince called into the crowd. "Fight with your troops!"
A smokescreen exploded in front of the Nohrian troops. Black smog puffed into the air, obstructing the vision of the patrol. Horses neighed in panic, having never experienced battle with such obstacles. Wind blew the black haze towards the cavalry and soldiers. Corrin's throat burned as he struggled to make out what was before him.
Corrin coughed. "Get back!"
Gunter and his allies backed up outside of the suffocating cloud. Three shuriken launched outside of the smoke towards the Prince. Corrin hastily dodged out of the way. The projectiles safely bounced off of the stone pillar and fell into the abyss.
He gritted his teeth and coughed again, looking for the person who launched the ambush. The smoke blew away in the strong winds, revealing the ninja standing alone in the open. The commander had revealed himself.
"You've done well." Omozu scoffed, "But your battle ends today!"
Before Corrin could think about and return a bold cry, the sound of fluttering wings caught him off guard. A squadron of sky knights flew in with Pegasus mounts from the south. Hoshido had called in reinforcements.
"Look!" Felicia called, "More troops arriving from the south!"
"More?" Corrin cursed. "Get ready to defend!"
The Pegasus knights did not descend on the Nohrian soldiers as expected. They circled the air for mere seconds, before swooping towards the canyon. The squadron descended towards a pillar Corrin has already passed. Squinting in confusion, the young Prince broke into a cold sweat at his oversight.
(They are attacking our supply convoy!)
In the midst of battle, he did not expect the enemy to break through his lines and attack the supply convoy. Losing their medical supplies and rations would make a return home impossible. Corrin scrambled desperately for ideas. The lancers similarly stared at the Pegasus knights, refusing to march forward.
"Don't worry, milord." The Great Knight called, "We'll handle this! Eliminate Omozu while we hold off the reinforcements!"
Corrin shook his head. "Thanks Gunter. I owe you one!"
The Great Knight signaled for the cavalry and unwounded swordsmen to return to the wagons. Corrin turned towards Omozu and clutched his Ganglari blade. Once he was defeated, the remaining Hoshidans would retreat. The battle would be won and he could finally return to his family. No more people would have to get hurt.
"To be honest I didn't expect you to attack so suddenly," The ninja snorted, "Your nation will grieve over your mistakes."
The ninja pulled out more brass shuriken and threw them at the Prince. Corrin leapt to the side, dodging them. He then followed up with his own counterattack, swinging his dark blade towards Omozu.
The ninja jumped backwards with ease, maintaining his balance. Both combatants waited for their opponent to make another move. Suddenly, a dagger flew towards the two. The weapon almost grazed her Prince's nose as it flew past. The knife finally struck Omozu in his left arm.
"Oh, sorry about that!" Felicia squealed. She pulled out another knife and watched them both attentively. Corrin smiled. She had given him a great diversion.
"Grah!" He yelled, charging forward again with Ganglari.
This time, he managed to strike Omozu in the chest. The ninja quickly pulled backwards, holding his wound.
(Perfect strike!)
The commander did not falter. Omozu lunged forward with his shuriken, swiping it towards Corrin. He parried one attack with his sword and deflected a second one with his body armor. Omozu's eyes narrowed after pulling back a few steps.
"It's time to finish the job!" Corrin shouted.
He stabbed forward with his sword again. Omozu tried dodging, but his wounds taxed his mobility. The Nohrian Prince landed another hit on the ninja's hip.
Omozu fell backwards, unable to pick himself back up.
"Curses!" The ninja groaned, "This isn't over."
He sputtered and blinked rapidly, slowly losing his consciousness. This was it. The battle was over. Now, he needed to end the battle and retreat as soon as possible. Nonetheless, the Omozu's wounds were quite deep. If the Hoshidans were to accept a peaceful resolution to the battle, they would need the ninja alive.
"Felicia!" Corrin called, "Assist this Hoshidan!"
The maid rushed over quickly. Her staff glowed and she raised it over the fallen ninja. The wounds from Corrin's sword vanished, but the ninja's eyes remained closed. After some seconds, Omozu remained unmoving. Felicia turned towards Corrin.
"Mi-milord," She stuttered, "I'm sorry…"
Corrin dropped Ganglari. The Hoshidan commander wasn't dead. He couldn't be. There was no way the Hoshidans would accept peace if their commander was dead. Incredible guilt filled his body. It was the closest he had been to killing another human being. His hands were stained with blood.
He could not believe he had slaughtered an innocent soul.
"Come on, come on! Wake up, idiot!"
He checked the ninja's pulse. To his relief, Omozu's blood was still pumping, and his shallow breathing became noisier. Gunter returned to the Prince's side.
"Lord Corrin, the Pegasus knights have retreated." He reported, "The enemy's also pulling back. The fortress is ours." Corrin slowly picked himself up.
"This wasn't what I had in mind…" He said, withdrawing Ganglari, "But, at least I've completed father's mission. Felicia, please tend to the wounded." His maid nodded. She and Gunter rejoined the rest of the soldiers.
Corrin and the army returned to the convoy. Most of his army were wounded after fighting off the Pegasus knights, and three foot soldiers laid on the ground, barely responsive. Gunter jumped off of his horse and helped Felicia lay them in a recovery position. Hoshido meanwhile suffered only a few deaths, mostly archers and a few Pegasus mounts. Omozu was dragged off by two soldiers back to the other side.
(Thankfully, every wounded Nohrian will recover today. How long can I keep this up?)
Otherwise, the patrol finally found some peace. A few katana and yumi bows were collected into the convoy. The destroyed wagons had their supplies salvaged and Felicia began distributing vulneraries. Soldiers broke their usual order and discussed excitedly among themselves about the battle. The cavalry unmounted their steeds and fed their horses. It finally looked like peace had arrived.
"Corrin!" Gunter snapped, "Someone's approaching from our rear!"
"Dammit! When will it end?" Corrin, enraged, stared into the distance. The fog has thickened and four figures on horseback quickly approached them. Bracing for the worst, the Prince put himself in front of the wagons on put his hand on his sword, ready to engage.
As they approached, the Prince had a better idea of who was flanking them. A familiar laurel crown gleamed in the grayness. Corrin's face quickly turned from anguish to glee.
"Xander!" The Prince exclaimed, "You've come to pay us a visit!"
The crown Prince of Nohr rode in gracefully past the final wooden bridge. Behind him approached the rest of his siblings: Prince Leo, and his sisters Camilla and Elise. His siblings have come to see them.
"Guess we missed the battle." Leo commented, "How unfortunate. I looked forward to becoming a spectator."
He clutched his tome, smirking at Corrin. His dark mage uniform was lightly torn, as if he had just fought in a battle not long ago. Corrin never saw him in combat, but he heard among the castle guard that Leo was a force to behold.
"Thanks for the thought, Leo." Corrin scratched his hair. "We're just recovering from the battle right now. The commander has-."
"Who dares attack my beloved Corrin?" The Princess raged. "I'll have their heads on a platter!"
(Wow, Camilla is scary when she's angry…)
"I'm unhurt, Camilla." Corrin reassured her.
She frowned. "Well, then I guess that bastard got lucky."
Felicia smiled and curtsied at the Nohr royalty. Gunter shook his head at the lively family reunion. Corrin bowed in front of Xander, relinquishing his command of the patrol to his older brother.
"We come with dire news," Xander finally reported, "It looks like more Hoshidan reinforcements are on the way."
Corrin's heart shrunk a little. He was happy everyone survived the battle, but he wanted to explore the inside of the fortress. After all, a battle skirmish with Hoshido just happened. King Garon and his diplomats would have a tough time maintaining peace with the recent spilling of blood.
"By definition, this checkpoint has been evaluated." Leo said matter-of-factly. "As much as we want to, we cannot claim the useless piece of rock for ourselves."
Xander turned towards the young Prince. "We'll retreat then. Corrin, you take the lead with Gunter. We'll follow after we patch up the remaining troops."
"Will do. Thank you brother." Corrin sighed. "Exploring the Bottomless Canyon was fun, but I had enough for today."
He signaled for Gunter to follow him. The mission was complete. All he had to do was to go home, and be finally accepted into the royal family.
[…]
"Gunter have you seen Felicia?" Corrin questioned, "She was here a second ago…"
The two had moved forward too quickly and were separated from the rest of the patrol. They were about to return to the Nohrian border, but on the way there they saw a figure running in the fog. The shadow looked exactly like the maid's figure, even though she stayed back to heal the remaining soldiers.
But for a brief moment, it seemed to have disappeared in thin air.
"I'm sure she's right behind us." The old knight replied, "Please hurry milord. I can't stand being on this bridge a moment longer."
"Me neither, if I were you" a voice cackled in the fog. Corrin recognized it almost immediately.
"Hans!" Corrin yelled.
The berserker emerged from the haze, brandishing his axe. The blood from the soldier he slaughtered still tainted his weapon. The young Prince could not fathom what the former criminal was trying to accomplish.
"Traitor!" Gunter jeered angrily at the traitor. "Acting before your commander and deserting from battle? I hope you're ready the face the military court."
Hans sneered. "Traitor? I don't think so."
Hans charged forward and struck Gunter's horse. The beast shrieked in pain and raised its hooves. The berserker swung downwards, causing a rotten section of the bridge to break. The Great Knight struggled in horror as his mount lost balance.
He steadied himself and fumbled for his lance. Gunter simply ran to his horse's side and gave both of them a mighty push. The Great Knight fell into the Bottomless Canyon with his mount. He gave out a helpless cry as he tumbled in the darkness.
"Hans!" Corrin ran to the side of the bridge, looking for his friend. However, he was too late. Gunter was no longer in sight. "Why the hell was that for? Did some malevolent spirit possess your body?"
"Possessed? Nice imagination kid." Hans taunted. "Trust me. You'll understand what I did once we get back."
"You'll pay for this!" Corrin shouted.
Corrin extended his left hand into the air and felt his anger manifest throughout his entire body. The entire arm liquefied to pure white light. Hans watched, petrified, as the Prince's arm morphed into a blue, slender limb. The exhaustion from the previous battle evaporated as his body partially transformed.
"…The hell? What kind of demon are you?"
Corrin, equally baffled, did not give a response. He instinctively charged forward with Ganglari and landed two slashes on the berserker. Hans clutched his chest, still standing despite the hits. His eyes showed part fear, part malice. His cheeks puffed which each deep breath he took, and a thin trail of blood dripped down his stomach.
(What- what is happening with my body?)
"I want answers, Hans!" Corrin demanded, "I'm placing you under arrest for the murder of Lord Gunter!"
Hans blinked.
"Say something!"
"I'm just following orders" Hans panted. "I was given a royal decree."
Corrin retorted. "Liar. How dare you slander Father!"
What a ridiculous statement. King Garon would never want to kill his own forces, much less escalate into a full war. Hans's injuries made him spew nonsense. There was no option but to detain him for further questioning.
While Corrin was digesting the information, Hans quickly dashed across the bridge in a scrambled attempt to escape. Considering how deeply Ganglari cut into his midsection, the berserker ran a lot faster than expected. Still, he would be easily caught and tried in the king's court.
"Come back here!"
Corrin's dark sword started to glow bright purple. Ganglari's handle felt sticky, giving sensation of melting butter. He stared helplessly as his sword began twitching while Hans was getting away.
(What's going on? My hand is stuck! I can't let go-)
The sword yanked itself upwards and rose in the air, taking him with it. Its vibrations became increasingly violent. The glow spread from Ganglari to engulf Corrin's body. His entire arm became immobilized, unable to stop the witchcraft overcoming himself. Ganglari pointed downwards and began accelerating towards the inside of the Bottomless Canyon, bringing down Corrin with it.
"N-noo!"
His shouts were futile, as he felt the damp, heavy air past his body. Ganglari lost its lustre and the Prince continued falling deeper into the unknown, surrounded by nothing but utter darkness.
The throne room's great doors creaked open, letting in faint light from outside shined on mildew-colored walls. The king straightened his back on the throne and chuckled. The patrol has returned from the abandoned fortress, and they have seemed to have taken care of his little problem.
The four Nohrian children walked somberly towards him. Xander preserved his stoic expression as he approached the throne. Leo and Camilla stared forward blankly, lost in thought. Even the usually energetic Elise struggled to hold back her tears. The king's guards, after receiving a nod from their king, dismissed themselves. The children bowed in front of their father.
"Speak!" the king bellowed, "How did your mission go?"
Silence.
"I ask again-", He began angrily.
"Father," Xander blurted out, "We have found the abandoned fortress to no longer be serviceable. Hoshidan soldiers were stationed there and acted with aggression, but we swiftly eliminated them."
Leo snapped out of his trance and turned his gaze towards the king. He spent years exercising solidarity in front of danger, though this time, even he had trouble concealing his nervousness. King Garon, like all great leaders of Nohr, refused to tolerate failure. Soon, they would have to report Corrin's fate near the Bottomless Canyon. How would Father take this? A tactical oversight? A well planned ambush? Either way, he would be outraged.
(Just how much are you going to tell him, Xander? We have Hans's story about what happened to Gunter, but we don't have much else to go on.)
"Good," Garon snorted, "As expected from my wonderful children. Well then, I guess I shall ask the obvious question. Where is my son Corrin?"
That was it. That was the question everyone was afraid of answering.
(What were we thinking? How could we have left our brother vulnerable at the front of the patrol? Such a flawed formation... Now, we have lost a Prince and a knight. Truly pathetic)
"Our brother Corrin-", Prince Xander stammered and closed his eyes, "Our brother, Prince Corrin, has unfortunately-"
"Ha, unfortunately?" A voice bawled from behind the throne. A shadowy figure stepped forward beside King Garon, "Don't try to hide it. Corrin was never worthy of being a true Nohrian leader."
The man's golden half-mask seemingly refused to shine in the room's natural light. He wore an otherworldly grin on his face. His flashy mage outfit consisted of a lavish gold collar and a crimson silk cape. The tome in his hand was decorated with an extravagant silver cover even though it could not compare to Leo's Brynhildr. The mage was surprisingly content despite the miserable atmosphere.
"Iago…" Leo muttered.
It was the lousy excuse of a tactician who coordinated Corrin's expedition. Everything was flawed from the beginning. The understocked convoy. The lack of wyvern riders as scouts. The use of ex-criminals as mercenaries. The entire journey was planned to fail, yet this idiot served in his father's highest courts. Iago's smug expression faded and he shrank after he caught sight of Camilla's piercing glare.
(Huh, he's an idiot and a coward.)
"Continue." The king ordered.
Xander, unfazed by Iago's intrusion, kneeled in front of Garon.
"Father. We suffered minimal casualties when fighting Hoshido, but they caught us on our trip home. Hans has informed me that Corrin and Gunter went on ahead of the patrol. The three were ambushed by Hoshidan ninjas and Hans was the only one who escaped. When we returned to search for them, they were nowhere to be found." He lowered his head in shame. "We are unsure of their whereabouts. I'm sorry."
At this point, tears started rolling down from Elise's eyes, her sorrows no longer able to be contained. She burst into a loud sob and stuffed her face into Camilla's chest. Camilla hugged her younger sister stroked and stroked her hair, whispering incomprehensibly to herself. Iago scoffed in disgust at the grieving royals.
Leo cringed. The king usually dished out lighter punishments against his children, but letting his son die so carelessly was an unpardonable crime. Losing his brother was like losing the queen early in a game of chess. Painful, and an often irrecoverable. Actually, considering it was Corrin, it perhaps was just a bishop at best. Yet, something Xander said caught his interest.
(Let's see if Hans is telling the truth.)
"Ah, I see" Garon said with a deep sigh, "He failed. How ill-fated. I expected better from him after so many years of training."
"I'm sorry father!" Xander raised his head, "If only I had trained with him harder. His sword techniques are deadly precise. Surely, he's only captured."
"Stop," Garon ordered, "I shall discover his fate through the great dragon Anankos."
"What?" Elise squealed and let go of Camilla, "You can find out where big brother is?"
She immediately jumped away from her sister and blew her nose. Leo raised his eyebrow. His auspicious brother could still be alive. Perhaps Corrin was captured; held in a camp or prison somewhere. If King Garon could find him, he could organize a rescue party; one not organized by such a useless simpleton. The Dark Knight clutched Brynhildr to his chest.
"Never doubt His power." Garon simply replied. He closed his eyes and reached out both of his arms. "Mighty Hydra, I call upon your wisdom on this day of reckoning! Grant me a vision…"
The king paused abruptly. He looked up at the ceiling in confusion while Elise and Camilla stared at him intently. Xander stood up and also viewed his father with anticipation. Garon closed his eyes again and restarted his chanting. In the meantime, a stroke of boredom came across Leo's mind.
(This is a waste of time.)
"Iago," He called, "I must summon Hans. He has already been tended to, right?"
"Yes, but why?" Iago asked, narrowing his eyes.
"I need to ask him a few questions about what happened when he was ambushed."
"I don't think that is necessary." Iago folded his arms.
"Do it." Garon commanded while still in his strange praying pose, "I shall commend him for his work today."
"Of course my liege! I shall summon him immediately." The mage briskly stepped out of the throne room. Xander stepped back to Leo's side.
"Leo, what are you doing?" he hissed, "Didn't you hear the man? He was ambushed. He may be a former criminal, but he's all the evidence we have."
"Yes I agree," Leo murmured grimly, "He's all the evidence we have"
Xander gave Leo a confused stare. Before he could question further, King Garon finally lowered his arms and opened his eyes. He sat back down in his chair and scratched his head, at a loss for words. Camilla watched him expectantly while Elise hummed a nervous melody and waved her staff. However, the king would not speak. He always sat in the exact same way whenever he had bad news to share, but did not know how to deliver it. An unbearable silence filled the throne room.
(Oh no, could it be...?)
"Corrin isn't dead," He finally proclaimed.
"Oh yay, yay!" Elise burst out "Thank Anankos! We need to rescue big brother now!" She jumped up with happiness and hugged Camilla, getting blonde hair into her older sister's eyes. "Right sis?"
"Of course," Camilla's eyes brightened, "We shall save my little Corrin from those vile Hoshidans, even if I must stand on a mountain of corpses!"
The Dark Knight sighed in relief. The horror of the situation was beginning to subside. His intrepid brother somehow escaped the confines of death again. King Garon was no longer going to punish them, and his siblings returned to their usual selves. It looked like hope was still alive.
(My brother lives, eh? He really does have the devil's own luck…)
"Silence!" Garon roared, "He is alive but I cannot determine his location. Furthermore, he has failed my task. He's not a true member of the Nohrian family."
"Father," Xander stepped forward, "Corrin may have been captured, but he successfully evaluated the fortress! The soldiers told me he fought bravely with Ganglari. He soundly defeated the guards' commander."
"We shall see about that," Iago voice sounded from behind. He returned to the room, bringing a brawny Nohrian man. "Leo, I brought you Hans. You said you had something to show to King Garon?"
"Explain yourself." Garon said to his son.
Leo straightened himself and looked directly at Hans. The berserker snarled back at him. His angry face widened the creases on his forehead. His chest was covered with former scars, but today's battle left many fresh ones. Clearly, the ex-criminal knew something that was unsettling him. Leo felt Iago gazing at him and Hans unconcernedly. He was unaware of the prosecution that was about to pursue.
(Of course. Let's begin.)
"Hans," Leo started, "I have a few questions for you. You said you, Prince Corrin, and Gunter were attacked at the front of the patrol, near a bridge, correct?"
"Yes." Hans grunted, "I smashed all of the assailants."
"That scar on your chest that's healing. That was a wound you received while fending off the ambush, correct?"
"Yes. One of them attacked me when I was defending Lord Corrin."
"You were attacked by Hoshidan ninjas?"
"Only they could have pulled off such an ambush."
"Very observant, but isn't that odd considering the wound on your chest came from a sword?"
"Uh… yes, the ninjas attacked me with a sword."
(A sword? Let's see if you call this bluff.)
"I see. How odd." Leo shook his head with a sly smile, "Ninjas from Hoshido have always use shuriken when executing ambushes. Your wounds aren't small enough for a shuriken, but they are perfect length for a sword. How were you injured by a blade when ninjas do not use such weapons?"
"I. Hrm…" Hans stuttered.
"Enough Prince Leo. Your conjecture brings us nowhere." Iago butted in, "It's true that ninjas often use shuriken, but you are forgetting that Hoshido's ninjas also carry around katana. Perhaps it was the presence of these elite warriors that lead to you three being overpowered."
Iago had a valid point. Hans nodded vigorously and smirked at the defense. Leo was convinced the berserker was lying about the ambush, but what was he going to do? He had not expected Iago to intervene. Yet, if he ends up falsely accused a fellow ally of betrayal, he would forfeit Father's trust. He began fishing for a tenable argument. Elise and Camilla's worried faces did not help him.
"Now, if you would excuse me,"" Iago continued gleefully, "I believe that-"
"Wait." Xander said, "Hans could not have been attacked by a katana,"
"What?" Hans burst out in anger, "Are you calling me a liar?"
"Katanas are much thicker than the slashes on your chest suggest." Xander calmly retorted, "Your wounds are also too long for their shorter lengths. You fought against a soldier wielding a Nohrian blade."
Leo gave a breath of relief. Hans was in some sort of fight with his allies, and he lied about his battle wounds in front of King Garon. Iago was still frowning, ready to forward the argument. At this point, the berserker was enraged, gritting his teeth like a cornered wolf.
"You… you…" Hans stuttered.
"Perhaps your report was untrustworthy after all." Leo snorted. His sisters stared at the berserker, waiting eagerly for his response.
(There are thousands of excuses you could make right now. The fact that you're stuck trying to recall something so simple…)
"Enough! This is all irrelevant." Garon raised his hand, wanting to change the discussion, "Hans, I shall see to you later. You are dismissed. We have graver matters to discuss."
Hans strolled towards the grand doors, wrinkling his brow. Leo stared at him in disbelief. He and Xander threw serious doubt upon Hans's testimony. Xander frowned, clearly disappointed as well.
"I cannot locate Corrin or Gunter, so I have no intention of sending out a rescue party." Garon declared, "I leave it to you, my children, to… deal with him in whatever way you find appropriate."
(But, if I was right, and Hans wasn't ambushed after all, then what happened at the border that made Corrin disappear?)
"Regardless, we must stick with our strict timeline," The king continued, "for in a few days, we will launch our glorious campaign to conquer Hoshido."
"Why yes." Camilla smiled, pushing hair out of her eyes, "We shall find our little Corrin and reunite our wonderful family."
"Boo, I hate fighting." Elise pouted her lips, "But, if we can get big brother back, I'm ready anytime!" She gave her staff a twirl and pointed it upwards in the air. "Don't worry Corrin! Your trusty sister Elise will get you back!"
Leo looked to the ceiling and sighed. Nohr has spent fortnights training and imposing tough levies on its citizens. The country has already sacrificed much of its bounty for its preparations. An invasion was inevitable, or else all their sacrifices will be in vain. Though, his sisters seemed a bit too eager to engage in war.
"I understand, Father." Xander bowed, "We will show them the might of Nohr."
"Certainly!" Iago walked to the crown Prince's side and imitated his posture, "A wise decision, my liege. I shall finalize our plans immediately."
"You shall not do it alone, Iago," the king replied, "My son, Leo, will help you with the schematics. Together, you two shall create an insuperable strategy."
(Yes! Now, I can finally fix that fool's mistakes!)
"As you wish, my liege." Iago responded.
"But father!" Camilla called, "What about our Corrin? Have you not the slightest clue where he is? If he's captured, the Hoshidans might use him for information…"
"No. We can't look for him now." Garon scoffed, "By the time we begin our invasion of Hoshido, he might not even be alive by then."
"Dad!" Elise piped, "What a terrible thing to say! I'm sure Corrin and Gunter are alive and waiting for us right now! My brother won't die to those Hoshidans!"
"Very well," Garon said, expressionless, "If he is truly worthy of being called my son, he will find his way back. If he chooses not to, then he must be… taken care of. In the meantime, you are all dismissed."
Xander and his sisters turned towards the doors. Elise gave a joyous leap in the air as she and Camilla left the throne room. Leo remained unmoved. One thing was clear: whether or not he liked Corrin and his unexplained luck in the past, he was still Nohrian royalty. No one steals from royalty.
Iago walked up to Leo. "Watch yourself, young Prince. I'm Nohr's finest tactician, and you cannot escape my sight." He whispered into the Prince's ear with malice.
(Very well. Have it that way.)
"I'm sure our war council meetings will be very interesting Iago." Leo replied coolly, "And I'm sure we will create a strategy that tacticians years from now will study."
"Truly? Then stay out of my way." Iago hissed.
"And you out of mine."
[...]
Leo sat at his cedar table, reflecting on the day's events in his quarters. Everything was so… peculiar. Nohr has just lost once of its Princes and a veteran knight. Hans proved to be unreliable, meaning anything could have happened to them. King Garon just declared war on Hoshido and his siblings barely batted an eye. Did losing Corrin really make them indifferent towards fighting Hoshido?
"Leo." Xander's voice boomed from the doorway, "May I come in?"
"Of course." Leo stood up and greeted the crown Prince. "How can I serve you?"
"You can drop the tone." Xander said, "We're blood brothers. No need for any formalities."
He stepped through the doorway and inspected the room. Leo never had the largest quarters in the royal family, but his brother's presence made the room feel smaller. History books about the first Nohrian-Hoshidan War were scattered across his table - his bookshelves had no space for more. A common room, but its size was not representative of Leo's newfound importance in the army.
"Alright then. What's on your mind?"
"Look," Xander sighed, "I appreciate what you did today in scrutinizing Hans's story, but it was risky. You could have questioned Hans afterwards in private. What were you trying to prove before Father?"
Leo paused and examined his brother. He was definitely serious, but he didn't appear to be angry. It looked like Xander won't leave his quarters until he has received a satisfactory answer.
"I wanted Father to know that Hans lied about Corrin and Gunter." He shrugged. "Did you see his face? I can tell a liar when I see one."
(That's partially true, at least.)
"Yes, but why then? You made him, and by extension, my account sound undependable." Xander snapped, "Were you trying to embarrass me in front of family?"
"That wasn't my intention. Frankly, I did it to discredit Iago. I disagreed with his approval of an ex-criminal to join Corrin's patrol, and he is often incompetent. Hans's insincerity about the ambush discredits Iago's decision-making, and will make King Garon reconsider his abilities."
"Is that it then?" Xander accused, "Are you trying to win Father's favor over Iago? Is this just a power struggle you're playing with everyone?"
"Of course not!" Leo hissed, "It was his shoddy planning that lead to this disastrous campaign. I'm not doing this for myself. I'm doing this for Nohr."
Despite what he said, Xander's words struck Leo. Perhaps power and favor was the ulterior motive in his decision. Perhaps he really did want to advance in the army's ranks, and he saw an opportunity in attacking Iago. He shuddered at the very thought and discarded it almost immediately.
(This is for the future of Nohr and our army. I'm doing this to save lives.)
"This is… unlike you." Xander said, "The Leo I know is careful. Calculated. He doesn't make risky decisions without considering the consequences. Your accusation was bold, but what if I couldn't intervene between you and Iago?"
"I honestly don't know, but I'm glad you did recognize those slashes." Leo responded, "In battle, sometimes decisions must be made immediately. I saw an opportunity and seized it. Think about it! With these privileges, I can allocate resources to find Corrin, something Iago would never even contemplate."
"I see." His older brother replied. "I finally understand. In that case, well done."
The Dark Knight breathed and sat back down at his table. It seems that Xander was convinced for now. His heart still sank at his brother's accusations. Does Xander really think he would selfishly attack one of his own allies for personal gain?
"Then I just have one thing to say." Xander continued. "Please, make sure Elise and Camilla are well protected. Their devotion to finding Corrin might make them careless and unpredictable. I don't wish to lose any more of my family. You and my sisters are the most important people in the world for me."
"I'll see what I can do." Leo responded, feeling strangely uncomfortable at the crown Prince's words. "Uh, I'll see you at the War Council by this week's end then."
"Thank you, Leo. I hope we can find our missing brother quickly." Xander turned towards the door. "Goodnight."
"Oh, Xander. One last question." Leo said as his brother began to step out.
"Yes?"
"Did Hans ever tell us truth about Corrin and Gunter's disappearance?"
"He's reporting to our father as we speak." Xander answered, "We can't do any more at this time."
"Ah." Leo frowned, "Goodnight then."
Xander left the quarters. Leo rested his head on his table and eventually gazed up towards a family portrait on the wall. At the front was a young Corrin and Elise, both with beaming smiles. The artisan apparently had difficulty drawing them, given that they jumped around so often. To the painter's credit, their faces turned out detailed and lifelike in the end.
Behind them were Xander and Camilla, both with one of their hands on Corrin's shoulder. They both looked very content in their younger selves as well. The blaring inconsistency in the portrait was Leo himself, who was awkwardly sitting alone to the right. He had forgotten how short he used to be. Things were a lot simpler when they were children, although he could never go back to those times.
(Ah, Corrin, if only I had the same luxuries as you.)
"Whatever. I have no time to burden myself about such nothings." The Prince grinned "Corrin, you better be alive to witness how I'll bring sweet victory to Nohr."
A/N: Thanks for reading!
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