The corridors were dark and empty. Pieces of rubble were strewn about from the battle that took place hours ago. There were even some smudges of blood on walls and on the concrete floor.

Raven felt his breath hitch as he silently glided down the eerily silent halls. He became very aware of the sword he was holding and the act he was going to pursue with it. The murder of Lord Uther…the downfall of Ostia…the vengeance for his home. He didn't care what they'd do to him, if somebody were to find out what he had done. He would be pleased with the job that he'd finally accomplished after all these years.

He froze when he heard a noise. It took him a moment to realize what it was and where it was coming from. It was coming from behind a door to his right, and it was a soft sobbing. He was about to move on when he recognized the voices.

"…do anything?" It sounded like the archer, Rebecca. She sounded concerned.

"N-no…" That was Priscilla. She was the one that was crying. "Thank you, though…I…I just need s-some time."

"Do…do you want some privacy? I'll just leave if you—"

Raven immediately tensed, but was relieved when he heard his sister say, "No! P-please…keep me some company."

Raven cautiously leaned in closer to the door.

"Of course. Anything to help you, Priscilla."

There was some rustling and a blow of a nose. "I-I'm scared."

"Aw, what's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"

"No…it's just…I cannot speak much of it with you. I hope you are not offended."

"I'm not offended at all! Just know that I'm here for you, okay? You're not alone. I'm here for you. And, well, Jasmine and Ninian are here too, even though they're sleeping..." She chuckled a little.

There was a sniff and a weak chuckle. "Thank you. That makes me feel a little…better." Priscilla paused. "Can I ask you something, Rebecca?"

"Of course!"

"Have you ever been in a position where you…where you try to stop somebody, somebody that means dearly to you, from doing something bad? But no matter what you say or do they try to go on with their plan?"

"...Yeah, sorta," Rebecca answered thoughtfully. "You know Wil? Well, he used to be my neighbor; we were childhood friends. One day he and my brother, Dan, decide to head out on their own. I told them it was foolish and dangerous, that they might not come back. They shrugged it off like it was no big deal. It was an adventure for them. I didn't see them for years."

"You tried to stop them?"

"Of course. I tried to convince them that it was irrational, but they persisted that our families needed more money, and they'd get that money for us on their journey. I still tried to stop them, it was useless. It's hard to stop somebody when they're mind's already set."

"That's so true."

"But the ones always come back to you in the end."

"Yes, I suppose so..." she murmured, sounding a little distant. "It's just that…I wish he would realize that his plan wouldn't benefit him at all. Or anybody for that matter. Rather, it'll harm others."

"Don't worry. He'll come back to his senses. The ones that you love always find their way back to you. I ended up finding Wil...not that I love him or anything!" Rebecca spluttered. "I mean, we were friends since we were kids, so I care about him, but not...not like that...I mean, he means a lot to me and everything...!"

Priscilla giggled. "Oh, really? Because that's not how I see it..."

Raven quietly detached himself from the door, knowing that the conversation about him was over. He continued his way to Uther's room. A thousand thoughts swarmed his head.

They destroyed my home, my family; I cannot let Ostia get away without suffering!

Yet, in the back of his mind, he imagined his crying sister, broken over what her brother was about to do. She doesn't understand. Our parents are asking us to avenge them; that we didn't let them die in vain.

He quickened his stride, gaining a tighter grip on his sword. Uther's room wasn't much farther. Finally, he would avenge his home and family…

"Up for a midnight stroll?"

Raven stopped in his tracks, his breath caught in his throat. He didn't move but said, "Yes. And you, thief?"

He could hear the quiet pitter patter of the brunette's movements. "I was just browsing around for some treasure."

"Stealing some more, are you?" He flexed his fingers on his sword.

"Don't think of it as stealing. Think of it…as an advance on our reward. Though you don't get any of it, of course."

"And why not?"

"Backstabbing liars don't deserve anything."

Raven turned and slashed his sword through the air, and it crashed into Matthew's two daggers. The thief smirked at Raven's angry expression and twirled his daggers around, jumping backward. Raven growled.

"What do you want, thief?"

"I just wanted to know what you're doing around the fortress at such a time, carrying around a weapon."

"Maybe I just like to do that."

Matthew raised his eyebrows in amusement. "Really? Is that the best you can think of? I would think that someone of such…high nobility would be able to think of something better. Don't you agree?"

Raven narrowed his eyes. "If you have something to say, spit it out."

"You know exactly what I'm saying," Matthew mused. "Lord Raymond."

Raven's eyes widened and he angrily swung toward Matthew. He dodged the attack and smirked widely.

"How…how do you…?"

"Don't look so shocked," Matthew said. "You were the one that was babbling about your House Cornwell. You ought to be more careful in such an environment, especially considering that you're surrounded by Ostians."

Raven let out a low, animal-like growl. "What do you want?"

"I want you to give up your attempt to kill Lord Uther."

Raven let out a short, derisive laugh. "You've got to be joking."

"Nope, not at all. It's sort of a big deal when somebody threatens to kill our Marquess."

"That's what happens when he destroys a House and kills those within it." He dashed forth, slashing his sword diagonally, but Matthew sashayed passed the attacks.

"House Cornwell was corrupt; it was necessary to remove it."

"Remove it?" Raven roared, his voice echoing throughout the empty corridor. Matthew winced.

"Can't you be a little quieter? Trust me, you do not want to wake up the Marshal."

"Don't order me, thief," Raven growled. "I care not for the Marshal, or whatever else you Ostians have in store for me. It's Uther I want, and Uther I'll get."

Matthew raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? Have fun getting passed all those guards that are filled up in Lord Uther's room. I gave them a little tip that we had an ill-tempered redhead within our mist."

"Is that supposed to be a threat? Either way, it doesn't scare me; I will destroy anybody who gets in my way. I have been waiting for this night for years, to avenge my parents, to avenge my home! Nobody can stop me."

"Aren't I stopping you right now?"

He glared at Matthew with such ferocity it was a wonder he didn't burn holes right through his skin. Matthew simply smiled back.

"A distraction is different from turning one away from his goal," Raven said as he started to march toward Uther's room, placed at the end of the hall. But of course he was halted again by Matthew, who jumped in front of him and dodged the swing from his sword.

"If you really wanted to kill Lord Uther so badly, and if I'm such an annoying distraction, why not cut your way through me? You did just say that you'd destroy anybody who gets in your way. I'm in your way."

Damn him. Swinging his sword again, this time more barbarically, Raven unsuccessfully attempted to slice off Matthew's cheeky face. Matthew jumped back from the attack and flung his leg in the air, kicking sword out of his hand. It clattered to the floor, feet away from the two.

That did it. With an angry snarl, Raven drew his fist back to swing a punch at the pesky thief. Unfortunately, Matthew was too fast for him; he dodged the swing, grabbed his fist, twirled behind him, and pulled his arm back. Raven winced and found that he was in a position where he couldn't move, or else he would risk injury to himself.

"Now," Matthew said calmly, "how about we have a friendly chat?"

Raven stomped on Matthew's foot in response. Matthew laughed.

"I take that as a 'no', but it was more of a rhetorical question anyway. As I was saying, we need to talk about your little…problem." He put it delicately, as if it would hurt Raven's feelings.

"Problem?" Raven repeated with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, the one where you want to murder my Marquess. That's a problem. And I have the solution to it!"

"Do you?" he said sarcastically.

"Surprised? My solution is to tell you the truth about your House Cornwell."

"The truth? The truth is that Uther destroyed my home and—"

"Like I said earlier, House Cornwell was corrupt. It messed with the entire system that keeps the Lycian League together—"

"So what gave Ostia the right to destroy Cornwell?" Raven snarled, ripping out of Matthew's grip and twirling around to face him. "Why couldn't Uther have talked it out with my parents?"

"We did try to talk to the Marquess, plenty of times. He refused to accept the fact that he ruled a corrupt land—"

"Because that's not true," Raven said fiercely. "My home was not corrupt! If anything, it is Ostia, the filth you call your home, that's corrupt!"

Matthew raised an eyebrow. "They were caught stealing funds from the League! How is that not considered corrupt?"

Raven seemed a bit taken aback. He hissed, "That very well may be true, but we might've had a reason to steal; perhaps the League was not giving their fair share."

"Cornwell was getting its fair share, but the Marquess wished for more. We didn't have the extra money to give away, though."

"If you didn't have the extra money, how was that extra money stolen?"

Matthew let out a long breath. "That money was to be used for other purposes; not for Cornwell to spend. Cornwell was corrupt, no matter what you say or think."

Raven was silent for a moment. Then he said, "Cornwell might have been corrupt, but that still gave Ostia no right to demolish it!"

"It was what Lord Uther thought was right at the time; perhaps it was, perhaps it wasn't."

"It wasn't," Raven hissed. "You brought down my home shamelessly, and killed my parents!"

This seemed to surprise Matthew. "Kill your parents? We haven't done such thing!"

"Don't lie to me, thief! My parents are dead and it's because of Ostia they are!"

"Where did you hear that? We've done no such deed. Ostia is not as cruel as you put us to be."

"Then why else are my parents dead, huh? Do you have an answer to that?"

"Nobody's quite sure how they ended up dead, though it's assumed that they…" He paused, as if wondering how to put this. "It's assumed that they killed themselves, too ashamed to face the League."

Raven didn't say anything. He didn't feel anything. It was as if his whole purpose of life, the path he'd been going down, wasn't the right path after all. It was hard to believe, to take it all in. His parents committed suicide? So ashamed were they of their deeds?

"It is not because of Uther my parents are dead…?" he murmured.

"No. Though, yes, I will be honest: Cornwell is gone because of Ostia's doing."

Raven felt as though everything was crashing down on him. After all these years of trying to avenge his parents, he was doing it for no reason. So what if he killed Uther or Hector? It was like Lucius and Priscilla had said: it won't bring them back. It wouldn't bring his parents back from the dead and nor would it bring Cornwell back to its glory.

"So, do you still plan on killing my Marquess?" Matthew asked casually, as if he was asking for the weather.

"No," Raven said, surprising himself. There it was. No.

"All rightey then," Matthew said, seeming quite pleased. "You better get going to sleep."

Raven didn't respond as he grabbed his fallen sword and sheathed it. Each step toward his room was a grueling pain; his body felt heavy and each step sent a numbing sting of truth. It was all over. He had failed his parents and his home. Uther lived whilst his parents were dead. Nothing about that could be changed, no matter how hard he tried.

Forgive and forget, Lucius would say, it is only the past.

"So…hot," Nils murmured as he dragged on through the never ending sand, "I'm going to die." The sun burned down on him relentlessly, and not a single cloud existed in the sky to hide it.

"Hey," Hector said, noticing the young boy's distress, "do you want to get on my back?"

Nils squinted at Hector and tilted his head. "Huh?"

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Such kindness from you surprised me, Lord Hector," Nils said shyly. "Is this some fever dream?" he murmured and looked around him, confused.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Hector grumbled as Lyn giggled. "I was just worried you might collapse like the other day."

"You're usually so brusque," smiled Lyn. "No wonder he's confused. Don't be shy, Nils. Let him help you out."

Nils hesitated. "But…"

"Do as you're told, boy!" Hector said and grabbed Nils by the waist, lifting him out of the cruel sand and onto his armored shoulders.

Nils squealed. "I'm going to fall! I'm going to fall!"

Hector and Lyn laughed.

"It looks like they're enjoying themselves," Eliwood said to Ninian with a smile as he eyed the three laughing. He turned his ocean blue eyes to Ninian and they immediately filed with concern. Ninian looked paler than usual and had a hand to her forehead. "Take my arm," Eliwood said and extended his arm to her.

Her eyes widened. "I couldn't."

"Oh, come now," he smiled.

"Very well," she murmured. "…Forgive me." She took his arm and they continued to walk.

"Is something wrong?" Eliwood asked, noticing her discomfort.

"It's strange…all of you treat me and my brother so…normally. Doesn't it bother you? Our powers…our looks. We're different from…people."

"What's wrong with being a bit different from other people? When I look at you, I don't see other people. I see Ninian. I see a kind, gentle-hearted girl."

"Lord Eliwood…!" she mumbled, tinting red. He smiled.

"I see that Lord Uther is still alive," Lucius said to Raven. He didn't sound surprised. He simply smiled at the sweating redhead. "I told you that you haven't changed as much as you think you have."

Raven didn't respond as he dragged his hand over his forehead, swiping the sweat off. "Uther did not kill my parents," he murmured. He sounded distant. "All my life's work…vanished."

Lucius furrowed his eyebrows slightly. "What do you mean by that? Revenge wouldn't have done you any good at all, Lord Raymond."

"…No, it wouldn't have," Raven admitted. "As you and Priscilla often say, it wouldn't bring Cornwell or my parents back. It still sickens me that Ostia destroyed my home, and I still hate it and everybody from there for it, but killing either Hector or Uther will do nothing. I am…still adjusting to the truth, Lucius."

"Time will heal your wounds, my lord," Lucius said gently. "The truth is hard to swallow at times, and especially when loved ones are involved. I am just happy that you are finally over with your quest of revenge."

"I have one problem, though."

"What is it?"

"What am I to do now? For years I've been consumed by hatred and thoughts of revenge. My goal had always been to murder those that had brought humiliation upon my home. But now, that goal is gone. I still wish to seek the truth, the very truth, of Cornwell's corruption, of my parents' death."

"Then we shall scour the lands together, and we shall find out the truth."

Raven raised an eyebrow. "We?"

Lucius frowned. "Yes, the two of us, unless Lady Priscilla wishes to join us, of course."

"No," Raven said immediately. "She has a life to live. She needs not delve herself into the past, much like I've done."

"Then it shall be the two of us, once this war is over!"

Raven's other eyebrow joined the first. "Why must we wait for the war to finish? I've no business in this army any longer. I've given up on killing that buffoon, so I have no need here."

Lucius smiled. "You have your sister, milord. I think this is valuable time for the two of you to spend."

Raven didn't respond immediately. "I suppose…fine. Then after this war, once I've ensured Priscilla's and your safety, I'll journey out on my own to find the truth."

"Wha—I plan on coming along too, milord!"

"No."

"Why not?" Lucius demanded, stomping his foot.

"Oh, don't be such a whiny child." Raven rolled his eyes. "I want someone to go home to, you see. So go back, and wait."

"Then why don't you marry? Then there would be someone at home…and I could journey with you!"

Raven raised an eyebrow. "Me, marry? Hah! If anybody's getting married, it'd be you!"

"Me?" Lucius said incredulously. "What makes you jump to such a conclusion?"

"You're used the daily nagging. I'd have a fit if I have a wife jabbering at me all day."

"Daily nagging? I have no idea what you're referring to!"

Just then a cry of, "Lucius!" came from behind and Lucius came stumbling down to the ground in a pink blur. Raven couldn't help but smirk as the blonde and pink mess spluttered out of the sand, laughing.

"That's what I'm referring to," Raven said, resisting a laugh as Lucius strung sand out of his hair like water.

"Oh my…you're quite energetic even in this cruel heat, aren't you, Sister Serra?" Lucius said as he gently rubbed sand off his cheeks.

She giggled. "I'm a bit better now that I've seen Jasmine."

Lucius looked at her curiously. "What do you mean by that?"

Serra giggled again. "I'm guessing you haven't seen her, then?"

"No. What's so funny?"

Raven had an urge to see the tactician; it had to be something humiliating if Serra found it amusing.

"Where is she?" he asked.

"Somewhere in the back," Serra said and waved vaguely behind her. "She's a bit grouchy, though."

"The heat is getting to us all," Lucius said. "I'm sure more than a few of us have become cranky."

"No kidding," Raven said as Erk strode passed him, muttering something underneath his breath and kicking sand everywhere.

"Hey!" Serra squealed, spluttering. "You got sand all over my face! Erky!" She chased after him and the two appeared to have one of their usual arguments.

"I don't know how you stand her," Raven grumbled to Lucius. Lucius seemed to be only half-listening, frowning at Serra and Erk.

"Sister Serra is a sweet girl," Lucius said. "It's unfortunate you don't see that. Say…you don't suppose Erk..." He hesitated. "Fancies her, do you?"

Raven was very taken aback. Was the heat getting to Lucius too? "Well…they're always arguing, aren't they? It must mean they hate each other."

"Lord Hector and Lady Lyndis argue often, yet it doesn't seem like they necessarily…hate each other. They seem to get along just fine." He gestured to the two ahead of them, Hector chasing after Lyn. The big lord seemed extremely tired and was chasing after the amazingly quick Sacaen princess with great effort.

Raven shrugged. "I don't really care, though. What's it to you if Erk and Serra court?"

Lucius's already pink cheeks turned a bright red. "I—I was just wondering—I mean—it doesn't—has nothing to do with…" He appeared to be at a loss of words. Raven had never seen the blonde act like this.

"Are you alright, Lucius? Perhaps the heat is getting to you."

"It must be," Lucius mumbled and wiped sweat off his forehead.

"To weapons!" Eliwood's voice rang loud through the muggy heat.

"Great," Raven grumbled as he quickened his pace. "Another battle. In this cursed heat. What could be better?"

"You guys stay in the back!" Jasmine's voice rang loud and clear. "Yes, Sain, you too! Horses are too slow in this sand. You too, Priscilla. I think Serra would be enough for this battle." Her voice gradually became closer to Raven; she was advancing from behind. "Fiora, Heath, and Florina! You three will be my scouts today! Heath, take a good look at the landscape for me. Wil—you okay with that bow? Had enough practice?—Okay, good. Rebecca, I want you with Florina. And..."

Raven saw a mass of brown curls pass him. Apparently the mass was connected to a body, and when it turned, it was Jasmine's face underneath it. It took Raven a few seconds to realize that the mass of brown on her head was her hair.

And Raven started to laugh.

It actually hurt to use his muscles to smile and open in a laugh. It had been so long since he had that feeling in his belly, the sound from his mouth. It must've been years since he'd last laughed.

Lucius gaped. "You're…you're laughing!" He was absolutely amazed and in shock. Then he smiled and chuckled along, unable to help it.

Jasmine glared at them. "If you're laughing at me, I'm going to shove that sword up your—"

Heath landed beside her, spraying sand everywhere. "I can tell you a rough outline of the land, Lady Tactician." He glanced over at the laughing Raven curiously.

"Just ignore him," Jasmine grumbled. A light pink spread across her cheeks as she took a peek at Raven. "Go on."

"Erm…so, the enemies are mainly located to the north and the west. There aren't many very close to our range, and the lone man is out in the northwest. He's quite the skilled sage, it seems."

"A sage?" she said thoughtfully. "Thanks, Heath. You and Fiora will head up north to deal with the bandits up there. Is it possible for you to take somebody with you?"

"If they're willing to sit on Hyperion."

Jasmine laughed. "Okay, got it. And will you shut up?" she added, glaring at Raven, who was holding onto his stomach, his mouth open in a silent laugh. He came to an end of his laughter, running out of oxygen. He snickered as he pointed to her head.

"Is that your hair?"

"Yeah, it is," she grumbled as she uselessly attempted to flatten it, "this happens in the heat." She straightened up. "We don't have time for this. Wil!" she shouted and said archer ran up to her as fast as he could. "Can you ride on Hyperion with Heath?"

"Yeah, sure," Wil grinned and nodded to Heath. "I've always wanted to ride a Wyvern," he said as he hopped on behind Heath.

"Get Fiora and the three of you head up north," Jasmine said to them as they rose in the sky. Wil laughed and whooped, raising his large bow designed for a Sniper. "I'm flying!" he laughed. "Hey, you look so small from here, Senior Rave!" He waved down at Raven. The redhead's amusement finally seemed to vanish, and his usual scowl was back in place.

Jasmine chuckled and shook her head as the three took off. She finished giving her orders and the army began its assault. Well, they started to walk toward their enemies, at least. It was hard and easily tiring to walk through the thick sand.

"You know," Jasmine said to Raven as they tread through the sand, "I've never seen you laugh until today."

"That's because there was nothing to laugh at. But that dead animal on your head…now that's something to laugh at."

"Shut up," she said as she playfully slapped him with her map. She fluffed the mass on her head. "I can't help it."

"And that's what makes it all the more hilarious," smirked Raven. She stuck her tongue out at him and, with a little huff, folded her arms across her chest. She turned her head and therefore her mass of hair flew into his face. "I can barely see with that…that thing in my face!" he said as he swatted at it.

"Guy!" she shouted, completely ignoring Raven, "where are you going?" She put her map to her forehead to block the sun. "I told you to go—what? Matthew left you…? Ugh! Weren't you two listening when I said it was imperative to stay in partners in the desert? Uh! I don't wanna hear it!" She put a hand up. "You can just join in with Dart and Canas, then."

"Oh, I see what you're doing," Raven commented as she started to shout at the nearby Oswin. "You're ignoring me on purpose because I poked fun at you. Let me tell you that I—watch out!"

He pulled her aside and a fire emblazed the sand she had just been standing on. Eyes wide, she stumbled down as Raven swiftly moved through the sand, swinging his sword forth to kill the mage.

Why do I have to be so unaware of my surroundings? Jasmine thought bitterly. It's always Raven that rescues me. No wonder he's always yelling at me.

There were shrieks from ahead. Furrowing her eyebrows, she turned her head. Her eyes widened.

A huge puff of sand and wind that swallowed the sky were heading straight for them. Sandstorm.

She scrambled to her feet and ran toward Raven, who was still battling the mage. She tugged on his arm hysterically and he faced her, confused, but his eyes widened when he saw the blur of dust and sand behind her.

"C'mon!" she screamed at him as she wrenched him away from the enemy. The two ran through the sand, hearing the gusts of wind howling behind them, the screams from their comrades somewhere out there.

And then a fire erupted behind them. Jasmine screamed as her boots caught on fire. Raven turned and instinctively pitched his sword at the mage. The enemy raised its book in defense but it was no use; Raven's sword went right through it and pierced him in the heart. Meanwhile Jasmine stomped her boots in the sand, running around in circles, looking as if she'd lost her mind.

"Are you alright?" Raven shouted at her. He spat sand out of his mouth and squinted.

"I'm fine, but we won't be if we don't get going!" she screamed back at him as she took his hand, dragging him along. He started to run along beside her, tightening his grip on her hand. The sandstorm was starting to swallow them; they had to find shelter. "There's a house further down!" Jasmine shouted at him. Her hair was flying everywhere. "We have to make it!"

Raven quickened his pace at the mention of his shelter. It took every ounce of his body to stop running, to get that gritty sand out of his boots. His body screamed in protest as he sped up, but it only urged him to go quicker. Jasmine was starting to trail behind.

"C'mon!" he shouted, tugging on her hand. His eyes lit as he caught sight of a small cottage ahead. They were so close now! "We're almost there!"

"There's a reason I'm a tactician and not a warrior!" Jasmine shouted back. Nonetheless she quickened her pace and managed to keep up with Raven. The wind howled in their ears, sand was flying about them non-stop, and Raven swore he felt his body get lifted up for a second.

"There it is!" Jasmine screamed. She outstretched her hand, wiggling her fingers, wanting to feel the safety of the house. Her hand latched onto a door knob and she twisted it. It opened and the two barged into the house, panting and sweating, throats starting to taste like iron.

Jasmine leaned against a wall and slid down it, breathing heavily. Raven slumped down on the floor beside her, shaking the sand out of his fiery hair.

Then, after a moment that was filled with heavy breathing, Jasmine laughed. "We made it," she said and faced Raven. She smiled.

He nodded. "Yeah, we did. I'm amazed; you were running so slow."

"Ah, shut up," she grumbled, but continued to smile. "...thanks for staying with me."

Raven didn't respond.

"Raven?"

"Hmm?"

"You're not so bad."

"I wish I could say the same about you."

She laughed and leaned against the wall, closing her eyes. "Jerk."

"At least I don't have a lion's mane."

"Shut up."

"…you're not going to sleep, are you?"

"No," Jasmine murmured, her eyes still closed. "I'm just resting."

That didn't sound like a bad idea. Wiggling toward the wall, Raven rested his head against it and closed his eyes.

They sat there for a while, barely aware that they were still holding hands, that their shoulders were nearly touching. Were both of them to look back at themselves days from now, they'd blame the sandstorm, that their brains weren't functioning properly. But neither of them wouldn't have been able deny one thing:

It had felt right.

So, a lot happened in this chapter. First of all, the biggest thing: Raven gave up on his plans of revenge. It's a big deal, I know, and I hope I wrote it out okay. I was worried about making Raven a little OOC in this chapter, and I hope that I kept him in character...Originally, I was going to even have him smile at Jasmine (once they're in the cottage during the sandstorm) but I decided not to; Raven's already done too much in this chapter, including laughing. So, I really hope I kept him in character, but tell me if he's not! I'll try to fix it!

Happy reading!