?'S POV
"Master, the search unit has found our quarry." The annoyingly high voice of the small sage beside me pierced my eardrum as he lifted his head, dropping his staff. "Tell them to return here immediately. Keep the quarry alive at all costs." I replied silently, sitting upright in my seat. The sage nodded and retrieved his staff, touching the tip to his forehead.
After a few moments, he let the staff down again. "Master, I do not mean to question your orders, but why is that man so important?" he asked quietly, bowing repeatedly. I sighed in annoyance; I must have explained this multiple times already. I stood up to my full height, casting my shadow over the foolish sage.
"Because, he is the key to an endless supply of soldiers, Excellus." I said quietly, breezing past him. "I'm going to intercept the Ylissean League. Stay here, and don't let anybody inside." Without another word, I threw open the door and stepped into the blizzard.
CHRISTIAN'S POV
It took three days to assemble the Shepherds scattered across Ylisse and Plegia. After preparations were made, we had started marching. After the wind kicked up and the snow started falling and three hours of frozen hell, we had arrived at the Longfort.
The situation was bad.
Bodies were everywhere, and flashes of magic illuminated the rough terrain like miniature suns. As we came to a halt, Chrom turned to face us. "Alright everyone, conditions are rough. As unwise as it may be, the enemy is spread out everywhere so we must spread out as well. Don't strike until you can see the whites of their eyes, Shepherds! Make sure you aren't about to slice open an ally."
There was a general murmur of assent. Chrom smiled grimly. "All right, let's take back the Longfort!" With a large cheer, the Shepherds split up and raced into the blizzard. Morgan tugged at my sleeve. "Good luck, Christian!" she said cheerfully, and dashed through the snow until she disappeared from view.
I carefully slid my sword out of its sheath and rotated 360 degrees, searching for enemies. Then, with only a faint whoosh to alert me, a bolt of light shot towards me from the direction of the Longfort. Only years of struggling to survive in an apocalyptic hellscape kept me alive as I leapt into the air, sheathed my sword, pulled out my Thoron tome and sent a blast of it in the enemy's direction as the light vanished, allowing me to land on a soggy patch of grass.
Taking caution, I raced in the direction of the attacker. Switching to Rexcalibur, I scanned the blurry snow-filled landscape ahead of me for signs of light. The enemy who was waiting for me could not have surprised me more. The very storm swirled around her, and she gave off an extremely powerful aura of pure magic energy.
She was a character I recognized instantly, right off of the pages of my favorite book of lore. Michaiah, The Silver-Haired Maiden, Leader of the Dawn Brigade.
Jack's Corner
I'm guessing by now you know what's coming. And have some slight idea to what Aversa's task you thought I left unfinished so many chapters ago is. Anyway, enjoy!