Part One: Concepts of A New Dawn

Red Wolf Moon

Chapter Ten: Revealing Faces

After routing the monsters in Hevring territory and not finding any clues to Seth's plans Maira and her students return to the Officer's Academy empty handed. Very quickly all of the houses realize they have uncovered nothing and a sense of dread washes over everyone. Everyone realizes that this was a diversion and that Seth was toying with them. Byleth announced there would be no missions this month, but still he called Maira and the Emerald Sharks to his chamber to discuss a mission they would carry out in secret.

"The entire Academy feels it Father. Last month was a distraction." Maira told Byleth.

"I also feel it. That is why the other houses will not be leaving the monastery. They will stay here and defend it if necessary." Byleth explained.

"Excuse me, Headmaster, but what do you mean by the other houses?" Finn asked.

"I have a mission for all of you. You will depart to the Red Canyon. I have heard whispers that there you will find the answers to who Seth is. Maybe once we know where he came from we can know how best to fight him." Byleth explained.

"But shouldn't we stay here and defend the monastery?" Maira asked.

"Don't worry Maira. We will stay here and protect the monastery." Hukai stepped forward with Lawe.

"We won't let this place fall." Lawe assured her.

"We won't let you down, Headmaster." Finn told him.

"This shouldn't be a combat mission, but I suggest you still bring some weapons and train. The Red Canyon can be a scary place." Byleth told them.

"Understood. We will depart by the end of the month. We will figure out who Seth is." Maira said confidently.

Shortly after they left Byleth's chambers Sothis spoke up.

"The Red Canyon. Your father and I fought there twice. The first time we were finishing off a bandit who had attacked the house leaders. The second time was by curiosity." Sothis said.

"Did you learn anything?" Maira asked her.

"No, I did not. But it felt like I had been there before." Sothis said slowly.

"Do you not remember?"

"No, even now I can not recall all of the details of my past. Maybe one day, with your help, I will uncover the details of my past." Sothis said.

"I would like to help you Sothis. After we defeat Seth."

"Thank you Maira. Until then, my power is yours."

"Finn, there is a message from Oceania that you should hear." Hukai and Lawe pulled Finn aside.

"What is it? Is everything okay in Kapena?" Finn asked.

"Yes, but Her Majesty, she has become less popular in recent times. I hate to say this but she has become less focused and more secluded." Lawe explained.

"Ever since she came back from her trip five years ago she has been like this. She changed, I still see her brilliance, she just started to isolate herself more." Finn agreed.

"The public has just started to see this side of her and they are not thrilled with it. They are calling for her resignation as General of Navean territory." Hukai explained.

"But not Supreme Leader?" Finn asked.

"Not yet, but sooner than later I fear. Finn, Oceania has asked if you would like her to secede her as General. The ceremony will take place next month." Lawe told him.

"That would mean I would have to leave the Academy. Olaga, Malosi and Kai all have stand-ins but that territory is too large." Finn said.

"Yes, but the people are calling you. They believe in you." Hukai told him. "You are their champion."

"Very well. This will be my last mission with the Emerald Sharks. After this I go to Navean territory." Finn frowned.

"I know this is tough." Lawe tried to console him. "But you are making the right decision Finn."

"Thank you Lawe and Hukai. Send a message to Oceania. I have to go talk to Atamai and Polopeka." Finn left.

"Poor kid. I wish he didn't have to start so early." Hukai said to Lawe.

"I know Hukai. But he is strong. I believe in him." Lawe said.

"Why have you called us Finn? I was in the middle of mastering a powerful magic." Atamai scolded him.

Maira noticed that Finn looked sad. That his normal facade of confidence and power wasn't there. "Finn, what happened?"

"I need to inform you that after this month I will no longer be attending the Officer's Academy. Atamai will be taking my place as house leader." Finn told them.

"Why? You aren't to be promoted for years." Atamai wondered.

"The public has taken notice of your mother's change. They are demanding she cede her territory to another, namely me." Finn explained.

"Oceania is giving you Navean territory." Atamai said quietly. "My home."

"Atamai, I wish it didn't have to happen like this. I want to stay here, but it is my duty to go get her affairs in order and prepare to take over as Supreme Leader." Finn told him.

"I believe you Finn, it just stings that my own mother won't give me her territory." Atamai explained.

"But what about Seth and protecting the Officer's Academy?" Maira asked.

"I will stick around as long as I can. But by the end of next month I will be called away to start my time as a General. Honestly I hope you will come with me." Finn offered.

"We will see. But I don't want to miss that." Maira told him.

"Thank you Polopeka. And Atamai I know you will do wonders with the Emerald Sharks."

"I will take care of them." Atamai told him. "What are you going to tell them?"

"Nothing, right now they need to focus on beating Seth. When the time comes I will announce that I am leaving." Finn told Atamai and Maira.

"You will be missed." Maira told Finn.

"Maira!" Wynne called out to her. "I heard about your mission."

"Did Father tell you?" Maira asked.

"Yeah, when he put me in charge of defending the monastery I asked why you weren't and he told me about your mission." Wynne explained.

"It will be good to get out of here for a little." Maira said.

"Just not too long I hope. You and Ultimus are one of the few things helping to calm down the students." Wynne said. "Though I understand, we know shockingly little about Seth. I don't know why Father is sending you to the Red Canyon though."

"Apparently he heard something. A rumor. Let's hope this one isn't a dead end." Maira remarked.

"Yeah, or a trap. Make sure you and your students stay on your toes." Wynne warned her.

"We will. Keep this place safe for me while I'm gone. I can't have it destroyed before I get back." Maira joked.

"I'll try, but you know me." Wynne smiled.

The month seemed to pass quicker. Maybe because everyone was on edge but regardless time seemed to fly by. Before they knew it Maira and the Emerald Sharks were departing for the Red Canyon. When they arrived they found a small village. According to anything that Maira read there weren't any settlers here, no region claimed this place.

"Who are these people?" Penina asked.

"I don't know, but hopefully they have some answers." Malosi said.

"Yeah, I'd hate to come back empty handed again." Keola agreed.

"They all look so tired. Like this place is draining them." Kai noted.

"Is that a statue?" Fiafia asked.

Sure enough in the center of the settlement was a huge statue of a man. He wasn't pretty, he had this blank, sort of stupid stare. His hair went all around his face, it was connected to his sideburns, beard, and even mustache.

"I want a statue of me." Fetu commented.

"Don't get your hopes up." Atamai told him. "Who is this?"

"Excuse me." Finn stopped a settler. "Who is this man?"

"That is Kostas. He was betrayed by the Flame Emperor and left here for the students of the Officer's Academy to kill him. His wife and child searched endlessly for his body until they found him here. The wife started this settlement as a tribute to him and his son. He set off to seek revenge for his father." the woman said.

"Do you know the son's name?" Atamai asked the lady.

"He hasn't been here for a long time but I think it was Seth." the lady told them.

"Thank you. You have been a lot of help." Fiafia told her.

"So Seth is seeking revenge on the Officer's Academy for the death of his father." Finn said.

"It isn't just about that." Penina said. "A lot of students there are the descendants of the people that killed his dad. They got to have lives with their parents, but Kostas grew up without a dad. He is bitter."

"And after my father. My father killed Kostas and he reopened the Officer's Academy. He is going to come after him with everything. He is the big target, we have to hurry back and tell him." Maira said.

All of the students were rushing to get back to the monastery. But before they could get to the pick up point they were stopped by a legion of soldiers in black armor.

"Seth knew you would come here. We can't let you go back, you know too much." the leader of the legion said.

"That's the gatekeeper!" Kai said.

"If the gatekeeper is part of Seth's forces then that means that Seth is probably already inside the monastery, waiting for the perfect moment to strike." Atamai said.

"We have to defeat them here." Olaga readied herself.

"We don't have the element of surprise this time. We need a full on assault." Maira instructed.

"Finally, I was starting to get bored." Keola pulled out his axe and mounted his wyvern.

"Bow and magic units stay in the back." Penina told them.

"I'm going to ride my apukohai through the stream and go behind them. Penina, can you Warp Polopeka over there?" Finn asked.

"On it." Penina placed her hands together and focused on Maira. She quickly separated her hands and in a flash Maira was gone. Maira reappeared behind the enemy where Finn soon joined her.

"Charge!" Finn screamed.

Maira had separated Ultimus into the twin sickles. Each slash was more than capable of taking out a foe. She worked through the enemy like they were nothing. But she made sure not to overextend. She kept her distance and used the blasts of energy to keep the enemy at bay. Close to her Finn was attacking the enemy. While he was a Captain he couldn't use his magic but he was more than skilled with his staff. The apukohai soared over the land in a bubble. Water formed a thick layer and gave it protection. Finn's staff knocked enemies aside easily. His sheer strength allowed him to take on multiple enemies at once. But if it weren't for the Emerald Sharks fighting on the other side Finn would have been quickly overwhelmed. The full force of the Sharks made it so the enemy had to focus most of its strength forward which meant they couldn't swarm Maira and Finn because they were too busy dealing with the others.

On the main front the Emerald Sharks were doing a great job. Penina was pushing forward really well. She kept her distance with Wind and Cutting Gale. But if an enemy ever did get in close she used Manao and quickly cut them down. Keola was flying over the enemy and would dive wherever he saw a weak point and quickly engage with them. The combination of the wyvern's claws and Keola's axe was devastating. The soldiers simply could keep up. When he was done he would take flight and help out anyone that needed it. Olaga was also charging the front lines. She would leap on top of enemies to knock them to the floor and punch them until they were down for good. She disarmed enemies with well placed kicks and even started to attack the mages casting Fire at Keola. She punched the first mage and he crumpled. The second mage cast Bolganonne but Olaga leaped upwards to avoid the swirling fire and dodged it. She swept the mage's legs with a low kick and kicked his chest in. The final mage was brought down by a few punches. Malosi, Kai, and Atamai were all attacking from behind. With Dark Spikes Τ Atamai made short work of the cavalry units. Kai focused on shooting down any Pegasus Knights before they approached the three of them and Malosi was doing big damage with Ragnarok and the occasional Whirlpool. Fetu wasn't sending many spells at the enemy, instead he was focusing on using Physic and Recover to heal the front liners. That left Fiafia. She was currently engaged in combat with the gatekeeper.

"You know, I kind of thought you were cute before you turned out to be evil." she admitted while parrying a desperate attack.

"I thought you were annoying. Always so happy all the time." the gatekeeper lunged. He slashed relentlessly at Fiafia but she was just as skilled.

"Seeing my friends in an ambush doesn't make me happy. But ending this will!" she yelled. The gatekeeper slashed downwards towards Fiafia's head but she lowered herself, turned and moved out of the way. While she did this she had her sword outreached so it would slice through the gatekeeper's stomach. After the gatekeeper fell Seth's forces crumbled. The Emerald Sharks surrounded them and Atamai was the one to finish it off with the use of Hades Ω.

"It's over." Finn said. "We should go. Your father is in trouble. And if Seth is already there, then the monastery might be in danger as well.