"This is a rather cozy area you got here. Quite a surprise that the noble isn't stuck up about eating with common folk like us." Dart takes a massive bite of the food served in the dining hall. He chows down like he hasn't eaten in days to Robin and Nino's amusement.
"I know the food at Garreg Mach tastes great, but you're going to choke." Robin lets out a small grin, turning to Nino, happily digging into her food. He couldn't help but get a wave of nostalgia watching the child. Perhaps there was actual weight to his past in this world rather than the random clues appearing in his mind.
"Still, it'd be a surprise seeing you here. It'd be about four years since the time last time we've seen you. It did wonders for ya!" Dart gives a hearty laugh, jabbing Robin's arm. Robin chuckles softly, rubbing his arm a little. Still, that last statement made Robin ponder about how he was before meeting Chrom. "You have more meat to your bone! You used to be so thin and frail that we were afraid that if anything happened, ya would've crumbled to pieces."
"Was I that bad?" Robin felt self-conscious about how he was in the past. From what he can remember, he was still a tactician but he wasn't physically capable. Still, he had to start somewhere which led to him being able to fight alongside Chrom and the others. There's little assurance in knowing the origins of his skills.
"Definitely! Some of the lasses were bulkier than you. Granted, there were women like Isadora and Lyn who easily looked like they can handle themselves. But even Florina and Nino looked stronger than ya back then." Dart couldn't stop laughing, downing a glass of mead. He turns over to Robin with a smirk on his face. "Back then, you barely had the strength to hold up a sword, let alone use it. It was a sad sight."
"Dart... You don't have to say things like that!" Nino calls Dart out with a glare.
"What? It's just a little teasing! There ain't no harm from it!" Dart states with a smirk. Noticing the death glare that Nino had towards him, Dart lets out a sigh while shaking his head. "Alright! Alright! I'll stop! Jeez."
"Have you been here all these years?" Nino asks catching the two adult's attention. It was no wonder that people from his past would wonder about the circumstance of where he has been for the past few years.
"No, this was a recent development. I had only come to Fodlan less than a week or two ago. Before that, I was working as a royal tactician." Robin explains before finally indulging himself in the dining hall's food.
"Not for Pherae? Jaffar and I would occasionally visit Lord Eliwood. He would always ask if we saw you during our travels." Nino comments, smiling at the companionship that Robin held with the Marquess.
"Yes, it was for a different region. The land of Ylisse." Robin would go give the basic rundown for the third time during his time in Fodlan. Getting rather tiresome of telling it multiple times, Robin started to tell a shortened version of his past to the two while everyone continues to eat.
A figure would continue to watch over the group from the window, staring not at Robin this time but at Nino in particular. The figure musters a confused frown before disappearing from the window in a flash. But not fast enough for Nino to notice the mysterious figure in a single instant with an interested glance.
"Nino? Is something wrong?" Robin asks catching the young child in surprise.
"S-Sorry... I just thought that I saw the one I was looking for. But it must've been my imagination."
"Right... You told me earlier that you both came here looking for someone. Jaffar. I'm not sure if it'll help, but we can ask some of the priests and bishops here. From what I've heard, they are the ones who look over those who received sanctuary here." Robin explained exciting the others.
"Aye! We got a start here! It's better than simply wandering about aimlessly! It's a miracle that we got to see ya here, Robin... Even if the memory hassle is a darn shame." Dart comments looking over at the young girl sitting beside him. His eyes widened at Nino's demeanor changes.
"I'm so close... After so long." Nino grips the pendant in her hands tightly with a determined look. She rushes through her food, hardly taking the time to chew. Despite being exhausted from the journey walking across Fodlan, a surge of energy came to the girl as she slams the table, pulling herself up. "Let's go!"
"Sure thing, lass... But at least let us finish our food first." Dart comments as he looks over at Robin who gives a nervous chuckle.
"O-Oh... Right. Sorry. I got carried away." Nino scratches the back of her head with a bit of an embarrassed look on her face.
"Let's not keep you waiting then." Robin and Dart begin to finish their food at a rapid pace before pulling themselves up, and locking eyes with Nino. "I'll lead you both to the cathedral."
"Yeah!" The two cheered as the three swiftly exit the Dining Hall and make their way to the Cathedral. Seeing those two allowed Robin to ponder. He was reminded of his times with the Shepherds in Ylisse, but to also have another group that he could have called family like this as well... It put a smile on the tactician's face.
The figure from before, cloaked all over as their red hair ruffles through the wind while staring at the group rushing off. Covering their face with their cloak, only their eyes were visible as they stare at the group walking off. He turns his head over to the outskirts of Garreg Mach Monastery, to the area covered in trees with a frustrated glance before looking back at the others, smaller from the distance but still visible in his eyes.
"I left to keep her safe... But." They grit their teeth in frustration, gripping a wound in irritation near his ribs before vanishing away, leaving nothing but dust to scatter to the wind.
"M-My legs feel heavy..." Robin groans to himself, trying to keep up with Lyn's pace who is leading the two through the patches of grass. His body ached while the sack of items weighed down on his shoulders, causing him to hunch over.
"Don't worry, Robin. We're not far off from Bulgar. It's a commercial village we can use to stock up on supplies." Lyn calls up from ahead. When Robin looks up, there's a considerable distance between the two. Turning around, she noticed the same thing as she rushes over with concern. "Hey, are you alright? You look like you're about to fall at any moment!"
"I'm fine." Robin coughed a little, not convincing Lyn in the slightest regarding how he felt. It took a while but Robin manages to catch up, sweating profusely even while not wearing the heavy coat he had on around his shoulder.
"Alright, we're going to take a break. At this rate, you're going to get heat stroke. I don't want you passing out again." Lyn comments, leading the two under a tree. She takes a small rag and pats some of the sweat off Robin's brow.
"T-Thanks..." Robin frowns a little to himself regarding the help that Lyn was giving him. He was grateful for all that she's done for him, having met him only a few days ago. But a small eerie feeling of guilt weighed over him. The two had agreed to be a duo, yet he felt like he wasn't contributing much to the two's success on the journey nearly as much as Lyn would.
Fundamentals of survival, hunting, navigation without a map, being able to competently use a sword, and setting traps for safety. At most, Robin was able to help with setting up the traps and has learned how to start a fire using materials from nature. The two had so far never encountered any situation in that Robin could take the lead in using his skills, it was starting to weigh in on him. But he didn't want to vent this frustration, for it would simply add more burden to the Sacaen nomad that he was already doing.
"Alright, I think that's good enough for now..." Robin pulls himself up from under the tree, gripping the handles of the bag with a bit of a groan.
"Are you sure? We can go until you're more well-rested. You're carrying more of our supplies after all... Maybe I should take some of it off your hands." Lyn turns over to her bag, its size was still large but not nearly as enough compared to Robin's load.
"N-No. It's fine. I can do this much." Robin tried to push off his struggles with a small chuckle. Lyn, unconvinced by Robin's objections rummages through some of his luggage, taking out a few of the smaller bags and laying them over her shoulders. When he picked up the baggage, he could immediately notice that his load was more manageable to carry than before.
"You shouldn't feel the need to overexert yourself. We're supposed to be looking out for each other after all." Lyn reassures the tactician with a soft smile.
" Sure..." Robin comments with a small nod. The drastic weight change didn't seem to faze Lyn in the slightest from his eyes. Speeding up to match Lyn's pace, the two make their way to the town. The sun's light didn't weigh on them again on their journey as the gentle breeze of the plains would gaze at Lyn's cheeks one last time before her life changed.
In the distance, two knights on horses could be seen hastily making their way to town. One clad in red armor while the other in green, looking around aimlessly while searching for something or someone.
"Just about finished..." Seteth places the quill pen down into its ink bottle. He sits for a moment, pondering while examining the piece of parchment on his desk. He had decided to go through with his initial assessment. He had spied on Robin's class and found no faults in terms of teaching methods. A relatively good first impression, though he must be certain.
A knock on the door sends Seteth out of his state of deep thought. After announcing to the visitors to come in, Seteth couldn't help but find the irony of who had stopped by.
"Pardon the intrusion." Robin walks in with Nino and Dart behind him. The two were looking around aimlessly as both of their eyes wander back to the aide as he stands up.
"Robin. Don't worry about it." Seteth stands up before waving his hands to the chairs in front of his desk. The three take their seats with a brief thanks before Seteth begins to speak again. "I recognize most of the people who take up sanctity in the monastery but I don't seem to be aware of these two."
"Ah. Apologies! I am Nino and this is Dart. We're old friends of Robin." Seteth's eyes widen at Nino's statement. He would look over at the tactician who would enthusiastically nod in agreement. He would sit patiently while listening to the trio explain the shared history that the group has.
"A few days ago, you had told me that aspects of your memories were gone because of your amnesia. Just a few days after that, it would seem that a miracle was brought here." Seteth had an exasperated look on his face. It was like an act of god's will that hands what Robin was searching for on a silver platter. Taking a minute to compose himself, he would turn to Dart and Nino with interest. "What composed you two to come here in the first place? There shouldn't have been any rumors of Robin's location. It's also interesting considering Pherae and Ostia are across the oceans to Fodlan."
"Well, that's the reason we came to see ya. See Nino and I are looking for an old buddy of ours." Dart explains plopping his arm on Nino's head in a somewhat carefree manner. "Heard he was being chased by a punch of shady folk. We did a bit of asking around which led to the monastery. Thought we'd ask you for some help given your one of the leading folk."
"Is that so? Would it be to presume that Robin would be familiar with this person as well?" Seteth turns to Robin who nods in agreement. Seeing this, he would then turn back to Dart and Nino. "Would it be alright if you gave some description to go off of?"
"R-Right," Nino said explaining the qualities of her close companion. Hearing it, Robin would close his eyes, closely listening to the description that Nino would portray. He had envisioned a young man, a bit older than he was. Demeanor is sharp as a dagger but gentle to those that they trust. It was a vague description that didn't go too deep, yet the tactician was able to envision a particular image in his mind.
" You're too kind, Robin... You and Nino. As a tactician, you are to use me as see fit to aid in your victory. " A shadowy remnant lights up in Robin's mind. The area around the two was hazy but it felt like a dream almost. One that reminded Robin of his first night in Fodlan.
"I see... Unfortunately with all of the responsibilities I have, keeping track of every single person is impossible. However, what I can do is have Alois and a few of the other knights assist you in your search." Seteth comments while standing up which snaps Robin back to reality. "But that is all I can do. Hundreds from all over Fodlan come to Garreg Mach every day. It's simply impossible to keep track of all of them."
"I figured it was asking a bit much." Dart scratches the back of his head before looking over to the others. He could see that the whole journey was starting to weigh in on Nino as he lets out a small sigh of frustration. "Still. We got more people helping us. It's a start! We're basically at the home stretch!"
"Dart... Right. Thank you, Mr. Seteth for the help!" Nino says standing up enthusiastically. She bows a little in gratitude.
"Seteth is just fine, Nino was it?" Seeing Nino nod, Seteth couldn't help but smile a little at the girl's enthusiasm and innocence. It reminded him of the diligence and caring attitude that Flayn had. "Of course. It was no hassle at all. I'll see to it that the knights would help you all to the best of their ability."
"That'd be great. Would you know a good place to start then?" Robin asks while the group exits the office making their way to the knight's quarters.
"Aside from the main areas, there is a small portion of the monastery devoted to people who traveled for sanctuary. Refugees of many villagers from natural disasters or their homes pillaged by bandits." Seteth explains to the group. "Despite all of the blessings that the Goddess has placed on us, circumstances like these are sadly, hard to avoid. We make sure that these issues are dealt with and assist those that need it."
"Exactly the reason why we came. Jaffar may not be one to trust strangers, but he knows the best way to make the most of a given situation." Dart states while pondering. "Though knowing him, he's probably kept a close look on everything that is happening around him."
"Would that mean that Jaffar already knows that you and Nino are here?" Robin asks the duo.
"Most likely. But that wouldn't explain why he hasn't appeared!" Nino says with concern about the situation.
"In any case. It's best to just look around for him. You're the expert on this so you'll be leading us, kiddo!" Dart says before turning to Seteth. "Hey. Where's the place you were talking about anyways?"
"It's right outside the main gates, past the marketplace. The size of it has grown to such an extent that it makes up a whole section outside the main walls. The knight's hall is on the way. I'll lead the way." Seteth says before walking ahead of everyone.
The group had reached the knight's hall while Seteth would tell Robin and the others to go ahead and start their search before heading into the building. Not wanting to wait and take the opportunity, Nino would hastily run off, pulling Robin and Dart away to the refugee camp.
Once the three arrived, they would walk together inside the camp, going from person to person, asking for any information on Jaffar. With the camp's overwhelming size, the three would have figured that there were people who would recognize a young man fitting the description. To their dismay, most of the information that they find wouldn't be substantial as the three would hold dejected expressions while taking a break at the marketplace.
"Nothing... I've lost track of how many people that I've talked to." Robin shakes his head, taking a small drink of water while wiping the sweat off his brow in exhaustion.
"He isn't one of the Four Fangs for nothing. Hardly anybody has even seen the guy, and those that do only got small glimpses that barely stood out as it is." Dart groans in annoyance, folding his arms while thinking about it. "It's annoying. I get it that he's trying to hide from those shady folk after him, but Nino is here for darn sake. If there was one person that he trusts in the world, it's her."
"Speaking of Nino, where did she go? I thought she was just with us." Robin looks around the two with a confused expression.
"She went to go find the knights that Seteth had sent out. Probably hoping that they had any better luck in the search, but I doubt it." Dart shrugs apathetically.
"Unfortunately, you'd be right." The two would look over to see Alois and a few knights approaching them with Nino walking beside them. "If anything, it's suspicious that hardly anyone has seen him. What would make someone hide themselves this much?"
"Because there are people after him! If anything, he's trying to be safe!" Nino exclaims to the knights, furious that they would doubt the person she trusts the most in the world.
"I'm sorry, young lady. But we've tried the best that we could. While we did get reports that he was seen here recently, our hands are tied at the moment." Alois frowns at Nino's reaction. It hurts him to see a young girl in such a state when there is a chance for something to be done.
"Still. Thank you for taking the time out of your day, Alois. It's almost supper time as it is." Robin says with Alois shaking his head.
"No. It's my duty as the Commander of the Knight of Seiros to follow through until I have completed it. This is no exception! I'll search all night that you might have to nickname me, Sir. Veyor!" The emphasis on the word title caused the rest of the group to fall silent. It takes a while for anyone to get it as Robin's face lits up.
"Snrk." Robin covers his mouth suddenly, trying to stifle a laugh. Dart looks over, wondering what Robin was talking about when his mind realizes the pun. He starts to hold back laughter while Alois stands proud of his accomplishment.
"Uh... Sure. Thank you, Alois." Nino would be the final one to get the joke after going over it multiple times in her head. Unlike the others, her reaction was far from amused.
"In any case, it's best that we call it a night. Dart and Nino had only arrived at Garreg Mach today after all." Robin said looking over the two of them. It was obvious that the two were exhausted through their body language even if they tried to keep a straight face.
"S-Sure. I'm hungry from all the searching." Nino couldn't help with a disappointed look on her face. The group decided to eat and rest for the night before continuing in the morning. The rest of the group would start walking to the Mess Hall with Nino about to join them when a young boy appears behind her.
"Excuse me, miss!" Nino turns around to see the young boy with a confused expression on her face. "I have something for you!"
"Huh? A letter?" Nino would take the letter from the young boy. She would open it up, taking the piece of parchment out. It was written rather neatly and easy for her to read. Taking a moment to read the contents, her eyes would open wide in shock. "W-Where did you get this? Who gave this to you?!"
"Some guy with red hair! They had this super cool aura about him!" He would say in a carefree manner.
"W-Where is he?! Did you see where he went afterward?!" Nino would exclaim suddenly.
"N-No I didn't. I turned away for a second and he was already gone." The young boy said, startled by Nino's sudden outburst.
"I see... I'm sorry. Thank you." The boy would run off, leaving Nino to her thoughts. She would look down at the piece of paper. Her grip over it would clench tightly. The message was short and straight to the point, something Jaffar was known to do.
My thoughts have been restless over, again and again. A part of me left to keep you safe from the sins that I have committed. But seeing you now, I realize there's something I must tell you in person.
I would reach to you but my pursuers have spies hidden throughout the monastery. As such, I can only patrol from the shadows while bidding my time. Tonight, when they are sleeping I will do what is necessary. There is no need to worry.
You cannot come. The one gift that this life has given me will not be taken away.
You must live... Nino.
Wassup, my homies! I'm not going to sugarcoat it. I got busy with other stuff for me to not write this fanfic. A part of me wasn't even sure that I was going to ever come back to this project. It's kinda obvious that my work has slightly deteriorated as a result but I want to improve on it and continue to expand and grow while making chapters that you all will enjoy. Especially after we connect with some portions that are related to Fodlan's portion of the vanguard instead of simply focusing on Robin's outlook and history. Both concepts are supposed to be expanded on over time to truly get to the endpoint that I want to achieve when I first started to write this fanfic. So I'm extremely grateful for the patience that you guys have for my shitty writing and I hope to write more often so that you all can enjoy it because that has always been my main goal when writing these chapters. This is NexusMHX signing off! And I still don't know what I'm doing!