Interlude

A Solemn Victory

It wasn't fair. That was her sole thought after her defeat by the hands of the Prince of Ylisse. She cared nothing for the match, if anything she had expected to lose, the man she fought was the greatest swordsman to ever live. Even now his ability was evident to her, no it was seeing them on the field that brought her to such a lowly state.

Shadows, ghosts of a past she no longer could lay claim to. A past she no longer deserved, still it hurt, gods did it hurt to see them and think of the times when there was a sun that shined brightly and warmed the day. A time when the moon softly caressed the world during the night. A time she had been simply a girl instead of who she was now, a foolish child who yearned for what was gone and could never return.

She felt a terrible pain that ravaged within her chest as the truth became more apparent. The part that hurt the most is they weren't shadows; they weren't ghosts, or even strangers wearing familiar faces, no that would've been easy. The truth was they were exactly who they had always been. It was really them, and that was the hardest thing for her to accept.

It wasn't long before she had to sit down, she felt completely overwhelmed from the fight and seeing a past long gone. Removing her mask, she finally noticed the tears streaming down her face. How long had she been crying for? Normally, she would've forced herself to stop, but for the first time she was alone, it was just herself and she was simply too tired and too weak to stop the tears.

For the first time in years, she let out her frustrations at everything that had happened. It took all the restraint she had left not to simply scream out with every emotion that welled up in her chest. Her mission, her duty, this was nothing like the days when she would imagine herself being a great hero that saved the land from evil and shadow. No, this was far more different, almost cruel in the way fate doled out its terrible outcome.

With a small sniffle she wiped her face on her sleeve, even if this was cruelty it was cruelty she had to endure. She had to be strong not just for herself, not just for her companions who had so bravely and loyally stood by her, but for all the people whose lives had been lost because of her. No more tears, not until the mission has been completed and this terrible fate averted. Then... then perhaps she would find some comfort, if she deserved such a thing.

Standing up she brushed off her trousers and donned her mask. Walking down the steps she mentally hummed a small melody her mother once sang to give herself comfort, and to try and stave off the loneliness of her solitary endeavor. She didn't even notice herself walking past the man not known to her.

"You don't seem the type to be a sore loser..." The black-haired man spoke. She found herself jumping back and her hand instinctively finding itself to her sword. "Calm down! I didn't mean to scare you, I swear!" He said with a degree of capitulation in his voice. He backed up seemingly forgetting he was already up against a wall. "I... I just wished to talk. That was until I heard..."

"You heard me crying, correct?" She stated with a harsh directness that made the man wince. He simply nodded in response to her. She should've been angry, normally she would've been livid at the man for eavesdropping. Perhaps it was her weariness coming over her, or maybe the odd look in his eyes that made her simply sigh. "You would be correct, sir. My... outburst had nothing to do with my loss."

"I don't suppose you'd want to talk about it, would you?"

"No, I don't imagine I would." She responded with a coldness that she had long practiced. Such an attitude was one of the burdens she had accepted, while her old companions had given her some sense comfort, there were simply some things she couldn't let show. Even now as it felt like the ocean itself was pressing down on her chest slowly crushing what little life she held on to. She soon started walking away from the strange man.

"It doesn't have to be like this, Marth." He called out to her. She stopped abruptly in her tracks and turned back to look at him.

"Excuse me?"

"It's more than just your swordplay that is filled with desperation, the way you walk even looks like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. But it's not a burden you need to shoulder alone."

"Forgive me, sir. But what can you speak of burden?" Did this man simply think that her hearing some pretty words would change anything? Who was he to openly declare such things?

"After my... trespass earlier it's only fair I answer. I'm the tactician of the Shepherds. I'm new to the position, but recently I've become well aware of what that means. Every battle my friends put their lives in my hands, should my tactics fail, should my performance on the battlefield falter... one way or another it's my fault." The man looked at the palm of their left hand "I don't know what would be worse, the pain of losing them or watching the others mourn for them."

Neither the response nor the sincerity in it had been what she expected, still something wasn't right. She felt a twitch on her lip looking at the dark-haired man, who was he? The Shepherds had no such tactician, well there had been famed Mark, but he disappeared after Plegia. Studying the man intently there was simply no way he was Mark, they looked nothing alike. Why had no one told her of this man before? Her thoughts mixed with twinge of shame at so harshly judging the stranger. Even if their burdens were a world's difference, he at least had some idea.

"I'm... sorry for my harshness. That was unworthy of me and underserving of you." It was then she finally recognized the man. "Wait, you're the one who showed me that bit of kindness in the forest, aren't you?" She thought back to that night, it seemed so long ago. She had to admit for a few days the act of him throwing his sword at that Risen gave her a brief sense of amusement.

"Yep! Atris is the name by the way. We, uh never really formally introduced ourselves. You really saved our bacon that night." There was an eagerness in his words that baffled her; she had been anything but courteous to him, yet here he was trying to make peace with her.

"Forgive me, but I recall nothing of pork being involved that night. I do believe you yelled something about bear though," she said plainly as Atris simply stared at her and started laughing shortly afterward. She felt her cheeks flush, and her temper rise, was this simply a ploy to mock her!? "I simply state the truth, you yelled in desperation over some lost bear!" She growled at him lightly, the tactician's laughs coming to a stop, as he looked at her with a baffled expression.

"Wait, you weren't making a joke?"

"No, I was not!"

"Erm, I feel we've had a bit of a miscommunication. The phrase 'You really saved our bacon' isn't literal. It's an expression meaning you really got us out of trouble. I mean I'd definitely be dead if you hadn't intervened." Atris responded with a bit of embarrassment, but not as much embarrassment as she was feeling right now. Naga above, she was terrible at these odd expressions. Why couldn't people speak more plainly, did language need to be spiced up so? The two struggled to meet each other's gaze for a bit after that.

"Atris, I would like to question you on something." She finally relented and shattered the awkward silence that surrounded the two.

"Would I be permitted to ask a question of you in exchange?" He asked back. She thought on it, the man was an unknown variable in all things. Eventually she came to her answer. "Yes, but I may have to decline your question depending on its nature. That said, should I do so you'll be permitted to ask a different one."

"Alright then, you've got a deal. Ask away."

"Why did I lose today?"

"Simple, you're not Chrom." He answered matter-of-factly. The sheer bluntness caused her to flinch, and the tactician must've seen that as he began to flail his arms a bit to catch her attention. "What I mean is you fight like Chrom, no you fight exactly like Chrom and that's the problem. You neglect so much of your own natural ability and talent to fight like someone you're not. I don't know what your relation to Chrom is, but you as a whole are capable of far greater things than limiting yourself to someone else's fighting style."

Her eyes cast down to the ground at the strong, if quite unintentional compliment. Normally she wouldn't have believed the man on this regard, but one she had been the one to ask and two, Atris had demonstrated during his match a type of wily cunning that had proved himself at least somewhat knowledgeable about this. Resuming her focus on the tactician, he had since struck a thoughtful pose, drumming his fingers on his temple pacing about with an energy her sister would've adored.

Still, even if he was right, how does one improve upon perfection? Her way of fighting came from the greatest hero to ever live, she simply didn't see how such a thing was possible. What value could she contribute to something so far beyond her, a person so weak that her only hope of righting the wrongs of the world was to run away to these surreal lands. The sound of Atris' pacing came to a stop, as did her intrusive thoughts. Once more she focused on man and the question he would ask of her.

"Honestly all things considered you're incredibly fast, I'd put you on par with Lon'qu from the few feats you displayed when Chrom pushed you. Also, while you don't have the same raw strength as Chrom you definitely have enough to throw him around. Hm, I wish I could offer more advice on the matter, but unless we sparred that's all I got." She couldn't help but tilt her head as Atris seemingly answered her own thoughts.

"Atris, I believe you just answered two questions when I only asked one."

"Oh, yea I did. Guess I got so caught up in the moment. Consider it a gift answer then if I haven't offended you." The man chuckled and rubbed the side of his head messing up his hair even more.

"No, you've not caused any offense. You've given me something to think about." She responded and felt the corners of her mouth turn up if ever so slightly. He truly was such an odd and energetic man.

"I suppose it's my turn then. Hm, why did you join the tournament? I know this isn't a simple coincidence, you have a reason for being here." Atris asked her. It was a fair question and with that part of fate being averted it was an innocent enough question to answer.

"I can tell you that. Today the man... the man known as Lon'qu was gravely injured in a fight with the Prince of Ylisse. You've no doubt seen the man's aggressive form of fighting already. He was to lose his arm today against the prince, while pushing himself beyond his own limits. While he would remain a great warrior the loss of both his arm and this match for such childish reasons would haunt him."

"Wow, I uh, I didn't screw up that plan at all did I? We both really left the field in rough shape."

"No, besides his pride, he is fine. If anything, I believe today will be more reflective than a day he looks back to in shame." She answered rather confidently. It was at this moment she realized both of her hands were down at her sides, when had she taken her hand off Falchion?

"Have you thought of joining up with the Shepherds? I wouldn't let your loss today deter you from considering it, you truly are incredible with a blade, besides I'm sure you'd fit right in." The tactician suddenly asked her. She normally hated the mask she wore; it was completely impractical when it came to a fight. Yet now more than ever did she take solace in its obstruction. It hid the bitterness and dejection that had gathered in her chest and traveled upward.

"No, my path lies elsewhere away from the Shepherds. I appreciate the gesture though." The trained ice was back in her voice. Their conversation had been almost, no it had been pleasant, yet now it was already a fleeting memory

"Why don't I believe that exactly?" Atris remarked, a hint of sarcasm and accusation in his voice.

"Why do you even care?" She snapped at him. The shame of letting her emotions flow out of her like that was immediate. Why did he even have to mention the Shepherds? Why couldn't they have just parted ways on good terms? The silence between the two of them was choking.

"I'm sorry... I guess I'm projecting a bit." Atris finally spoke up, the emotions hard to read on his face."

"What do you mean by that?" She questioned him with a glimmer of curiosity.

"Well, I woke up in the middle of a field with nothing to my name, besides a timeworn sword, a thunder tome, and the clothes on my back. No memory of who I was or where I came from. I'm a stranger in an even stranger land. But I didn't wake up alone, I had friends by my side, and as scary as it was at first, I don't want to think of how terrifying it would've been had I... had I been alone during that time. I just can't help but feel our situation is similar. After all you fell from the sky with nothing but that sword at your hip, sure you have your memories, but..." Atris trailed off, nearing the end he had started to tap his fingers on his temple and striking the pondering pose once more.

She tried her best to not stare at him, her thoughts on the man before her had changed from puzzled to baffled. Why had no one ever even mentioned him before? This didn't make any sense, even in passing one would surely think the story of picking up a random amnesiac and making him your tactician one to tell. Just who was this man, and why was he here? Had... had something changed?

Despite her thoughts on the man, she felt odd... perhaps she took some form of comfort in Atris' words. The truth was their situations weren't too dissimilar, they were both strangers in a way to this land, or perhaps more in her case an intruder. Still, knowing there was someone else besides her lost companions that could understand her even if only slightly... it made her feel not so alone.

"I truly do appreciate your concern; we are not so dissimilar. Yet, there are reasons I can't join your group. If it will ease your worries though, I promise to take care of myself." She said trying to thaw the ice in her voice. Atris nodded to her a small smile gracing his face.

"Then I trust you to do just that, Marth. I look forward to the next time we meet." Atris said a warmth coming from the words that made ending their talk harder to do. The man extended his hand to her as she stared at it.

It was then she realized that this may actually be the last time she would see Atris. Perhaps he had died early in the war, the thought caused a sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach. She wanted to say one last thing to him, a simple till we meet again, but the disturbing reality that such a thing should not come to pass was just too much. With a single nod and a formal bow, she departed the highly amused man. At least he would take away some positive experience from their meeting.

She was well into the city, which was swarmed with Feroxi exiting from the Arena, all of them talking about the feast to be had in a couple of days. Darting off to a secluded area she pulled out the same purse of coins that Atris gave her so long ago. It was dwindling to the bottom. She had perhaps several days worth left at most. She cursed herself for forgetting to thank him for this, the money had really helped speed up her recovery. A roof over her head, and sourcing meals without hunting for them was rather nice. She had no qualms tracking down food, but she had grown fond of sleeping in an enclosed building. She'd have to find work soon.

She reached into the bag, the soft and metallic clinks of the coins shuffling about filled her hearing and thoughts. Another example of childish sentimentality, but she didn't care she wanted to find the right one. Finally withdrawing one, she examined it and gave the smallest of smiles at the token of... of a departed friend. Opening her vest, she dropped it into a pocket stitched inside.

She heard another clink as the coin had collided into something. Looking into the pocket she withdrew a ring. A small sadness had since crept up on the smile, as she remembered the small memento. It was a ring that had been forged to show one's standing as a member of House Ylisse. The last created of its kind, its luster still shined brightly despite the ruin it had endured. She never knew who the ring had been intended for, her questions about the matter were always met with deflection and a sorrowful awkwardness she didn't understand.

It wasn't until that fateful night so long ago she would be given the closest she ever received to an answer. Her father had told her it was a symbol of hope for something so desperately missed and dearly loved to return once more. With that she had been entrusted with its safekeeping the day her parents departed. Tears had begun to well once more, but she shook herself free of them. That was enough tears, she had a mission to undertake. So it was with a steeled heart the woman traveled into the heart of the Carved City to await and prepare for that fateful night.

Author's Note

Hello, Folks this is getting uploaded a bit early for reasons I'll explain later for now there's a few things about the interludes I meant to cover in Sumia's chapter but forgot because I was way to excited uploading it. One usually interludes aren't back to back like this, normally it's about every 2-4 chapters in the first arc. Second, interludes will sometimes include a second character's pov. Third, usually an interlude won't interfere with a main chapter's upload schedule, unless the thing ends up being a full chapter. They'll usually be uploaded the week in between main chapters.

With all that said, I won't be able to make next weeks planned upload. I've had an emergency come up that will take me away from my writing. So, long story short I'll be going on a brief hiatus, but I WILL be back with another upload before the end of the month. From there it's back to our regularly scheduled programming. Till next readers!