Nicola knew something was wrong when he felt his eyes open and his body yawn before he did either thing. The past week had flown by, the banquet a not so distant memory as his eyes scanned his surroundings without his control. The very next day he'd been admonished more than a few times for his behavior and made to swear that he would not strike a noble for the remainder of his stay in the halidom, not beyond sparring at the very least. Maribelle did take his side on the matter, but the spearman didn't want to cause a larger commotion by arguing his side of things—not when he had been out of line, regardless of justification.
Not much later did he have his chess game with Virion, one that turned into yet another grand affair between the two of them, Robin, Morgan. Before things could really begin, a rather bored looking Ricken followed by Miriel, Frederick and Maribelle joined their number to create a proper tournament of the matter. That irked Nicola at first, but he soon found himself enjoying the games, especially when he faced off against and bested both Morgan and Frederick after a rather difficult series of matches. He still lost to Virion, who had once more bested Robin, but the noble praised him on his improvements.
"I'd say you're a natural at this, even more than before," the teal haired man beamed, clasping him on his shoulders. "Have you been practicing much?"
"Not really. Occasionally I play at the Mage's College, but I don't really go out of my way to practice." He also didn't listen to the more aggressive plays Apollyon suggested: any victories he wrought he wanted to be from his own skill, something his other cautiously approved of.
"So long as you know when to accept help, Nicola. I would rather not have to take the reins should you bite off far more than you can chew."
The spearman found that easy enough to agree with. He accepted his other more than he had nearly a year ago, enough to not always dismiss him outright when he offered tips and advice. He wasn't going to budge on the issue of mastering his power, not yet at least. Apollyon had a few choice words about that, but the argument was one that neither wanted to have again. It was the biggest point of contention between them. Nicola wanted to grow strong based on his more human aspects and those aspects alone. He did not want to use the power he considered monstrous unless he absolutely had to. Conversely, Apollyon wanted him to accept every part of himself that he could truly grow strong. The other did not believe using monstrous power—after taming it into something easy to control on Nicola's side of things—made one a monster in the same way he did not believe that Nicola was a monster for having such power. Very much inhuman, perhaps, but not anything resembling a monster.
They had a rather reluctant agreement to not bring up the issue often, part of their still very tenuous acceptance of one another. Said acceptance nearly frayed that morning, before Apollyon spoke.
"Did you hand me control for any particular reason," he—Apollyon—asked aloud.
"I did not. You didn't wrest control from me?"
"Why would I do that? I may have offered to control your sword arm during the duel, but I can't just force my way into controlling your body unless we're in dire straits and you're unconscious."
That wasn't a lie, Nicola decided. With the exception of the duel and the Battle of Nomos, his other hadn't shown any interest in having control over his body.
"Do you think going back to sleep will fix things?"
"Perhaps?" Apollyon sounded just as lost as Nicola. "Only one way to find out."
With that, Nicola felt his body return to the borrowed bed and darkness took him soon after.
"It didn't work," Apollyon sighed, rubbing his eyes after an extra hour and a half of sleep.
"I noticed. We definitely did go back to sleep, but I didn't feel anything different after we blacked out."
"I noticed the same thing. I even tried willing the body back to you, but it appears that failed."
"So what now?"
"As much as I would like to play hooky and figure this all out, we—you—are busy today."
Right. Today was a rather busy day, wasn't it? Aside from his morning training and day at the Mage's College, he was going to retrieve Demna from Anna, finish gathering up his belongings and search for a suitable inn to stay at while he planned his next move. He also needed to speak with Emmeryn in regard to his move and thank her for the near year of hospitality she granted him and, once the move was finalized, say his farewells to most all he was involved with.
"You can handle all of that, right?"
"Don't treat me as some sort of fool just because you've only seen me fight," his other huffed, more than a smidge offended. "I can handle day to day activities just fine."
Apollyon could feel Nicola rolling his eyes. "If you believe so, prove it. Just don't stand out too much and ask for help if you need an inkling on how to talk to some people without coming off as too strange."
"I can manage just fine on my own, dammit!"
"I believe." Nicola smiled as his other made an irritated noise and stormed out of the guest room.
He returned moments later, having forgotten to grab a suitable set of clothes for the day.
The day started off rather well, with Apollyon following Nicola's standard routine. When not called to train with Cordelia or any other that consisted of going for a run around the palace outer walls then through the city itself. Along the way he'd attempt to snag a bite to eat and handle the odd task or minor requests before he made his way back towards the palace gates. He'd finish up with a long trip to the baths then get dressed for the day proper. The entire process went about as normally as it could, save for the odd looks he got from people used to seeing him an hour and change earlier. Beyond that and guiding a rather lost looking young adult to the inn they were looking for, the day started off as it normally would. Mostly.
"You know we're being followed, right?"
"By Lissa and two others, yes," Apollyon answered aloud. He couldn't say he was as jumpy and in-tune with his surroundings as Nicola was but he was more than aware of the three people following him. The first was Lissa who, bless her heart and attempts at keeping to herself, was doing a rather poor job at staying out of his sight. The bright dress against the dreary winter colors of the palace courtyard made her attempt all the more difficult, but even a different colored dress wouldn't change the fact that she wasn't being very quiet. That probably had something to do with their encounter just after he left the baths, though Apollyon had felt something was off about the princess' demeanor. Perhaps he was looking into things a bit too deeply, but he could have sworn for a moment that she was looking at him directly rather than Nicola.
Odd in a very mild way, but not disconcerting.
The second and third followers were far more subtle. For one, they were trailing further back than Lissa and were making very very little noise. If not for the fact that he could feel their eyes on the back of his head, he likely wouldn't have noticed them for a while longer, though having Nicola chime in after a few moments did help. It was the small things he supposed. At least nothing major was going to be happening today. Small things he could handle quite handily, larger things however...
"I believe."
Were it physically possible, he would have wrung his other's neck. Sadly Nicola was the one with the iron stomach, not him. The iron stomach, ability to cast spells and access to all of Apollyon's own abilities, then an assortment of his own that he refused to use. He'd have called it unfair, but he was never really interested in having more power. His first and foremost role was to keep Nicola alive and get him to accept himself. Then he could...
"You could?"
Don't worry about it.
That earned what he felt was an irritated sigh from Nicola. It was best Nicola wasn't aware of everything he was planning, even if it was all in his best interest. He was certain his other would agree with most of his ideas, though begrudgingly to varying degrees, but he knew for a fact that Nicola would lose his head should he find out exactly why he was being pushed to fully accept himself and grow from his pain. It was a little more selfish than wanting to help him regain his lost confidence and mature as a person, but nothing nefarious: Apollyon's claim of not wanting their shared body wasn't a lie nor was it a ploy for him to take full dominion of their being when they were to eventually unify in full. He wanted something smaller, much more personal and perhaps contrary to how he presented himself.
In that respect, he was glad that Nicola's discerning eye could not see through him—not that the Summoner had really tried to in the first place.
Apollyon mulled on that as he reached the Shephard's barracks, only to find the majority of the group packing up for what appeared to be a trip. Did they have to go back to Regna Ferox? No, they were packing lightly, taking their weapons and a few days worth of rations and supplies with them rather than a large amount of supplies. A much smaller trip then.
"Is something the matter," he asked, approaching Frederick. The knight turned and gave him a tired look that shifted to a distrusting squint. The look passed after a moment, though the older man did not relax.
"There have been numerous sights of Risen and a few other less than natural beings a day or so out and we are looking into it. At best, it's a small number of stragglers from the last time we encountered a group and it will be a clean route," he finally answered. "The Wing Commander bade me tell you that you are to remain in the halidom at this time, the Shepherds have this under control."
"The Wing Commander does not determine what I can and cannot do, Frederick." Nicola was more likely to take her words into consideration, but he would have said the same thing. Apollyon did not have that same reverence. He respected the older woman, but they had never spoken properly so she held no sway over him.
"She predicted you might say that," the knight sighed. "To that point she requested I direct you to her."
"And why you rather than a pegasus knight or messenger?" Or even herself for that matter.
"It would be best to discuss that with her yourself, Nicola. Should your help be required, a Familiar will be sent to fetch you." The knight paused then raised his voice. "The same goes for you, milady. You are to remain in the halidom as well per your brother and sister."
Apollyon was near certain he heard a faint swear on the wind.
"If Lissa's not going along I imagine you're taking Maribelle with you?" Left unsaid was the implication that they were being foolish if they didn't take at least one healer along with them.
"Her and a few members of the church who volunteered."
That was perhaps the reason he was being told to stay. Chrom wasn't interested in actual fights between those under his leadership and Frederick was even less fond. As much as Nicola would have avoided a fight, Apollyon would have relished one. He didn't mind fighting, he enjoyed the rush of facing a strong opponent where Nicola would shy away from fights he deemed unnecessary. That would have led to some problems, which would have potentially caused bigger issues when it came to the odd undead that had been appearing.
"I see. Then I will leave you to it," Apollyon said with a sharp nod. "Do come back safe, however. You and the rest of your number."
"We will do our best." That would have to do. Apollyon continued walking, nodding or waving at the numerous Shepherds that hustled past as they readied for their hopefully short trek.
"Morning Nicola," Morgan called, bounding over to him with an assortment of books bundled under one arm while a sword and two long daggers hung freely from the other side of his coat. "You coming with us?"
"No, no this time," Apollyon smiled, shaking his head. "I've been requested to stay here on standby."
"Aww, well hopefully you don't need to come by. That would probably mean something bad happened. It would very much mean that, actually."
"Hopefully not, the lot of you are skilled and have teamwork working in your favor."
"Yup," the ebon haired teen beamed, popping the 'p' as he did so. "I'm being paired with Donny so he doesn't get overwhelmed. He's pretty good, but he's not really quite of the fighter's mindset."
"Do you mean that he's somewhat averse to fighting or that he's still rather inexperienced and falters?"
"Yeah, that," Morgan supplied rather unhelpfully. "Occasionally freezes up or gets lost in what he's trying to do, which isn't the best in a fight."
It wasn't, it was something liable to get the boy killed.
"Remind him to keep his breathing measured and in control as best he can. Forgetting to breathe or breathing too quickly in a tense situation leads to mistakes and mistakes in battle can be rather costly."
"Will do," Morgan chirped. The teen then groaned as Apollyon ruffled his hair. "Hey!"
"Don't do anything too reckless either. No chess strategies on the battlefield."
"Fine. Not like mother would let me use any of those in the first place, even if I think she's wrong there."
"Good. You shouldn't think of yourself as a piece on a board. A real battle doesn't adhere to the rules of chess."
"I know, but it doesn't really change the fact that I visualize things like that in terms of movement. Helps me stay calm and focused."
"So long as you don't truly believe yourself or others to be those pieces..."
"I won't, no worries." The teen gave Apollyon an impish look. "If I wasn't certain you and mother weren't a thing, I'd say you were nagging me like a parent would."
"We are not a 'thing,'" he huffed. "Robin reminds me of my sister and I've zero interest in her." Beyond making sure she wasn't somehow Luka. He'd have a bone to pick with another higher power if that was the case.
"Right, you like Lissa and Maribelle." Morgan grinned as Apollyon schooled his face to neutrality.
"Such gossip is unbecoming, Morgan," Maribelle said, appearing almost as if she'd been called. Unlike the teen, she appeared to have all of her affairs in order. "Finish readying yourself for the journey ahead, otherwise I imagine Robin will become very cross with you."
"R-right! SeeyalaterNicolaIgottago," the teen exclaimed, rushing off in the same moment. Maribelle sighed once he was out of earshot.
"I swear, he and Robin are nothing alike," she breathed.
"Robin is much more direct in her teasing, but far more subtle when it matters," Apollyon agreed.
"No, Robin doesn't tease anyone in the slightest," the blonde woman replied with a frown. "She's far too busy getting little to no sleep from reading about tactics or studying maps."
Apollyon raised an eyebrow, but didn't remark further.
"Regardless, I did not come by to talk about our tactician, I came to see how you were doing."
"Why?"
"Nicola, you have the exact same look on your face as when we fought side by side in my home. After that monster masquerading as a person dropped that sphere of flame." The noblewoman crossed her arms. "Your limbs appear to be normal and you don't feel inhuman at the moment, but you don't feel as you usually do. Thus, I am concerned."
"I see. I'm just a bit tire–" The noblewoman's eyes flashed and one of her hands was on his forehead before he could stop her.
"Do not lie, you're far more sickly looking when you are tired," the blonde woman hissed. "You are cooler than normal, temperature wise. Not cold per se, but not warm in the slightest either. You appear to be mostly fine, beyond that."
"It's nothing to worry about. Should I feel the same for more than a day I will be concerned, but I imagine that will not be the case." Of all the people he or Nicola needed worried, Maribelle was low on the list. She would more than likely try to help, but they—he—had already impressed upon her the secret of their limbs and more. "If that does become the case, I will be rather open with you."
Maribelle glared at him for a moment. "Good. You'd best not go back on your word, else I shall grow more cross with you."
"And if I wanted that," he asked, offering a wolfish smile as he took her hand into his own. Her eyes glinted as she narrowed her pink orbs at him, but he matched her look with a lopsided smirk. Maribelle's glare faltered and she snatched her hand free from his own as she looked away.
"...Don't make me or my darling worry about you, oaf," she said much more quietly. "I may be strict and cross with you, but it doesn't mean I don't worry for your well being. Don't play with my feelings, that would hurt as much as a proper betrayal."
"I... that was not my intention, Maribelle," Apollyon said, not accustomed to the more vulnerable side the noblewoman was showing. "You are a friend, you declared as such and I accepted that. Your feelings are important to me, as callous and foolish as I can be. So long as I breathe and our bond remains intact, you will be important to me." The startled look on her face was another new thing to him as he moved to look her in the eyes. "I would attempt to save and protect anyone I see who I believe needs it, but there are a small few for whom I would put my life on the line for at the drop of a hat. You are among those few and I can only hope I don't fail you as I did many of them."
"Apollyon what the hell was that?" Nicola wasn't able to hide his confusion and concern. Apollyon wasn't quite sure why he'd said all of that aloud. He'd meant every word, he was hardly one to veil his true feelings on a matter, but he hadn't quite wanted to say them—not when they could be misconstrued or confused by others.
"I could tell. Just don't go doing anything out of the norm for me. People already think I'm strange, I'd rather them not think I'm insane." Reasonable enough. He'd make a better effort to control his words.
"I... I see." Maribelle offered a faint smile, one that was hard to read. "I'll keep that in mind, oaf. Don't get into too much trouble while I'm away."
"Likewise. Be safe."
They shared a look for a moment before the noblewoman took her leave. Once she was gone, Apollyon sighed. He hoped he hadn't messed things up between the noblewoman and Nicola as he made his way to Phila's office.
The large office felt as small as it had the last time they'd been there, with the Wing Commander reading through a large pile of papers. She gave a faint nod as Apollyon took a seat and waited for her to finish her work, hopefully not overflow from the Exalt's own workload.
"Frederick directed you here, did he not," she asked, not looking up.
"He did. Said that you forbid me from accompanying the Shepherds on their Risen routing task."
"Indeed, though not for the reasons you believe," the older woman nodded, finally looking up. She frowned slightly, her lips thinning into a small line. "You're rather different today."
"I'm a bit out of it, but otherwise fine."
The Wing Commander hummed, but said nothing else on the matter. She didn't have to in order to imply she didn't believe him.
"Regardless, the reason I requested both Chrom and Frederick bar you from accompanying the Shepherds is because your presence is required here. You have been summoned for a meeting with the church's Hierarch."
"Why would I meet with the head of the church? I'm well aware of their leadership's disdain towards me and I'm not interested in dealing with them more than I'm required to."
"Your reaction is justified and I mentioned as such when the Hierarch brought this up, but he rather insisted on meeting you to get a better grasp on your character," Phila replied. "As he put it 'I may judged the boy far too quickly and I seek to both get to know him and make amends for a situation that spiraled far out of my control due to negligence on my part.' If it makes any difference he was sincere, but if you are adamant on not meeting him there is little I can do."
"Indeed and I would rather not meet him, but I imagine he has the Exalt's blessing in this endeavor."
"He does, though she did warn him that the bridge he is attempting to mend may be long burned." It damn near was, but Nicola did want to know why the church appeared to vehemently dislike him. Thankfully not enough to label him as an apostate or worse, but enough to try and tarnish his otherwise sterling reputation. He hadn't done anything monstrous around them to his knowledge, bar nearly killing that assassin when his arm transformed, but he'd been called as such nearly his entire time in the halidom. The timing was odd to say the least, but perhaps the Hierarch could shed insight on that matter. If he didn't it wouldn't really matter, Nicola was leaving in the next two months or so regardless.
"Let's say I agree to this meeting," Apollyon began, "when would it begin?"
"In little more than half an hour," the Wing Commander answered. That was far less time than expected. "In exchange for the rather short notice, I would move forward one of our training sessions, though without Cordelia. She is still currently recovering from a rather nasty cold and thus cannot train or go on patrol until she fully recovers."
Phila clearly had more to say on the matter, but left it at that while Apollyon pondered if he could easily add a training session with the older woman into Nicola's schedule. Did he even want to?
Though he wasn't as stringent on his training regimen as his other, Apollyon did not like being idle for long stretches of the day. Having a few bouts with the Wing Commander or someone of her caliber and some time to practice with an actual physical body rather than in a mental space could do him some good. The downside being he'd have to use Nicola's preferred style or he'd stick out like a sore thumb. At least Phila was likely to restrict his use of afterimages—unlike the Guardian who would have set up a number of tasks and exercises he was only allowed to complete using them—not that Apollyon could summon them in the first place.
"What would you even practice? You seem far more together with your techniques than I am by a long shot."
That did not, however, preclude him from training in the first place. Besides, he could probably give Nicola an idea or two on how to use what small quantities of power he allowed himself in different ways.
"I'd rather you didn't."
He didn't have to pay attention then, did he? Nicola grumbled in response, but spoke up.
"I want to meet him. At worst we learn why he considers me a monster and we leave. At best, he apologizes and we get some semblance of peace worked out."
Nice words, but Nicola had been the one that wanted to drag him out of the church when the faux-assassination attempt on the Exalt occurred.
"That was different and you know it. Learning both that someone wanted to kill me, but played it off as an attempt on Emmeryn was one thing, but also knowing that she was being drugged at the same time didn't exactly put me in the best of moods. Nor did my arm beginning to burn where that dagger hit me."
Apollyon huffed. "Very well, I will meet with the Hierarch. Do not expect any niceties from me unless given a reason otherwise."
"So long as you offer the most basic of respects, that is fine," Phila nodded. "As much as you dislike him, he is the head of the church and he does have a great deal of influence among the people here."
"I can agree to that much. I will not openly insult him without reason, nor will I threaten him. I may not be on the best of terms with the majority of the clergy I've met, but I'm not so foul tempered as to look a gift horse in the mouth if it can resolve some of the issues I've had throughout my stay."
"Good. I will fetch you closer to when the audience begins, but I must implore you to stay within the castle walls. I would rather not be late or have to spend a great deal of time searching for you."
"Reasonable enough. I'll likely be in the guest room or gardens." After he found Lissa, at least. The princess didn't need protecting at all times, but he was somewhat wary of leaving her to her own devices when there were two other unknowns he could feel in the palace. Actually— "Just to be sure, have you felt anything odd in the palace over the course of today? Aside from myself. I've noticed I'm being tailed from out of sight by a few people and I'm rather wary of anyone who would attempt to follow me around without first making themselves known."
"To my knowledge, the only one tailing you would be Princess Lissa, but you don't mean her I imagine."
"I do not."
"I see. I will send Aquila to look into the matter during the audience." With that said, the Wing Commander dismissed the spearman. Once he was out of sight, she brought a hand to her chin and took a deep breath. "I'm beginning to see what Lady Emmeryn meant. There are two presences within him. How odd."
Bar the mild twisting of the truth, this presence appeared to be more forthcoming and honest about its feelings than Nicola usually was. She would need to observe it more and potentially act in the event it was a threat to her lady.
Apollyon learned rather quickly that he enjoyed citrus based teas. He hadn't exactly invited Lissa to the palace gardens with any plan in mind and he certainly couldn't rely on Nicola to have any idea of what to do. His other was still rather confused about his feelings for the princess and was rather adamant on denying that he held some form of affection for her—greater affection rather. Nicola was well aware that he liked the princess in his own terms. He didn't want to admit that he 'like liked' her however, which made him less than useful when it came to conversing with her.
Apollyon's interests and hers wouldn't align, he knew that for a fact. Lissa didn't seem to be the sort that enjoyed fighting and he was almost certain she wasn't interested in the inner workings of monsters. Being fair, the latter was less a proper interest of the destroyer and more a part of his... he hesitated to call them duties. Knowing how things ticked and how to best destroy them when sheer force wasn't an applicable choice made fighting monsters far easier, loath as he was to admit such. Conversely, he wasn't really interested in pranks or cooking—Nicola was far more interested in the latter for all that he was the worse chef of the duo.
"What?"
You learn many things when you can't interact with the world at large. Cooking is one of those things.
"Bull."
Doubt me as much as you like, I'm the better cook.
"Prove it."
When you decide to learn more about using your power properly, I'll show you a bit.
"Bastard."
Apollyon gave a content hum as he sipped his tea. He wasn't sure how his other could prefer the bitter tang of coffee to this, but he wasn't going to ask.
"It's good, isn't it," Lissa beamed, taking a sip from her own cup. It had been her idea to get tea once they arrived. It was part of her ritual with Nicola and the spearman tended to humor her, adding enough sugar to make a Fafnir have a sugar crash to his drinks when the princess wasn't looking. That couldn't be called tea so much as herbal syrup.
"...Hey."
Regardless, that was just another difference in their beings. Apollyon didn't mind lightly sweetened teas and he certainly didn't mind the way Lissa had brewed it. Apparently Maribelle had shown her how to do so, though their noble friend never disclosed her personal blend.
"Sublime," Apollyon smiled, dipping his head just slightly as he tilted the cup and took another sip. It was a gesture he'd seen Virion, Maribelle and the princess herself perform so he felt fine mimicking it. "I do believe this is my favorite tea."
"That's good to hear," Lissa smiled. Her expression became thoughtful. "Are you sure you're just a little off today? You didn't hit your head on something hard or have a vase fall on it or anything like that?"
"No, neither of those things happened. Why?"
"Well..." Lissa looked away, embarrassment coloring her features.
"What's wrong?"
"It's just... usually you take half a container's worth of sugar or syrup to your tea before you drink it and you always look like it personally offended you as you gulp it down, regardless of blend," the princess explained. Clearly, Nicola hadn't been as subtle as he thought in that regard. "But today you're savoring the tea slowly and you look like you've fallen in love for the first time."
"Third time," Apollyon corrected.
"T-third time!?"
"Oi! Don't say anything wei–"
"Wildberry tarts, a well made burger and tea would be my three loves when it comes to food, Lissa."
"O-oh. Not three people then."
"No. I've only fallen in love tw–once," Apollyon smiled. Nostalgia hit him, though it wasn't his own. Nicola's feelings welled within him.
"That was Sharena, wasn't it?" Surprise overtook both the destroyer and his other.
"I'm surprised you remembered that name," he—they—admitted. The smile became smaller, more wistful. "Yes. My first love was Sharena, princess of a foreign land. I didn't realize it at first and it certainly wasn't love at first sight—I was rather preoccupied with getting my bearings after a rather nasty hit to my head."
Nicola, you decide how much to tell her.
"You weren't just going to spill everything?"
She was your beloved, not mine. I share your heart, but we are different people ultimately. If you wish for Lissa to know more about her, you choose what to tell her. I cannot do her spirit justice with my own words or feelings because they are not yours. I may be meddlesome and nagging, but I respect your heart and your comfort most of the time.
"Only most of the time?"
When the day comes when you fully accept every part of yourself, I will respect all aspects of your being.
"Ah."
It took Nicola a few moments to figure out what he wanted to be heard, how he wanted Sharena—not the idealized version of her he'd mentioned in his story of Zenith—to be known.
"She was... vibrant," Apollyon finally said, speaking Nicola's words rather than his own. "Her heart was full of love and compassion, even towards those who wronged her and those who fought against her. She was forgiving, even to those who betrayed her, because she could always see the good in people—the good they could not or did not always want to see themselves."
"Is that what made you love her?"
"It helped," Apollyon nodded. "The much larger factor was her helping me return to myself when one of the few people I can say, without a doubt, I hate with all my being killed another beloved person of mine, a mentor who guided me when I felt lost or overwhelmed." He looked down. That had been a rough moment for him and Nicola both. In Zenith, Apollyon had been suppressed and near dormant due to something with the magic permeating that world. He was little less than a nagging feeling in Nicola's head, a soul aware of the ongoings of the world around him but barely able to move it. When Gunnthrá died that changed, Nicola's raw grief and hatred waking him from his daze as his power went wild and nearly overtook them both. If not for Sharena embracing them as Surtr fled, he imagined both of them would have been lost to rage and become the monster Nicola feared he was.
"When I was moments away from losing myself, a hair's breadth from becoming a being of destruction without rhyme or reason due to grief, she reached out to me and brought me back from that precipice. She reminded me that I was human deep inside and accepted all of my flaws, even as some tried eating away at her."
Incidentally, that had been the day he discarded using a sword in favor of using a spear and why he was so averse to fire in the first place. Part of it was taking after his love and giving himself a fresh start, but the other was fear that he would fall into the same fury that he held on that day if he took up the sword again. Thankfully, such a fear had been unfounded—the duel with Theodore and his sister would have been far more bloody otherwise—but that was why he wanted Nicola to learn to control his power more than anything else. Not just because he wanted his other to fully accept himself, but because he didn't want to see history repeat itself if tragedy struck again. He couldn't always rely on the intervention of others if he lost himself.
"She saved you from yourself?"
"Indeed. Had she not, I do not believe we would have met. I'm near certain I would have died that day or not long afterwards, either by forcing the hands of my comrades or by burning myself out until I was little more than an empty, cracked husk." An irony considering ashes had always been their domain and their opponent had been a ruler of flames. They both learned then that any flame could create the ashes they could use, the vital flame of life included, but they could not manipulate fire in the slightest. Another irony with how important it was to use their power.
"I see..." Lissa rested her tea cup along one of the marble benches, multi-colored light refracting from the stained glass mural framing her picturesquely as she turned to face him in full. "May I ask how she...?"
She didn't quite know how to broach the subject, not delicately at least. Apollyon gave her credit for trying however. Nicola did as well, though the subject was much harder for him to approach. Still he gave the destroyer the go ahead to continue. Reluctantly, but he was the one who was still attempting to push himself forward and past his problems, something that was worrisome in itself with how forcefully he was going about it.
"A bitter enemy took her life," he spat, more bitterness in his voice than expected. "Despite my best efforts and the efforts of my remaining allies. We all failed there, but unlike my compatriots I didn't die for my failure. Instead I ended up here and it's been hard to strike the right balance between looking to the future with hope and mourning the mistakes of the past that led me here."
That was how Nicola felt about it, even as he tried to push himself to move on. Deep down Apollyon knew the former summoner would never forgive himself, but he held onto a thin sliver of hope that he would do so eventually. He needed closure just as much as he needed to accept the past. That was why he was so fixated on killing the Goddess of Death, to get just that: closure. Apollyon wasn't certain if that would truly be the most helpful thing however. Revenge was fine and dandy, but not if the price was too steep or if his other became hollow as a result. Preventing that from happening tied into his wish; he didn't want Nicola to lose himself in his quest for revenge. He certainly hadn't taken it well when he found that the most concrete information Ylisse had on god slaying weapons was that they existed and that the 'kingsfang' was of their number.
"Do you hate being here," Lissa asked, voice quiet and strained.
"I don't. Being here, despite the odd treatment from some of your people, has been good for me." That was more Apollyon than Nicola. "At the very least, there are far fewer large conflicts here than back home." He took a deep breath. "Though I cannot stay here, as much as I wish to."
Nicola still wanted a weapon that could kill the Goddess of Death, one that wouldn't cost the lives of near everyone around him to use and then quite a few more. If Ylisse didn't have such a thing then, regardless of how amenable to the halidom he was, he needed to take his search elsewhere. He also considered hiring out a few mercenaries long term to go with him, he was only one person and—strong as he was—that was a rather dangerous thing when his enemies had numbers and resources he did not. Lissa hadn't taken that well.
"I–I forgot you had to leave," she finally said, face white as a sheet. "Do you have to go?"
"For a time, perhaps forever," Apollyon answered. He would have stayed if given the choice, at least somewhere in the halidom's lands. As much as he was more than willing to fight the church, he didn't mind the majority of the people within the nation. This being noted, he also likely would have stormed the church and dragged the Hierarch from the grand cathedral all those months back had he been in control. Still, this was Nicola's decision and he had to respect such a thing even if he disagreed with it.
"Why?" The distress in that word alone punched through the destroyer, hitting him in the heart like a bullet. Gone was the jovial and rosy Lissa, the one who loved tea, mischief and her friends dearly. In her place was the girl he'd seen when she asked if Nicola hated her, the one who trembled like a leaf, with all too bright eyes and an expression clouded over with self doubt and other things Apollyon couldn't immediately read. The answer came a beat later.
Lissa thought it was her fault.
"There's still something I must do," he finally said. "Remember the day we met, when Frederick decided to question me on my motives?'
"You wanted to slay a god," she murmured. Panic set into her features soon after. "You can't! You'll die!"
"If things go the exact same way they did in the past, perhaps." Nicola's words.
"But what about everyone who cares for you, everyone who wants to see you thrive and do well!?" He didn't like how world up Lissa was growing, even if he understood why.
"If it were to cost my life to prevent the same thing that happened to my friends from repeating, I'd pay that cost without question." Nicola's words once more. "That being said, I wouldn't simply throw my life away for that goal. I have every intention of coming back alive and in one piece when that time comes. I will not allow history to repeat. On that I stake my honor and my pride."
Apollyon's words. The destroyer was not interested in dying at the hands of Hel and he certainly wasn't going to allow his other to make a suicidal charge at the goddess if his search for a god slaying weapon was ultimately fruitless. Keeping Nicola alive and well was his role after all, something he took rather seriously even when it went against his other's wishes.
"I'll hold you to that," the princess finally said, eyes red from nearly, but not quite, starting to cry. Apollyon wordlessly accepted the tight hug that followed.
You're going to need to set things straight with her Nicola.
"In regard to me leaving?"
In regard to your feelings towards one another and that. It's not my place to do that for you, nor would I if asked. Do not break her heart.
"I'll try not–"
You will not 'try,' Nicola. You'll need to be honest and clear with her rather than dancing around the matter. As Maribelle said to me, do not play with her feelings—unintentional as you may be doing so.
"You certainly put a lot of stake in what Mari says."
Indeed. It is likely because I have a great deal of affection for her, even before we take into account the trust she has earned.
Nicola's silence spoke volumes. Regardless, it is something you must take care of before you leave or before things come to a head. If you do not I imagine the consequences will be dire.
"Ah, there you are," another voice said, drawing Apollyon's attention as Lissa stiffened in his arms. He glanced upwards in time to see Phila raising an eyebrow before continuing. "It is nearly time for your meeting, Sir Apollonia."
Apollyon gave a small nod. "Once this is all over and done with, we can speak more if you would like—though I imagine we would both prefer less straining topics."
"I'll think about it." And like that the embrace ended, with Lissa sullen and tired and Apollyon concerned with how much would fall on his shoulders should Nicola not make up with the princess. Once the princess left earshot, the destroyer let out a deep sigh.
"I take it that something happened?" The Wing Commander turned and gestured for the green haired youth to follow
"Lissa forgot about my plans to leave the halidom," Apollyon breathed, trailing after Phila. "Among things."
"Among things?" The blue haired woman slowed as she glanced his way.
"I would rather not discuss the matter if that is fine with you. It can be summarized with Lissa being concerned for my well being and me not having the ability to reassure her properly."
"And I imagine you plan to mend things with her?" Apollyon wasn't daft enough to not hear the slight edge enter the older woman's voice.
"That is in fact my intention." If he had to drag his other by the hair to get it done he would.
"Good." The remainder of the walk was quiet. Servants gave polite bows and words of acknowledgement, both of which Apollyon returned with faint nods or slight inclinations of his head. A small thing, but people were people regardless of their stations. Soon a familiar audience chamber came into view, the familiar sight of Emmeryn sitting calmly at a table meant for several people not hard to miss.
Beside the Exalt was an older looking man, near strikingly familiar to the Pontiff as much as he was different. Where the other wizened man had an eternal scowl and look of irritation, this one had a calm, if anxious, look. His hair, silvering with age had not begun to thin like the Pontiff's and his earthy brown eyes were inviting rather than beady and angry.
"Lady Emmeryn, Hierarch," Phila bowed before taking her place at the Exalt's side. "I have brought Sir Apollonia, as requested."
"Thank you, Phila." The Exalt offered a serene smile as her green eyes rested on Apollyon. The destroyer almost swore he saw them flash violet for an instant, but he brushed it off as he met her gaze.
"Indeed," the Hierarch nodded before addressing the green haired youth. "My apologies for the rather sudden summons, Sir Apollonia. I am Gregorios, Hierarch of the Ylissean branch of the Church of Naga—Though I imagine you knew that based on the nature of the summons."
"I was," Apollyon nodded. "Though I must ask, why reach out to me now? In the near year I've been in the halidom, we could have spoken many a time."
"That is a failing on my part, one that I regret deeply," the older man breathed, bowing his head. "When I first saw you, you had a grave mark across your heart and a number of dark veins pulsing about you that made you look unholy, like an affront to my lady's will. Rather than heal you, I wished to have you cast out of the halidom for fear that you would bring harm to it."
"The seal of my heart was enough for that?"
"Seal?"
The 'box' you push most all of your power into.
"Then you are aware of it."
"Yes, I use it to hold back the vast majority of my strength so that I do not endanger others simply from being around them."
"And is there any chance of that happening at the present."
"That depends, will there be a blade pointed at the neck of someone I care about in the near future." Gregorios did not flinch from the frigid glare Apollyon shot him, much to his credit. "If not, the odds are rather slim. I can safely draw small amounts of that power forward at the moment, but if I draw out too much it would more than likely be difficult to stay near me for extended periods of time, not to mention dangerous."
"So you are aware of this potential danger and you choose to stay around others?"
"Lord Gregorios, power does not make one a monster innately. Be that divine, fell or anything in between. It is how it is used, if at all, that determines where or not one firmly remains as a person or becomes something different."
"Indeed, but that does not mitigate the fact that such a danger is present."
"If that is how you would think of things, would you not worry about assassins or ne'er-do-wells behind every corner and wake up expecting the day to immediately go wrong," Apollyon retorted. "Perhaps I am a danger to others, but do you not think I have a trick or two up my sleeves in regard to mitigating that risk to others? That I have not planned for that scenario in the slightest."
"Nicola." Emmeryn did not raise her voice, but the warning was there.
"My apologies," Apollyon offered before continuing. "It would be one thing if I didn't know what sort of power I hold or how to restrain it in the slightest. That, fortunately, is not the case."
Bringing all of it to bare was another thing entirely, for Nicola at least. The sooner he learned to do that, the better.
"And what, pray tell is the power you hold if it requires such a complex seal to keep it at bay."
"I don't–"
"I cannot tell you," Apollyon replied. "At least, not in any meaningful manner that would make sense to you."
"Are you insinuating that I could not or would not understand your capabilities?"
"I am not, I'm simply poor at explaining things in a concise manner when it comes to said power. The easiest thing to say is I have control over any and all ashes that I am aware of in an area. That does not fully encapsulate what I can do with said power or go into its properties, but it works as an example."
"Any and all ashes?"
"Yes. So long as I am aware of them or in some way encounter them, I can manipulate them. I do not, but I have such an ability."
Platforms, weapons and perhaps even catalysts came to mind when he thought of using ash, at least with the amount of power Nicola allowed himself. There was much more beyond that, but Nicola wouldn't unleash that power without good reason and he was unfortunately adamant in having little to do with it.
"I see." The Hierarch gave him a long look before sighing. "You speak the truth, that much is certain. Thus we can address the other elephant in the room."
Other elephan—
"Gregorios n–"
Searing pain burned in Apollyon's chest as something struck him. It felt like his blood became molten metal as his heart thundered and his vision swam. Treachery!? How dare—
"You would dare—" Apollyon gritted as he fell to a knee then glared outwards. The Hierarch looked stunned, as did the Exalt and the Wing Commander. That didn't stop him from surging to his feet with fury in his eyes.
Nicola are you alright?
The lack of anything resembling a response was worrying.
Nicola? Kiran?
Still no response, even to the name that would garner a strong reaction from his other.
"What did you do?" The destroyer didn't even try to restrain his voice as his eyes flaring a brilliant green. He didn't care that the once lightening sections of his hair became black as pitch or that his shadow deepened as it grew to a nearly solid form as he gave a baleful glare.
"I thought to speak with the true owner of that body," Gregorios began as Apollyon fixed him with a furious glare. "I did not realize that–"
"So you attempted to bring him out with force rather than ask?"
"I thought him—you—to be possessed, perhaps by some form of malevolent spirit. I didn't realize–"
"Bloody fool of a man you are! If you'd asked rather than acted I would have explained the situation!" He stomped his foot as if to emphasize his point, filling the chamber with the sound of breaking stone as cracks spread across the marbled floor. He winced, not having intended on putting that much force into the action, and felt no mirth as the older man shied away.
"Then you aren't taking Nicola's body without his permission?"
"I am not. I don't even want control of his body. Today was just strange and rather than him being in control I found myself in control in his stead. We already tried resolving the matter to no avail and now I cannot hear his voice."
"May I ask who you are?" Some bravery returned to Gregorios, but soon waned as Apollyon fixed him with a baleful glare.
"Me?" Apollyon scoffed. "I am Apollyon, one half of the whole that you refer to as Nicola. The angrier half that's far more inclined to fight, especially when his other side is hurt." His burning gaze turned to the Exalt. "You of all people should understand what I mean."
The Exalt put things together rather quickly. "You're the presence I felt when I first met Nicola and the same one from the days after the false assassination attempt. I did not think we would speak, let alone on such unfortunate terms."
The destroyer grunted a response as he felt the faintest of stirrings deep within himself. It was Nicola, thankfully. He would have turned Gregorios into a bloody mist if Nicola had been permanently injured. He made the sentiment known, much to Emmeryn's disapproval.
"What's done is done. When Nicola stirs I will relay all of what he said and has to say on this matter. Be thankful I promised to be civil, else we would no longer be speaking, Hierarch."
"I must apologize then, both for my haste and for the treatment you have received at the hands of people of the cloth."
"Is your apology genuine or from fear of my presence? If it is the latter, save it."
Apollyon was well aware that his countenance was frightening, judging by the strained look on the Exalt's face, the warning looking the Wing Commander was giving and pallid complexion of the Hierarch. He was allowed this much indignation however.
"It is genuine," Gregorios finally said, gasping as Apollyon glared at him and dark shadows writhed towards him like grasping vines. "Had I bothered speaking with you or your other half sooner... I believe we could have avoided such a confrontation."
And like that the pressure on him faded. Apollyon took a deep breath and exhaled, banishing the vestiges of the power he was allowed to call upon.
"I see. For the future, should you have any questions or concerns, send someone to contact me or my other. At the very least we will do our best to answer any questions or respond to summons should they be needed, with some exceptions."
"Some exceptions?"
"Questions we do not have the answer to or deeply personal affairs."
"That is understandable. Everyone has their fair share of secrets," the Hierarch nodded hastily, "I can only hope said secrets do not jeopardize the halidom."
"If I believe something I know will jeopardize others, I will tell them. It would be rather remiss of me otherwise."
"You did inform me of this 'Loki'," Emmeryn said after a long silence. "I can only imagine if any others from your home appear you will warn us of them if they prove to be a threat."
"That would be correct. To that effect..." Apollyon paused, expression becoming grim. "Be on the lookout for a sudden increase in Risen or other undead beings, especially if accompanied by dying fields, poor harvests and the sudden appearance of swamps full of violet flowers. I do not believe that she is here or has a way of getting here easily, but there is a person—nay, being—that will imperil all of Ylisse should she arrive." He took a breath. "Should she arrive, you must evacuate as many people as you can or they will all die and I will hardly be able to slow her down if she's allowed to kill so many people in a short span of time."
"Is there another worse than Loki from your world?"
"Yes and you could say that we are destined to meet again. For your safety I am not to name her."
"Cannot or will not?"
"Cannot."
A deep sigh filled the room as Emmeryn met the destroyer's gaze. "Nic... Apollyon, is your adversary a god?"
"One that presides over death, yes."
It was rare to see the Exalt bury her face in her hands.
"You've angered a god," the Hierarch exclaimed. "Why? How?"
"Such an action does seem rather reck–"
"By opposing her when she deigned to end all life where I came from."
Silence took the room for a second time. Gregorios sagged in his seat as he murmured a prayer while Phila schooled her face to stoic calm. It was Emmeryn who had the most vocal reaction of them.
"Naga, preserve us."
"I'll fight her to my dying breath should she appear here. I will not allow what happened to my home to happen elsewhere if I can help it."
"This explains a great deal," Emmeryn breathed, not looking up. "That is why Nicola requested archival access as his reward for saving my sister."
"Yes. Nicola wanted to know if your nation knew of any god slaying armaments and, if it did, where they might be located. The closest thing he found was something referred to only as the Kingsfang, but any other pertinent details appeared to have been lost or destroyed long before we were granted access."
"I see. Unfortunately, such knowledge was there a decade or so ago, though I wasn't the most familiar with it," Emmeryn admitted. "Our previous tactician general had been looking into a similar topic at my father's behest, but anything they found was lost when their chambers were set ablaze by an unknown party and they vanished."
"I see." That was rather unfortunate. It did explain why so many books and passages appeared to be missing when Nicola spent half the day or more at a time in the archives. They were missing or more aptly destroyed. He wasn't going to be happy to learn that once he fully came to after whatever Gregorios had done. It was only going to expedite his decision to leave the halidom. He had a minor lead and he needed to see if he could get more out of it elsewhere.
After a moment Gregorios spoke again. "Just to ensure you weren't misheard, you would face off against this deific being, even if it killed you?"
"I would." Hel—dammit—was his problem to solve and preferably destroy. Another thing he and Nicola were in full agreement over. Granted, Apollyon was much more inclined to try and live through the confrontation if possible. Still, if push came to shove and that was the only way she could be slain, a single life was worth it. "There are very few things I would offer up my life in full for, but stopping her is one of those things. Should she appear in this world, I will face her and I will remove her from this world or pave the way for another to do so. If I don't I wouldn't be able to face my fallen allies and everyone else that lost their life for me."
"You cannot think you could defeat a god on your own, can you." Phila hissed. " That's foolishness."
"I can't very well entrust that task to another, can I? Not when she could simply curse them to die at the moment of her choosing and raise them as one of her cohort."
"And she cannot simply do that to you?"
"To my knowledge, no. I imagine it has something to do with me being from another world."
"You keep using that word, 'world,'" Emmeryn intervened before the normally calm Phila lost her composure. "As if there are multiple rather than just the one we live in."
Ah. He'd slipped up there. No point in trying to cover that particular detail then.
"You would be correct. Long before I encountered your siblings I lived in a world known as Zenith for a time, a world that connected to a myriad of others. That included Ylisse, though I do not recall encountering your siblings or near anyone else from the halidom and neither does Nicola." He briefly mentioned Lon'qu and the others who fought alongside him, but no one in the chamber appeared to recognize the names bar one.
"You worked with the Witch of Plegia?"
"Aversa? Indeed. She was having some sort of crisis of faith when we met and after some convincing and a very short battle, she joined the Order of Heroes. She's a surprisingly kind person once you get past the haughty bluster and fake attraction she uses to get in people's heads. Also a good teacher for the Dark Arts and magic in general, but not afraid to tear you down if you get too big of a head." Her pegasus was also the only one out of any he encountered that didn't flee when his other approached. Even Eir's did and her steed was undead.
Perhaps her lessons and the discussions with other Dark Mages were why Nicola could call upon Dark magic so easily. He still hadn't, but it wasn't hard to realize he was well versed in it when he filled his spellbook with spells of that nature then slowly but surely converted them into Earth aligned spells. Apollyon wasn't sure how he managed to do the latter part: that appeared to be some stroke of genius or insanity his other had stumbled upon without him realizing it. How Nicola performed magic went well over his head and Apollyon wasn't a fool or inept when it came to understanding things.
"I will take that into consideration when she isn't turning my fliers inside out with hexes," Phila breathed. "I'll ask her for tea and we can have a wonderful sit down in regard to how misunderstood and not evil she is."
"Phila, calm."
"My apologies, Lady Emmeryn."
"It is fine. We have simply seen a different side of the same person. That doesn't absolve her of her actions against our people, but in the same respect her actions—damning as they are—are not the only facets of her as a person," Emmeryn said simply. "With that said, I would not simply forgive her for harming our people, not without proof of sincerity on her side of the issue. One's hands can only be stained with so much blood before no one, even the most peaceful sort, will refuse to shake them."
The final remark appeared to be directed at him Apollyon mused. He didn't disagree with the Exalt's sentiment either, though he was surprised to hear it from her of all people. Perhaps she had more steel in her spine than he'd initially given her credit for.
"Then," Gregorios said after some time, his expression thoughtful as he furrowed his brow. "Perhaps the visions were wrong. Perhaps it wasn't you that was a threat to the halidom, but this unnamed god."
All eyes turned to him at that moment.
"Explain." Apollyon felt like he wasn't going to like the answer he received.
"Shortly before your arrival I was given a vision," the Hierarch began, clearing his throat. "It began with the sight of a destroyed Ylisstol, bathed in death and devastation never before seen. The scent of death, rotting flowers and something akin to honey and freshly tilled soil filled the air as the sky burned and ash fell like snow from blackened clouds. Violet flowers bloomed, sprouting from cracked stone and growing around broken glass as charred corpses littered the ruins and shadowy winged figures drew closer to the heart of the halidom. There the Falchion lay shattered at the feet of two figures: one clad in the aegis of divinity while the other radiated the same suffocating and malefic aura you do.
"The two beings glared at each other, unfathomable hatred in both their eyes, before the world began to burn and the heavens burst. Stars all colors fell from spiraling gates in the sky like hail, engulfing what little remained of the halidom in searing light as the two figures struck one another. When the light faded, neither figure was present, only the Falchion and another who took its broken pieces with them before they vanished." The Hierarch paused, taking a deep breath as he allowed his words to sink in. Once he was certain no one was lost, he continued.
"When we first met, you exhibited the same aura I saw in the vision. It appeared to be near identical except it was far weaker and appeared to be eating away at you rather than remotely under your control. Despite that, I precautioned Lady Emmeryn to forestall or halt your treatment for the sake of the halidom."
"Advice I refused to heed," Emmeryn added, looking up from a moment of deep thought.
"And so I had others sent to encourage you to leave. Peacefully," Gregorios continued. "Except my orders appear to have been twisted or misinterpreted and I myself mistaken."
"Go on." Apollyon's face had long grown stony. Nicola wasn't going to like hearing about that particular revelation in the slightest.
"Your aura is the most foul and sinister thing I've felt, second only to the maddened hatred of those returned from the grave by the machinations of the Fell Dragon's servants, but it is not malicious. You, or perhaps it is Nicola, have the potential to commit great evil. It may not be as far reaching as what the Fell Dragon could do if it were to ever return, but that does not mean it would be any less devastating in the area it affects. I do not know what could cause you to do such a thing, but it is rather clear that you are averse to such a thing happening."
Of course he was. There was a reason Nicola was afraid of becoming a monster, even if he wasn't one. The hard part was convincing him he wasn't one for having a very human reaction when he lost a loved one. People grew angry, especially when a person they cared about was killed before their eyes with callous cruelty. That wasn't the behavior of a monster. No, a monster was the thing pretending to be a man before him at that moment, the one who had killed Gunnthrá then laughed and insulted her in the same breath he admitted to torturing her with. That, coupled with his malice, the wanton destruction he'd wrought and the dogma he lived by, made the embers of ire in Nicola's heart ignite into a burning azure hatred so intense it had nearly destroyed them both. His other had never been the same after that day, having seen what he could become if he ever lost himself in his anger.
If only he wasn't so quick to damn himself and close himself off in the same moment.
Before that day, he'd been far more accepting of his transformation—that of his arms at least, nothing further had changed before his ire over took him—back when he'd been far more confident and sure of himself. Before he'd smacked head first into a mystical stone arch after passing through a portal.
"So long as I or Nicola do not get pushed far past one of our breaking points, we should not become such a being. This does not mean test those limits, that is unwise and likely to end poorly. Let sleeping dragons lie and whatnot if myself or Nicola give the warning that we aren't in the best of moods."
"This is reasonable. I imagine you won't attack any of my people on sight?"
"So long as they aren't actively hostile and combative, I can ignore them and so can Nicola. It's in situations where we are attacked or given enough reason to where we will retaliate or strike first."
"I believed as much, but I needed to hear it from you in person." Gregorios gave a heavy sigh of relief. "I'll look further into having the rumors spread about you discontinued."
"You weren't before?"
"I was going to see if I could have them halted or slowed, but now I'm more inclined to do that and look into their source a bit more."
"You don't need to."
"I'm already looking into another issue at this time, so I do not mind. It is the least I could do, now that we are on the same page."
"If that is the case I will consider the previous incidents water under the bridge, so long as they do not persist or repeat. If they do, we will have words."
"I will keep that in mind."
The destroyer looked over to Emmeryn. "Is there anything else that needs to be discussed or am I free to go?"
"I do not believe so."
"Then I must thank you for your overall hospitality and generosity in allowing us to borrow a room in the palace for as long as we did. In the coming months, Nicola will likely be leaving the palace then the halidom to learn more about the Kingsfang or another weapon with a comparable history."
"He does not have to, he is welcome to stay in the palace for as long as he needs to."
"I understand that and he does as well, but he feels as if he's overstayed his welcome in the palace and ultimately wants to repay you for your generosity. I am unsure what he will do, but expect it to be thoughtful. I hope."
Emmeryn gave a rough chuckle. "I'll keep that in mind. Please let him know that he is always welcome to return if he chooses to."
Apollyon nodded then turned to leave the audience chamber.
"Just a moment," Phila called, drawing his attention.
"Yes?"
"If you truly plan on facing a god in martial combat, you will need to hone yourself further. To that end, I will be increasing the intensity of Nicola's training and perhaps your own to better suit his needs. I am unsure of your particular prowess with a spear, but I feel you could learn something, given time."
Apollyon gave another nod before leaving the room, just barely avoiding the two messengers rushing past him into the chamber. That didn't bode well, but it wasn't his business. If it was he would know soon, but until then he had a few more errands to run, a very pointed conversation to have with an irate weapon smith and classes at the Mage's College to bluff his way through.
He pretended the exasperated yell was his imagination as he left earshot. Not his problem. Hopefully.
A/N: So this chapter was basically done, bar a few corrections and edits, a few weeks ago, but then Elden Ring became a thing and I had to find a way to extricate myself from it else I would have gotten nothing done. Sorry about the delay in that regard. Next chapter is an interlude, that covers Lissa's PoV and a bit of the Shepherds as the go and deal with what should be an easy route, if there's anything to deal with in the first place. The chapter following that will pertain to the Assassination if I don't have to split the interlude into two parts and there will be a few chapters covering it. Once we're there I can finally stop dancing around a few things I think I've done an adequate job setting the foundation for, but we'll ultimately see when we get there.
The Hierarch was named because I needed something for him that wasn't his title or some form of descriptor. He won't be showing up too often, but it should be clear at this point that he's not the same cowardly fellow that sold out Emmeryn in the base game(nor is his brother for that matter, but neither here nor there).
Before I forget, the next chapter will be out in approximately two weeks. Life has picked up and I have a few things to take care of in a fairly tight frame of time and I'd rather give myself more time that what is needed than give less and be forced to delay.
With that said, if you enjoyed this chapter and want to see things from other writers, consider visiting the Fanfiction Treehouse Discord Server (9XG3U7a). You don't need to be a writer to join or anything like that and the community is pretty active and comfy. Regardless of that, thank you for reading thus far and I'll see you with the next chapter.