Chapter 2
To Lose and To Gain
Given the night they had there was no possible way they could get any sleep. The Shepherds and their prospectives soon found themselves back on the road to Ylisstol. Granted there might have been a brief argument between Lissa and Atris. She may have called him a moron for running off into the forest before she had a chance to heal him, and she may have smacked him upside the head with her staff when he tried to deflect the issue and make it out to not be a big deal.
Regardless, Atris learned that despite her generally jovial and energetic nature, some may dare call it childish at times, Lissa took her duty as a healer with extreme severity. He was nursing his head, something which either she forgot to heal, or purposely chose not to heal. Personally, he would accuse her of the latter when Chrom spoke to him, breaking the spell of silence the group had been under.
"So, did you manage to find him? Marth, I mean."
"Nope, got tired of being smacked in the ribs by shrubbery. Shame too, I was hoping to get more answers than a vague the world is doomed," he lied, adding a sigh for good measure.
He knew if he told the truth that he more or less hunted down their strange sky man to give him some gold, well he knew he'd be teased relentlessly over it. Still the brief conversation didn't dissuade him from drifting off into his thoughts. He discovered he loved both riddles and puzzles, anything really that could give his mind some exercise. Granted he'd like some hints or perhaps a clue to go with the stranger who fell from the sky.
Sadly, with Marth he had nothing besides how they arrived in Ylisse and that they had a fashion sense like Chrom. That wasn't a bad thing, Chrom did dress nicely, granted the mis-matching boots irritated Atris to no end, but other than that quite the snappy dresser. He started to wonder further, is that how he came here too? Did he perhaps fall from the sky as well, but in the process hit his head? It would explain the amnesia, could explain why he was passed out in a field. Granted, Marth made no attempts even when alone to reach out or connect to him.
"Everyone ten-minute break!" Chrom called out suddenly, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"Why are we stopping?" Atris looked up to realize that he had been trailing behind the group at quite a distance. How long had he been lagging behind the others? A new flood of fatigue hit him as he cast a quick glance at the ground and in addition a wave of shame came over him as well. A hand came to rest on his shoulder and grip it firmly, his eyes shifted towards Chrom.
"I wasn't trying to shame you, nor should you feel that at all. It's not even been twenty-four hours since we first found you and you've been through a lot." Chrom gave him a consoling squeeze as they both found a nice flat spot to rest with the group. "You've got some stamina issues, that much is true, but that's why we do the training we do. Trust me, none of us were born ready to be Shepherds."
He couldn't deny that Chrom's smile, and his words did a lot more than he thought to ease his worries. It was so strange that the man he hardly knew had already seemed to have a great deal of influence on him. He didn't want to disappoint him, but he still wasn't going to let a chance to snark his friend slide.
"Really? You mean to tell me you weren't born a walking set of muscles?" Atris snickered, taking off his gloves and finding a place to rest on the ground. He leaned back enjoying the tickling sensation of the grass on his palms
"Heh, it's true I might have been born with a few more gifts than others, but all of this is the result of hard work!" Chrom took the bait and shamelessly so as the blue-haired man proceeded to flex. He had to admit Chrom did have an impressive physique, but he sure as hells wasn't telling him that. He simply rolled his eyes at his muscle-bound companion and flicked his hand back and forth telling him to simmer down.
Unexpectedly, Sully appeared and lobbed her fist into Chrom's bicep. "Hyah! Solid as ever Captain." She grunted in approval. Chrom staggered a bit, not expecting the blow and shot Sully a look that caused her to snort before turning her gaze on Atris. "For real though listen to the captain. You got skills for a bookworm. The Shepherds don't invite chumps. Got it?"
Atris simply stared at her for a moment, a bold grin drawn on her face. He couldn't help but shake his head and laugh at the group he had gotten involved with. Sully may have been a bit blunt with her words, but he couldn't help but like her. Honestly, besides Frederick, whom he was still on rather cool terms with, it was hard to say if he genuinely disliked any of his newfound companions.
Unfortunately, the time for rest ended, and the group started making their way to the capital again. Atris, for the first time in his life that he could remember at least, was greeted with a sunrise. It was a different spectacle from the sunset of yesterday, where the former had cast the world in a brilliant red glow, he found the world bathed in a somber blue hue. It gave him a sense of weariness as the land seemed to invite sleep to his mind. Nonetheless it was still enthralling.
The thought came to him of how bizarre his memories truly were. He knew of things such as the ocean, mountains, sunsets, snow, griffons, and others as well, but he had no actual frame of reference to prove they existed. Try as he might to visually picture something like an apple, it simply couldn't be conjured in his mind. It was unnerving in a sense to have this form of artificial knowledge of the world.
Unnerving, the word shot through his head. Despite the events of last night, the earth violently ripping itself apart to spew forth liquid fire. The walking corpses that had attacked their group. The Silhouette was now brought back to the forefront of his mind. What had that... thing done to him? Was that really Chrom's voice in the wind or some kind of illusion? Truth be told he didn't want to even think of it, he just wanted to bury what little memory there was of that thing into some dark recess of his mind to never surface again. He had almost decided to ask Frederick if he had seen anything that night but thought it would be better not to ask.
After all, what if he hadn't seen anything, while his face had a glint of fear that seemed foreign to the knight, who was to say that was from The Silhouette and not simply from fear of losing Chrom, and Lissa? Walking corpses, and people falling from the sky are one thing, at the very least they all had experienced some of it. Yet, he had no idea if anyone had any sort of run in with The Silhouette. Would they think him mad, or perhaps simply shaken by the events of the night? No, it would be best to leave that memory in the past. Whatever it was, if it was anything at all it must surely be dead. It stood upon the line where the earth savaged itself apart, it must've been consumed by that hellfire from last night.
Despite the troubling thoughts his companions would pull him from the dark corners he had treaded in. Of particular note was when Virion attempted to be particularly "noble" with Lissa, which earned a rather loud and threatening cracking of Chrom's knuckles that caused the philandering archer to shrink back and a rousing bit of laughter that erupted from Lissa and Sully.
Atris looked onto the flowing green fields and rolling hills of southern Ylisse, he felt a peace of mind from the scenery. Suddenly a quick and playful slap came to the back of his head, and he shook himself from the countryside to see Sully by his side. She, much like Frederick, opted to not ride her horse unless she was about to engage in combat.
"Hey, Sully everything okay?" Atris asked, tilting his head to the side. It was the first time he actually got a good look at the woman. Her armor was a dark red that matched her short and frankly messy hair. Much like Frederick she was heavily armored, but not to the extreme he was. She also wore a thick and long roll of cloth underneath her breastplate that fell to he knees. It bore what he thought was perhaps the sigil or crest of Ylisse, two feathered wings cradling a teardrop.
"Yea, all's good with me. Just wonderin' about you. I said earlier you seem like the bookworm type, kinda reminds me of another Shepherd, but she... eh you'll find out. Anyway, where'd you pick up the tactic knowhow? Really saved our arses with a foe we can't break under a charge." Sully stared him down intently, where she had been encouraging earlier, she now seemed to be sizing him up. "Not bad with a blade either, saw you sling some spells too."
"Honestly, I wish I could tell you. Truth be told I'm erm... well I'm an amnesiac. I don't really remember anything beyond when Chrom and Lissa found me in a field yesterday. I mean, I know some things like what a sunrise is, but until today I've never seen one." He paused and began to drum his temple in thought. "As for the more combat orientated stuff, well I'm just as in the dark as anyone else is. I'm glad the knowledge is there, even if it is muscle memory or more based on instinct than anything else." Atris stated plainly to her, her expression changed to a surprisingly relaxed one. Perhaps it was how nonchalantly he spoke about his memory issues, but she had no issues believing him it seemed. Could've also been the whole re-killing corpses thing, no doubt that'd earned at least a little bit of trust.
"Huh, no foolin'? Welp, memory or no I'm glad we got you on our side at least. Not every day the captain comes draggin' along strays." She shot a look at Virion who he now noticed was simply dying to interject into the conversation.
"My lady, truly you wound me with such harsh words. My arrows were guided by my sense of duty to protect the most beautiful of wild roses. As to be expected though, said roses hide even sharper thorns, but I the "Archest of Archers" will no doubt maneuver around them in time." Virion declared the smile never once leaving his face and engaged in rather dramatic and flamboyant hand gestures as he spoke to Sully.
"Keep dreamin', Ruffles!" Sully barked back to the archer, but he definitely did not seem to be deterred. Atris supposed the two were getting along a little better, at the very least Sully wasn't kicking Virion in the face again. Granted that didn't seem likely to last much longer if he kept it up.
Distracted and if he was honest, a little bit amused by the back and forth by the two. He turned to face the road after what seemed to be about five or so minutes of banter between the love-struck archer and his jeering knight, when he finally noticed Lissa. The young woman had been trailing in front of him and was dangerously invading his personal space with a little smile. Startled by the healer's sudden presence, Atris found himself leaping backward nearly bowling into Virion much to the group's amusement. Lissa was just sticking her tongue out slightly at the slightly annoyed amnesiac.
"Better stay alert, Atris. Bandits, walking corpses and worst of all my sister prowl this road. I'd hate for you to fall victim to one of them." Chrom called back from the front waving the back of his hand at them. Atris grumbled to himself about getting caught off guard by the tricky healer, but he couldn't stay mad at the girl for long and found himself smiling warmly at her. Strangely she seemed to look away for a moment, but not before she started pulling him forward from where he was and the two walked in lockstep.
"By the way what was that spell you used last night? Y'know the one you used on the thing you and Marth fought? It couldn't have been an ordinary thunder." Lissa questioned her cheeks going slightly pink when she spoke Marth's name. Atris noticed Chrom falling back to walk alongside them, a curious smile on his face. He couldn't help but frown internally, as in truth he didn't know what he had done. With a shake of his head, he looked at them both a bit meekly.
"Well... I don't know what exactly I did. I simply charged up a thunder spell when the thing grabbed my hand and pinned it to the ground. Marth freed me from its grip but got caught underneath the thing's blade and was struggling. In desperation I grabbed my sword with the hand my spell was charged in and threw it. It seemed like the spell was absorbed by my blade and once it imbedded itself in the creature discharged itself inside of it." He turned to Lissa noticing she had a blank look on her face, it was an odd expression from the normally energetic girl who wore many of her emotions openly.
"You- you're sure that's what happened? I-I'm not trying to doubt you, just that's not normal. Usually what happens when you grab something while a spell is in your hand is that it just goes poof, the spell that is. Even really special silver weapons meant to hold magic don't work like that. They can cast a spell, but that was enchanted into the weapon itself. Nothing like what you described." Lissa mused with her gaze cast to the ground, a uniquely contemplative face had come over her.
"I mean I'll be honest all of this is intuitive to me. I just touch the tome or hold it and fling magic around, but I'll try to recreate it." Atris drew forth his tome and as he had done so many times already called forth the crackling energy into his palm, except there was nothing but a quick and pathetic spark before the spell simply disappeared. Frowning he tried it again and couldn't even get a spark to come out. Getting more and more frustrated he tried it again and again before dizziness overcame him and stumbled but was thankfully caught and steadied by Chrom.
"W-what's going on? W-why can't I cast anything!?" Atris growled lowly his dizziness and his frustration over performing this once simple action getting to him.
"Huh, seems you went into mana exhaustion. Odd you haven't recovered yet though." Lissa seemed to be speaking more to herself than anyone else.
"What in Naga's name is mana exhaustion?" Atris exhaled sharply, the dizziness finally going away. He couldn't help but notice the blonde girl perk up and smirk at him.
"Looks like someone has homework to do when we get back home!" The young healer chirped brightly.
The sun had long since reached its peak and had begun its inevitable journey to the west to set. The rest of their journey had largely been and thankfully been uneventful, and despite having to take another moment to rest due to Atris' mana exhaustion they had made good time to the capital. Atris marveled at the massive walled city which housed Ylisse's most important city. Studying the walls, they were immensely impressive. Upon seeing them he was imagining the amount of war engines and time that would be needed to make a dent in these things, let alone bring them down fully. He smiled beside himself with glee when he estimated it would take any commander ages to crack that nut.
Despite his studying of the walls, he had almost failed to notice something on them. Murals decorated the walls in their entirety where they passed. Depictions of great battles and heroes, times when the world was steeped in its primordial state and dragons and what must've been the Gods and Goddesses of the world were material. Atris looked to the horizon to see the murals continued up until a point where unpainted wall seemed to take over. Yet another time he wished he had a journal with him, the beauty before him was like the manmade version of a sunset.
Frederick must've noticed his gawking as the knight gave a loud cough. The amnesiac turned to him and saw he was smiling with pride he had not seen before. Frederick told the story of the murals on the walls. They were started by a man known as Saint Kein, a dear friend to the First Exalt who founded the halidom, and one of the faithful companions who aided the exalt in his battles against the Fell Dragon Grima a thousand years ago.
Saint Kein was a legendary knight and founder of the Order of the Great Knights, which almost all knightly orders in Ylisse descend from. Despite being one of the greatest knights to ever serve and dedicating his life to opposing that of the ruinous powers that sought the end to life itself. There was something that Saint Kein ascribed to even more than his knighthood and his duty, that was his artistry and dedication to imagination.
After the Fell Dragon was slain by the First Exalt, Saint Kein would wait till his elder years for the construction of the great walls of Ylisstol to be finished. With what little remaining life the man had, he dedicated it to painting the walls, and to bringing the history of the world to life so that it may never be forgotten. However, he died well before his project could be finished and for many years the walls largely remained bare.
This would be the case until an unknown woman taken hold by a spirit of creativity stole away in the night and continued the saint's project with his own brushes that had been kept in the palace. Arrested and charged for breaking into the palace and desecration of the murals, she opened her mouth to speak only for the saint himself to echo from her, his words simply being "let art be done and the story told!". With that the woman much like her predecessor continued the paintings until the very end of her days and was given the name Reverent Sophia.
So, it has continued that every thirty to fifty years another soul stricken by the fervor of artistry takes up the very tools of the saint to continue the still uncompleted work. Many would believe the saint himself defends the walls, as whether it be the ravages of storms and wind, the march of time, or the ruination of battle, the murals to this day remain pristine.
Atris had been awe-stricken by Frederick's storytelling abilities; he couldn't help but give the knight a round of applause for it. Perhaps it had been his imagination, but he swore that the knight had almost blushed at the unexpected praise he gave him. The love and almost jubilant demeaner Frederick displayed as he spoke the tale contrasted to the usual stern, and stoic butler (or perhaps nanny was the better word) persona the man usually put forth. Unfortunately, that same persona would soon come out again. Frederick and Sully mounting their horses ushered the group into a formation as they came closer to the gates.
Oddly enough the guard didn't even inquire before letting them in. He figured Chrom was a noble given the whole knight bodyguard, but was he really so recognizable that anyone with blue hair and muscles could waltz through the front door? It wasn't just the guards either, the townsfolk which crowded the streets appeared to recognize him as well. The ones that stopped spoke in hushed whispers that he couldn't rightly make out, it unnerved him for some reason. Thankfully they soon had made their way to clearer streets and while townsfolk still acknowledged Chrom, it was less in the suspicious and dire whispers and more ordinary greetings, in which Chrom and Lissa were gleeful to return back to the citizens.
Approaching the great palace of Ylisstol, a crowd had begun gathering near the entrance. A woman wearing a long and elegant cloak that wrapped around her form emerged from the entrance. Even from here Atris could feel she exuded an aura of serenity and grace, he felt both awe, and in some dark corner of his mind discomfort from the woman. She walked amongst the crowd, her hands in silent prayer as the crowd itself which had clamored before joined her in this silence.
"Is that...?" Atris whispered for fear of breaking this solemn moment,
"Yes, that is our Exalt, Lady Emmeryn. Ylisse's most cherished treasure, she is the embodiment of the peace we strive for. Within her lies the blood of the First Exalt, the blood of the divine. Unlike many of her ancestors, she is no great warrior and has opted to choose her own path" Frederick spoke in the same hushed manner, but it was clear that there was pride in his voice. It was an odd, almost familial-like pride and wording that Atris didn't expect from the knight.
"I couldn't word it better myself Frederick. Emm really is everything he said she is. Her very presence is soothing to the soul and the heart. With Plegia's constant skirmishing at our borders many are wanting to call for war, but she has not let Gangrel get his way yet." Chrom added hints of guilt shining in certain words. Atris believed his friend was talking about himself when he spoke, Chrom had made their hatred of Plegia very clear in Southtown.
Once more there was that familiarity again. The Exalt simply being referred to as, "Emm"? Just how close were Chrom and Lissa to the royal family? It would not be much longer until the service with The Exalt had concluded, and soon after returned to the palace. The crowd dispersing faces of joy, serenity, and contentment were seen throughout the sea of people.
"Yea, but easily the most amazing thing about her is that she's the best big sister anyone could ever ask for." Lissa said with a great deal of enthusiasm and glanced over to Atris.
"Yea, someone like that... would... make a... sister." Atris fumbled his speech at the end and became deathly silent, his eyes shifting over to Lissa. She was the spitting image of a younger The Exalt. It all suddenly came to him, the guards at the gate, the formation the group had taken upon entering the town, how even the common townsfolk recognized Chrom and Lissa. "Y-you're...?" was all he could stammer out to a smirking Chrom and a beaming Lissa. They were, they had been, and he realized just how deep he was in.
"P-Prince Chrom! Princess Lissa, your- highnesses!" Atris fell to one knee in what must've been the most awkward display of court etiquette to ever grace Ylisse. No doubt one day they'd make him a saint of jackassery should the display ever be recorded. The silence had since spread from him to the entire group. His chest was a wreck of emotions and his gut a tightened ball of anxiety. He had been traveling with the two immediate members of the royal family this entire time! Gods give him strength for the trial he would no doubt endure!
"Look at that, Chrom we definitely gotta knight him now! Look at him being so gallant!" The princess cupped her face much like that of a story book maiden, granted a blush did appear on her face. "First the mysterious masked Marth, and now our own mysterious amnesiac who through his cunning saves the halidom's prince and princess! It's too much really!"
"Okay, Lissa that's enough teasing. Come on Atris kneeling like that doesn't look good on you if I'm being honest. Besides, I much preferred being "just Chrom" to you, then just being the halidom's prince. Come on, get up." Chrom took Atris by the arm, and pulled up a still nervous looking amnesiac who would be greeted by a still smirking prince.
"At least he attempted to show some proper courtesy upon finding out their station." Frederick shook his head and lamented at the prince's disregard for rules and etiquette.
"Oi, come off it, Frederick. There's no royalty or nobility in the Shepherds, none of that junk is worth a bucket of piss. Captain's orders if you recall." Frederick gave his fellow knight a sharp look that was only returned with a snort from the woman.
"W-why didn't you tell me? I mean everyone else seemed to know who you are. The guards let us in unopposed, the people in the square knew who you were. Why did you hide it?" Atris looked at his blue haired and now princely friend in utter shock.
"So, one I'm not THAT widely known by appearance. The people of Southtown didn't know who I was. Now to the actual question I... thought you knew." Chrom spoke with a glint in his eye, almost the same as when he called Lissa delicate.
"H-How was I supposed to know!?" Atris blurted out almost flailing to a highly amused Chrom. The prince showed Atris his right arm, the one that was sleeveless, and motioned to the mark upon his shoulder. A teardrop cradled within an odd shaped u in which the tops shot out horizontally in sharp lines.
"This is the Mark of the Exalt. It's not simply a tattoo it manifests magically over a period of time and is evidence of the pact that the First Exalt made with Naga, the Divine Dragon to aid him long ago." Chrom looked from his shoulder to Atris, the ever-present smirk still on the prince's face. "Oh, right you have amnesia I... must've forgot."
"Y-you... you utter and absolute ass!" Atris was mortified at how well he had been baited by his friend. He felt an overwhelming and rather juvenile desire to simply tackle the blue-haired prince to the ground. He didn't know where it'd go from that point, but it'd go somewhere! However, his pained groans of submission would have to do, like it or not he had been beaten.
"I-I'm sorry, A-Atris it was just there for the taking! I-I'm so s-sorry!" Chrom doubled over in laughter as he spoke and only recovered when the groans intensified from the amnesiac snapped him back to attention. "Alright, alright I'll stop. I'm sure you'll get me back for this. Come on, we need to go see Emm. Virion considering how you've continued to journey with us, it's fair to say you're also going to accept my offer?"
"Of course, you're Highness. I would not wish to insult such a kind and fair gesture. Besides I must admit, Atris, Lady Sully, as well as myself. You've an eye for talent. I'm curious to see whom else it will bring in." Virion smiled with his declaration. Although Sully's growls could be heard in the background at addressing her as "Lady Sully".
"Sully escort Virion to the Shepherds barracks. Atris, Lissa, Frederick, and I need to report to Emm about the attack on Southtown. Try to uh, ease him into getting to know the other Shepherds while we're giving our report." Sully nodded and gave Virion a swift kick to the rear to shepherd him onward. The only thing that matched Sully's satisfaction at putting the philandering archer in his place, was said archer's mortification at the action.
Separating from his other two companions the four made their way into the Palace of the Exalted. It seemed to almost be a mixture of a temple and a palace, given what little he knew of the Ylissian's it made sense. Treading the marbled halls of the palace they came upon the chamber in which The Exalt dwelled. It seemed less a throne room and more a place of meditation and reflection. While Chrom and Lissa stood smiling, Frederick and Atris dropped to one knee near immediately once in the presence of The Exalt.
Daring to steal a glance Atris saw the chamber guarded by a squad of all female knights. Their armor was different compared to Sully and especially Frederick. They donned silvered plate armor which covered their entire upper body with armored skirts that came down to their thighs and thick reinforced leather boots that rose to the knee. Lances and glaives appeared to be their forte and they conveyed the image of a fierce fighting force.
Amongst the knights was a rather tall redheaded woman, her long flowing hair was like the wind made manifest and her face, gods her face was the thing of stories with eyes that matched the most vibrant of garnets. He found himself less glancing and more staring completely unaware of anything else, until she turned her gaze upon him. Flushed with embarrassment Atris immediately ripped his eyes away from her and stared down at the ground. He almost didn't feel the light pressure pushing down on his head.
"Atris, I've been calling your name for a bit now. Are you okay?" Chrom said looking down at him, the prince's hand was resting on his head. "I was hoping you could tell your story to Emm. Given... special circumstances I want her full agreement on this matter."
Atris realized that even by now Frederick had since risen from the kneeled position. He rose and looked around the room and at the people around him. Divine queens, Royal princes and princesses, royal knights, gods what else in here was some sort of royal or divine something or other!? His gut had tightened again, and despite his previous cool and calm persona in battle he found himself unable to be so now. He was just some guy who had been plucked out of a field, what the hells was he doing here amongst literal god-chosen royalty!? He felt like a rat trapped on a sinking ship with no way of escape.
It was then The Exalt had risen and begun to walk towards him slowly and methodically. The anxiety building in him more and more he must've been showing signs of visible panic, he had to have been! The more the distance was closed between the two, the more he had to fight down his body's desire to tremble in the presence before him. The Exalt now upon him, he shut his eyes tightly hoping this would just end already.
A hand lay on the back of his head, and his breath hitched at the touch. His eyes slowly opened to reveal hers staring into the depths of his own, her hand had begun to stroke his head from the crown to the top. Atris stood there shocked by both the woman and her gesture. The world itself dissolved away and seemingly the only thing; the only real thing was this moment.
His body had shrunk, and he felt small before the woman. He... was like a child to her, in a way he couldn't comprehend. The warmth that filled her touch, the laughter and doting love that came when he remembered his name. Was... was this what a mother's warmth felt like, had he lost this along with his own memories? There had been a hollowness carved into his chest and filled with a pang of loss he never knew he could have.
But something began to fill his chest in addition to the loss. Was it love? Could he love the two women who had inspired such feelings in him, the woman before him he did not know, and the woman now absent and forgotten by her own son. It was a riddle for which he had no answer. But he knew that his fears and worries were being eroded away, perhaps that was all he could ask for.
"Y-your Exaltedness! This is highly inappropriate! I must ask you stop...that you stop the action you are performing on him!" a dull silver haired woman implored of Exalt Emmeryn. Compared to the other silver knights, her motif was largely in gold, possibly the leader of the knights who guarded the exalt.
"Perhaps that is the case, Commander Philia. But I've made it quite clear that I've sought the path of peace, as to bring it to the people. That means more than just the Ylissians. Plegians, Feroxi, the people across the sea in the land of Valm. All those of the world touched by light and dark. Tell me, does this man not belong to one of those?" Exalt Emmeryn had briefly turned to the knight known as Commander Philia before bringing her gaze back upon him. "I saw a fear in his eyes, a fear of a place where he does not belong, a fear of disappointment, a fear of... I'm sorry, I talk of you as if you're not here. My apologies for this good sir, I only sought to quell the turmoil within and bring you a small comfort. That said, do you feel better?" He stood silent and nodded soon after recanting his story to her, or what little there was given the amnesia.
"Tell me, Atris why do you wish to join the Shepherds?" Exalt Emmeryn had not once broken her look upon him. It was so odd how different she appeared from when she took her place on her throne. That maternal and wise warmth was not gone, but first and foremost he was looking upon Ylisse's ruler.
"I owe Pri-Prince Chrom and Princess Lissa and even Sir Frederick a great deal. But I'd be lying if I said it was simply a debt. Even though I've grown fond of them... I... I remember what made me fight in Southtown. I was frustrated, I felt useless as if I couldn't do anything while people were being hurt, and once I realized I could do something, I had to act. I have skills, and I don't want to waste them. I want to help people, I want to protect them," Atris spoke with greater conviction as his small speech went on. A small pain had sprung up in his side at the beginning, no doubt from Chrom at calling him prince. Exalt Emmeryn exhaled contently as a smile once again graced her face and she turned to Frederick.
"Your opinion, Sir Frederick, I know you must have some even if it is against what we may want."
"Your Exaltedness, it is true Atris possesses a great variety of skills, and while it is true, he saved Princess Lissa in Southtown. I believe he is simply too good to be true, I still find his story lacking in substance. He very well could be a brigand who sought opportunity or worse a Plegian sleeper agent."
"Frederick!" Chrom turned to his bodyguard, his voice a mixture of disbelief and insult at the notion that Atris could possibly be an agent of Plegia. Just as in Southtown, Atris placed a hand upon his friend's shoulder, and he found his tense body relax a bit seeing a distressed frown before the man had regained his composure.
"Forgive me, your Highness. I know you and Princess Lissa have grown close to your new companion despite the short time we've been acquainted, but this is nothing personal. It is simply my opinion; I apologize if you take offense at my statements Atris." Frederick gave a short bow to the amnesiac before turning his attention back to the exalt.
"There is nothing to forgive, Sir Frederick. You are simply looking after your charges, and your friends even if you would deny they are such." Atris spoke sporting a grin at the knight who simply cleared his throat in response to Atris' accusation of friendship, He turned his attention back to the exalt as she began to speak.
"I do agree with, Atris. Thank you, Sir Frederick, for your unwavering service to House Ylisse. Even if my siblings don't express it, you have my gratitude many times over. As to your request, Chrom. I will agree with your decision to make Atris the new tactician of the Shepherds." Exalt Emmeryn nodded to her brother as three things were on prominent display in the chamber. Frederick's pride, Chrom's happiness, and Atris' confusion at being made "tactician". "Lissa if you would take Atris to the other Shepherds. I fear we must discuss things of a sensitive nature and surely, he would prefer to meet his fellow Shepherds rather than indulge in the soon to be tedium." With that, Atris felt his arm being pulled by an enthusiastic Lissa, the sound of melodic and joyful laughter coming from the exalt at her sister's antics.
The Shepherds barracks was a small solitary building near a private training area on the palace grounds. Entering the building he saw the dwelling was larger than it seemed at first, a small kitchen was off to the left, at best two people with a bit of difficulty could cook in it. Connected to it was a larger dining area with several casks, which no doubt was meant to store a few favored spirits of choice. The rest of the floor from what he could see seemed to be a general leisure area, books, weights, and an assortment of other distractions seemed scattered about and around the area.
A small gathering was centered around the leisure area, he recognized Virion and Sully right away, the former was sipping on a cup of tea, and had a full tea set assembled on the table in front of the couch he was sitting on. Across from him was a girl around Lissa's age, she was dressed in what could only be described as a pink riding outfit accented with white and light red, white ribbons decorated both sides of her head. While her hair was styled in such a way that thick locks of it had been curled to form one solid tail of hair that rested on her shoulders and at least to her upper back.
Sully meanwhile was lifting weights alongside a man with swept back blonde hair that ended in spiked tips. He was somehow even more muscular than Chrom. The man's chest and arms were bare, with the exception of a large dark metal segmented sleeve that ran from his left shoulder to his hand. His legs were covered by much of the same material from his lower shins to the middle of his thigh. Atris thought he also spotted a man in full plate, but upon adjusting his vision he was baffled to see they weren't there. Did he imagine that?
Shaking his head, he turned his gaze to the final person in the room. Originally, she had been reading, but upon realizing two people had entered the room she had jumped up excitedly, and soon after deflated. She was wearing armor and garb similar to the knights who had guarded Exalt Emmeryn, but the plate that protected her upper body had a pink tinge to it. Her hair was light brown and long with fetching eyes to match, she seemed a bit on the shorter side, not standing too much taller than Lissa.
The girl who had been drinking with Virion noticed Lissa and sat her cup down with a refined movement that no doubt she had practiced time and again. This would be contrasted by the same girl rushing and nearly knocking Atris to the ground as he jumped out of the way.
"W-Wha-"
"Lissa! Oh darling, oh my treasure you're home! I've been worried sick about you since you left two days ago. I dare say I believe I've sprouted no less than fourteen grey hairs waiting for you." The girl started getting what Atris, thought was rather handsy as she proceeded to pat down the princess. "Tell me did you sustain any injuries? Damn the limitations of clerics being unable to self-heal!"
"M-Maribelle I'm fine! It was just a brief walk in... well not the park, but the countryside at least. Besides I'm not delicate! I got my staff to whack over the head of anyone who tries to get the drop on me!" Lissa didn't seem perturbed at her friend's fretting, and still radiated the warm, energetic nature she always had. Albeit it had dimmed slightly when Maribelle started patting her down.
"I'd never doubt your capabilities darling, but still, I value you too much to not fret over you at least a little bit. Also, I genuinely hope you didn't try attacking some ruffian with your healing staff... I truly don't want to lecture you on the inanity of such an action." Maribelle shook her head and seemed satisfied with Lissa's answer to her worries.
"Hey, squirt! To be fair you guys were out longer than expected. Ha, Chrom must be gettin' rusty. Looks like it's down to ol' Teach to get him back in shape!" the muscular blond man boasted loudly and folded his arms, a cocky grin plastered across his face.
"Hm, 'Teach' is it now, Vaike? Alright, takings bets on when 'Teach' gets fired for getting drunk and forgetting his axe again!" Lissa shouted to the room as Vaike stumbled a bit back at the statement.
"I'm callin' three days, one if his next session with Chrom ends in gettin' his arse handed to him."
"Goes to show that Sully puts far too much faith in the ruffian. I wager an hour before his base instincts override what restraint he has."
"That was one time, and it was sparrin' so it doesn't count! Geez, must be mean to the Vaike day." Vaike scratched the back of his head before he finally noticed the newest addition to the room. "Hey, who's the other new guy? Already met that Virion guy." Vaike asked with Virion in the background chafing at the notion of being referred to as "guy".
"Oh, this is Atris! The newest tactician of the Shepherds! Wait till you see all the tricks he can pull out! He's got swordplay, magic, and he can bust out a battle plan in seconds!" Lissa exclaimed as she waved her arms in the newly titled tactician's direction. Atris felt like she was presenting him as some kind of exotic animal to the Shepherds. Feeling awkward by Lissa's gestures he moved to make her arms return to a resting pose, the princess soon expressing her dissatisfaction with a pout.
"Oh, yea!? Well can he do this?" Vaike with a competitive edge in his voice smacked his abs and burped in some odd musical pattern. What was he doing, belching a song? Gods above, Atris put his hand to his mouth and failed to contain his chuckling. Taking his hand away he shook his head grinning at the display.
"N-No, I definitely can't do that. Guess like a lot of things it's just one more thing to learn."
"Ugh, that was disgusting, Vaike! Dare I say that was abhorrent! Must you always sink to such baseborn buffoonery!? As for you, Atris. Stop encouraging his woefully inadequate manners! Naga above, I thought you cut from cloth, and not ragged wool!" Maribelle scolded the two loudly, but with a much softer expression turned to Lissa. "You must forgive me for cutting our reunion so short, darling. Father sent word for me to return to Themis, but I simply could not until I knew you had returned safely. Please exercise caution, I know how often you get into trouble!" Maribelle hugged the princess tightly before departing with great haste.
"I know how that looked, Atris, but don't take her words to heart. She, uh she warms up to people slowly." Lissa responded sheepishly to the blank stare of the recently lectured amnesiac.
"Pfft. That or she burns you out like a forest fire! It's either or really." The crimson knight barked out a laugh which only got louder when the princess shot a dirty look their way."
"U-um hello, given all the commotion I never got a chance to introduce myself. I'm... I'm Sumia, it's nice to meet you Atris especially given we've never had an official tactician before." The brown-haired girl with the pinkish armor introduced herself formally, but she seemed distracted, her gaze constantly glancing over to the entrance. "S-so when will the captain return? He wasn't injured, was he?"
"No, Sumia I'm more than fine, but glad to see you worry so much about me," Chrom spoke entering a very satisfied look on his face.
"N-no it w-wasn't just me-" Sumia stammered as she took several steps forward before tumbling to the ground, a groan of pain emitting from her as she pushed herself to her knees, but not before Chrom called to her concern heavy in his voice as he knelt before her asking if she was okay. The two made eye contact briefly with Sumia blushing lightly and looking away. Still, she accepted Chrom's help who occasionally cast worried glances over to her. Atris folded his arms with a small smile at the group assembled before him.
"Alright we have a new task. In a week's time there'll be a march to Regna Ferox. This will give our messengers time to arrive ahead of us and alert the khans to our presence." Chrom stated with a commanding presence that saw the Shepherds, even Atris stand at attention. Virion in contrast gave a nod but directed his full attention to their leader.
"Sorry, but Regna Ferox? I er..." Atris began to trail off for all his talents Lissa played up, this damn amnesia seemed to hamper him at every turn.
"It's a sprawling land to the north, dominated by long winters and ruled over by two khans, or I suppose rulers would be a simpler translation. The Feroxi are a hardy people, but first amongst anything is that they are warriors, and warriors we'll need to quell the increasing threat of Plegia," Chrom explained and paused for a brief moment as if trying to find the proper way to word the rest. "Normally the exalt would lead this mission, but with the increasing agitations by Plegia she must remain here to keep the peace. Given the length of the journey and the possible danger, this is a volunteer mission only. I won't look down or judge any who wishes to remain behind."
One by one all the Shepherds called out to their captain, each in their own unique way pledging themselves to the mission. Atris heard an unfamiliar voice and swore that the same man in full plate appeared again, only for him to disappear. Trying to find the man again it came to Sumia to make her pledge who seemed to fidget about as she looked around the room.
"I-I wish to join, but I fear I might get in the way. I don't know if I'm truly ready for battle just yet. "
"Then perhaps it's best if stay behind the main group. Watch and observe us, try to learn what you can, but Sumia some lessons can only be learned from the heat of battle." Chrom consoled and attempted to comfort here by putting a hand her shoulder, but this only caused the woman to look down disappointment clear on her face.
"Hey, Sumia." He called out to her, and his words were returned with a forlorn look. "Despite Lissa's attempts to hype me up, the truth is I've got a long way to go before I'm comparable to any of the other Shepherds. But that's not going to stop me from getting there, I want to see you there alongside me when I make it." Atris gave her a small, but self-assured smile. "Besides, as Sully told me. Chrom doesn't invite chumps into the Shepherds." Sumia looked at him for a moment almost shocked and then to Chrom before her eyes seemed to light up and nodded with a renewed determination. Chrom turned to Atris, gratitude shining from his eyes.
"You know you haven't said whether you're coming with us or not?" Chrom folded his arms in a playful manner.
"I thought that was obvious, where would you be without your invaluable tactician?" Atris remarked rolling his eyes, but he couldn't help adding a bit of smugness to his tone to bait the prince. All he got from Chrom was a smile though, that same smile he had been greeted with when the man had found him that field, followed by slap to the shoulder. An amnesiac tactician, how odd his life had become in the short time since he woke up in the field, but one thing Atris, thought was how it was better than any other life he could think of.
"Oh, now that we have some free time what did you plan on doing Atris? I believe you said you wanted to check out some tomes in the city, right?" Lissa looked up at him, curiosity evident in her eyes.
"Oh, yea I had-" He paused, he had originally planned to do just that, after all while he was handy with a blade his skills as a mage felt more natural to him. But that was before he had tracked down Marth and given the stranger the pouch of gold he got from Mathias. Looking at Lissa and trying to hide his nervousness "I, er meant to, but I've since changed my mind. Yep, I um, might just get some rest. It's been a long day!
"It's not even three o'clock though. Atris, are you hiding something?" The princess questioned as she leaned in and began her ruthless interrogation of his character. Surely if he remained cool, logically explained things he could make out of this without incident. That was until Virion decided to finally chime in.
"Oh, without a doubt he is hiding something my dear princess. I pride myself on many things, but foremost even more than my charm, I pride myself on my observation. One such thing I noticed was that our good tactician had a secure pouch, no doubt with gold inside of it, before he opted to try and find our mysterious ally Marth. Yet, he came back without said pouch. I'd wager in an act of virtue he gave what wealth he had to the swordsman. No doubt strangers falling from the sky likely carry little in the way of currency" Virion explained as he looked to Atris with an assured and smug look that only grew more so when the man saw he was right. Lissa's attention had since shifted from the archer back to the tactician, who was looking for an equally tactical retreat.
"Chrom! See he is gallant! Fetch Emm, we need to knight Atris soon before he gets away!" Lissa teased with a massive grin on her face as Chrom and the other shepherds, including Virion the Traitor, started laughing.
He began thinking that perhaps he had been a bit quick to judge this life being better than any other. However, seeing the laughter on the faces of his fellow Shepherds he felt something in him, it was small, but he knew in time it would grow. A content smile slowly crept up on him and the thought was banished into nonexistence. Nope, this was still better than anything he could think of, torturous teasing or no.
Author's Note
Here we are chapter three, and I'm rather proud of it. Is the ending a bit cheesy? Maybe, but I like thinking of it more as being sincere.
To friend of the story Temporal king. Yea, you had a point I should've had Lissa put a bit more pressure on Freddy, but I get squirrely when I see the 10k word count approaching. I'm trying to keep chapters to a reasonable size, but I might have to push it a bit further than that. Also, yea Lissa is crushing already, given she starts fancying Marth near immediately after saving her life, I definitely think the coat-pillow scene would've caused feelings to develop. As for pairings, I started writing this back in May with a pair already in mind. That said I wouldn't mind hearing any of the poly pairings you could suggest. It might fit into the story.
Anyway, again thank you to everyone who engages in any way with my story, hope you all enjoyed this latest chapter!