Chapter 30 - Guidance of the Gods

A sphere of dark magic shot towards Corrin, launched by the phantom Iago. He leapt back, battering the spell aside with a sweep of the Yato's blade. The orb smashed into floor next to him, sending a hail of splintered wood and debris raining around them.

"You always were predictable, Corrin. We knew you'd come running all alone and right into our trap," the former royal tactician laughed, launching a barrage of spells that forced Corrin further onto the defensive. "For that, our master is thankful. You were quite the useful unwilling pawn. So easy to play right into your own demise. Or perhaps, it would be more true to say the demise of those you sought to protect."

Corrin felt his blood run cold, a flicker of anger sparking within him. He felt his hand tighten around the Yato, every instinct pushing him to lash out. He didn't know what was worse; the fact that it was scum like Iago judging him, or that a part of him couldn't deny the uncomfortable grain of truth in those words.

Before Corrin could counter, a blast of flame shot past him, heat licking at his face. He turned, catching sight of the two other phantoms rushing towards him, the hooded phantom and the woman. However, he scarcely had time to register their advance before Hans barreled towards him once more, his axe coming down on Corrin's head.

Corrin met the attack with the Yato, catching the axe over his head. He dug in, skidding back several inches from the sheer weight of Hans' attack. He was strong. Stronger than he'd been in life. And from his last encountered with this phantom Hans, Corrin knew that even on his own the berserker would prove to be a challenge.

How is he even here? He was torn to pieces in our last fight. What does it take to kill these things for good!? Corrin's mind raced frantically, panic setting in as Hans beared down on him, pushing him back a step, then another.

I shouldn't have come alone. I should have waited. Corrin's knees began to buckle, unable to hold back the unrelenting force as Hans continued to press forward.

I even thought this through this time. Even though I didn't lose control again, I still walked right into their trap.

"Where's that smug look of righteousness, Corrin? A brute and a killer, that's what I was, wasn't I? Bwahahaha! Guess we know which of us is more stained with blood, don't we?" A toothy grin flashed from within the phantom Hans' shadowy features. Then without warning the phantom threw his weight forward, shoving Corrin off balance.

Instinct took over. Rather than trying to regain his balance, Corrin shifted transferring his full weight into the motion, throwing himself onto his back. Hans' axe sailed overhead, whooshing through the air above him as he struck the ground. Lashing out, Corrin kicked at Hans' knee, knocking the phantom off balance the instant he tried to bring his weapon around. This bought him a split second, which was all Corrin needed to regain his footing.

For that single moment, Corrin had gained the initiative. Or at least, he would have had Hans been his only foe. For before he even had a chance to think about countering, another phantom closed on him. Sparks rained as Corrin deflected a barrage of slashes. Twice the enemy blade slipped in, leaving two stinging gashes on his right arm.

"You brought the war upon them," mocked the hooded phantom, the very same Invisible Soldier who'd assassinated Corrin's mother. He launched another flurry of cuts even as he spoke, driving Corrin ever back. "Had you been more perseptive, you'd have never brought Ganglari to Hoshido. While it was by my hand that the war began, it was only by your negligence that I was given my chance to strike."

"Shut up," Corrin growled, his grip tightening around the Yato. When the next strike came, Corrin didn't bother to dodge. Instead he darted inward, catching the blade with a clawed hand even as he slammed the Yato's hilt into the hooded phantom's jaw, sending the Invisible Soldier reeling back. Blood ran down from his palm, dripping onto the floor, but he barely felt the pain.

However, once again Corrin was given no chance to press his momentary advantage. A burst of flame caught him in the back, driving him to his knees. Smoke filled his lungs, choking his cry before he could even scream. He tried to twist around, only to slip and fall, forcing him to brace himself with a hand. Smoke curled from his smoldering cloak, the scent of burnt fabric reaching his nostrils.

"Azura trusted you, gave everything, even her life, for you," chided the woman he's encountered on both occasions he'd traveled to Valla. Her ornate robes of gold, black, and sky blue glittered as she moved, shifting in and out of focus as if made of water. "Yet you could not return the favor. You let her die."

A hacking cough fell from Corrin's throat. He managed to stagger upright, ignoring his body's pained protests. His vision darkened, becoming tinged with red as anger blotted out the pain. "Shut up. Shut up. Shut up!" he screamed. Whirling around he threw the Yato towards the phantom, the blade slicing through the air as the ghostly figure sidestepped it.

"Desperation ill suits you. Aren't you better than this?" the phantom mocked. Fire leapt from her fingertips, engulfing the spot Corrin stood. Within the withering flame a shape withered and crumpled, falling to the ground in an ashen heap. For just a moment the ghostly figure smirked, lowering her hand as she watched the flames consume her foe.

Then suddenly her eyes shot wide, the flames parting to reveal nothing but a charred cloak laying on the floor. There was a flash of movement as Corrin, who'd leapt up into the rafters above even as he'd thrown off his cloak, launched himself at the spellcaster. His arm formed a spear, delivering a glancing blow as he drove past. His trajectory carried him past, straight to where the Yato was stuck half buried in the floorboard. "Don't you dare speak her name! You know nothing of what I lost!" he bellowed.

In that moment, Corrin nearly let go, nearly giving into the anger flowing through him. But then, almost as if it was a hand catching him at the last instant, something kept him from going over that brink. Time seemed to freeze in place, the world seeming to glow with a soothing white light.

Somewhere from within his armor, he felt a gentle warmth radiate outward. His mind cleared, and with it came a chorus of voices.

"Because giving up and accepting blame, that's easy."

"By hiding behind guilt and blame, you haven't let yourself simply grieve for her."

"You were so busy feeling sorry for yourself, that you didn't stop to consider what might happen."

"And what are we supposed to do, just let you run off to get hurt again?"

"Papa, please… please don't do this anymore."

"We were afraid we might lose you too."

"I want you to live, even if I cannot."

"All you can do is try to protect those you love as best you can."

Those voices and so many others called out, speaking over each other one after another. But then another voice broke in, somehow stronger and clearer than the others.

"Whenever you feel lost, I'll try to help you find your way again," the voice whispered, seeming somehow far away, yet almost near all at once. It sounded so familiar, almost like... "You are so much stronger than you believe. For all the hardships and pain you've faced, you still stride forward. Remember that, and let that guide your resolve."

The feeling lasted for only a moment, receding almost at once. But even with it gone, everything seemed so clear now. He knew what these phantoms were trying to do. And he knew that he couldn't let them succeed.

"You owe it to yourself to try."

Corrin seized hold of the Yato's hilt, crimson light surging forth as he ripped the divine blade free. He kicked off again, launching himself into the air as one of Iago's spells detonated in the spot he'd occupied the instant before. His momentum carried through the air with blistering speed into the spot where the ghostly Hans stood. He struck out with a clawed hand, stangering the phantom.

"You think you can break me, don't you," Corrin hissed through clenched teeth. He leapt over the brute's axe, brought the Yato down with both hands on the invisible soldier's shoulder in a bone shattering blow, and using the blade like a lever, carried himself up and over the man. He twisted around mid air, kicking off the berserker's back with enough strength to drive the phantom to the ground.

"You think you can make me just curl up and wither away, make me drown in regrets." Kicking off a wall, Corrin reversed directions, leaping towards the hooded phantom. "Well then, you've got another thing coming!" The shout tore through his throat as he brought the Yato down with all his strength, transferring his entire weight into the blade. There was a crystalline sound as the katana held in the hooded phantom's hand shattered. Smoke spewed from the ghostly figure's chest as he fell back, the glowing eyes within the hood's shadows wide with shock.

"Are you really so ignorant? How could you possible believe atonement is something you deserve, let alone could ever be remotely in your grasp!" asked the phantom Iago mockingly. He raised a hand, cackling as violet like pooled around his fingertips as-

The magic around Iago detonated in a burst of sparks, fizzling as his tome was ripped from his hand, skewered as the Yato flew past and buried itself blade first into the floor. "Even if that's true, you won't stop me from trying!" Then in a single instant Corrin was on him, a clawed hand seizing hold of the sorcerer's face. With a bellowing shout, Corrin drove the phantom to the ground, smashing his head into the floor. Pausing only long enough to rip out the sorcerer's throat, Corrin rose to his feet, Iago's phantom dissipating into smoke as he stood. "So come on then. Try to break me."

Hans charged, axe sweeping towards Corrin's side. He darted back, then left as he avoided a slash from the second sword the hooded phantom had drawn. Next came a searing tongue of flame, which he leapt into the air to avoid, and carried him to rest of the way to where the Yato lay. Gripping the hilt, he twirled it free, whipping the blade around to fling the tome still impaled on its length toward the hooded invisible soldier as he charged. The swordsman easily battered the slow moving projectile aside, but in doing so stalled for a fraction of an instant, which was all Corrin needed to bring the Yato around to the parry the blow. He knocked the blade aside, and bringing the Yato back around prepared to deliver a counter strike-

Only to abruptly abandon the attempt as he was forced to turn and catch the blow the phantom Hans aimed at his head. The sheer force the blow nearly knocked Corrin flat even as he caught the underside the axe with the Yato, his knees almost buckling as he was driven back a step. He strained, drawing upon his latent dragon power to shove the berserker away and again meet the swordsman's next strike. Only this time he was a fraction of a second too slow, his foe's blade scoring another stinging cut as he pulled away.

Again and again the two phantoms came at him from both sides, and with each time one stepped in Corrin's reactions became ever slower. All the while the third phantom kept her distance, slowly circling around to get behind him. Yet even noticing this availed Corrin little, not when he simply did not have time to focus on her when he had two more pressing opponents to worry about.

They're trying to wear me down, Corrin cursed inwardly. He barely managed to stifle a yell as he received another cut on his arm, this one deeper than the other. Now that they realized they can't bait me anymore, they're playing it safe, fighting cautiously and not pressing the advantage until they're certain I'm worn out!

There was nothing he could do. He'd only been able to hold his own by out maneuvering, but with the two flanking him he couldn't break away without inviting an attack from the other he wasn't focused on.

The only comfort was that this strategy would at least buy them some more time to allow Izana to complete his ritual to speak with the gods. At least maybe he'd still be able to finish it in time.

A tip of a blade scored his cheek, leaving a line of red. It darted in again, weaving around his blade to sink into his side before being battered away. At that moment Hans came in, bring his axe down only to change directions at the last instant, instead using his weapon's haft to batter Corrin's sword wide. Stumbling, Corrin tried desperately to recover, pulling the Yato back to defend himself as Hans whipped his axe back around. But in that instant he knew he wouldn't make it in time. He was an instant too slow.

And a single instant would be all his foe needed to deliver a killing blow.

Thwip.

The phantom Hans staggered back, an red feathered arrow sprouting from his chest. Then he jerked twice more, two more arrows appearing, their blue feathers and darker shafts marking them as from a second archer.

Corrin reacted instantly, turning his full attention to the hooded invisible soldier. He parried a slash, then, with a burst of speed darted backward, narrowly avoiding the second cut that came within an inch of his chin as he pulled just out of range.

Out of the corner of his eye he caught a blur of moment. He turned, just in time to see Hinoka enter his frame of vision. She was on foot, the temple's tighter upper halls preventing her from fighting while mounted, her naginata held before her as she charged. A blast of flame leapt to meet her, only for the spell to be brushed aside as the Hoshidan princess spun her weapon before her to disperse the flames.

Through the dying embers two more figures darted past, Hana and Subaki leaping to engage the ghostly woman before she could loose another spell, forcing her to fall back.

Behind then both Setsuna and Sakura continued to loose arrow after arrow, while behind them Azama channeled some spell from a rod, it's light reaching out and spreading over the three Invisible Soldiers, slowing their movements.

For a moment Corrin could only look on in shock. He couldn't believe that both his sisters, along with their retainers, had come rushing to his aid. But then he tempered his surprise, realizing that more likely than not they'd come to protect Izana, not him. Or at the very least had been close enough at hand to be instructed by Robin to serve as reinforcements.

Almost certainly, at any rate, they had not come for his benefit.

"Sakura, Setsuna, keep the big one pinned," Hinoka ordered, leaping forward to engage the spellcaster along with Hana and Subaki.

"On it," the two archers said in unison. Or rather, it would have been in unison if not for Setsuna's slowing cadance causing her to quickly fall out of pace with the much quicker, if more nervous, reply Sakura gave.

That left only the hooded Invisible Soldier left for Corrin to deal with. However, the swordsman hadn't moved since Corrin's retreat, instead surveying the rest of the fighting with a detached calm. Slowly the ember eyes within the hood turned to survey his comrades, them to the new arrivals, then back to Corrin.

"It's over. Fall back," he said, his words echoing preternaturally loud as they echoed through the chamber.

"Oh no you don't!" Hinoka shouted. She launched herself at the phantom, even as her sister and retainers unleashed their own attacks.

There was a crack like thunder, white light erupting in a blinding vortex. Hinoka was knocked back, the arrows Sakura and Setsuna had loosed scattered as if caught in a sudden gust of wind. Corrin shielded his eyes again the blinding light. He barely made out the figure of a woman at its center, her form wreathed in violet werelight. From her silhouette he could only gather the most general feature: her billowing robes and shawl as well as the golden headdress she wore.

The glow of her light spread to the other invisible soldiers. Then, there was another blinding flash, the entire world going searing white. It took several moment before Corrin's eyes readjusted, dark splotches appearing as his vision returned.

No sign of the Invisible Soldiers remained. They had all vanished from sight.

"Dammit, they got away," Hinoka said, frustration clear in her voice. She picked herself off the ground, retrieving her Naginata from where it lay.

"It's okay… we chased them off...didn't we?" Setsuna consoled Hinoka, the sluggish cadence of her voice remaining even when trying to be reassuring.

"Yes, but… we almost had them. If only I'd been faster maybe-"

"It's pointless to cry about it now, Lady Hinoka. Focus on the present maybe," her other retainer, Azama, suggested.

This did not seem to please Hinoka, but she didn't argue further. "Fine. Go check on Izana. Make sure none made to his meditation chamber or whatever."

"On it," one of Sakura's retainers, Hana, said, hurrying off along with Sakura to go check on the archduke.

"And don't disturb him if you can. Last thing we want is to ruin the ritual and make him have to start over or something like that," Hinoka added. She received another affirmative nod from the samurai.

"Two of them. I recognized them. They were Nohrians, weren't they?" Hinoka asked sharply, abruptly turning Corrin's way to make it clear who the question was aimed at.

He flinched at the briskness of her tone, but recovered quickly enough, nodding his head slowly. "Yes. They were killed when Garon was overthrown. That's why we think all Invisible Soldiers are somehow converted from the dead on all sides."

Hinoka looked uncertain, glancing to her retainers as well as her sister's for confirmation.

"That would explain why many of them look much like our own soldiers," Subaki offered.

"It must be quite fortunate for them we just finished a war then. Plenty of dead to go around," Azama, smiling even through the bitter edge his tone had taken on.

"This is worse than we feared then. If they can turn any who die into more of them, then we need to…" Hinoka started to say. Then she stiffened suddenly, glancing Corrin's way. "Regardless, our focus needs to be on protecting Izana. If the Invisible Soldiers are bold enough to attack Izumo so openly, then perhaps I really should consider what he said."

She continued to talk to the others, their voices dropping to a hushed tone. Sakura and Hana joined her a moment later, confirming that the archduke was safe and that his communion ritual had continued uninterrupted despite the fighting raging bellow.

Even with his hearing, Corrin could only make out roughly every third word after that point. Still, he heard enough to gather that Hinoka was seeking the council of her entourage as to how they should proceed.

Hopefully to the end of deciding to work with him and the rest of the Nohrians. At least in some capacity.

If they didn't all work together now, then they may have no chance at defeating their foe.

This went on for a few moments before Corrin began to feel a bit impatient. No, impatient wasn't the right word. Anxious would be closer to the mark. He wanted to go check on the others, see that everyone was alright. But he had to also say something now too, didn't he? It would be rude not to.

Corrin cleared his throat, all eyes falling him. "Thank you. For helping," he told them, bowing his head slightly.

"I-" Hinoka started to stay something, her eyes narrowing. Just through the hard glare there was a flicker of something else. Perhaps uncertainty? Or maybe merely cautiousness.

"I meant for coming when you did. I wouldn't have been able to keep them from reaching Izana much longer," Corrin added quickly, turning away. "Don't worry. You don't need to pretend this was for my sake. Protecting the Archduke was priority. Nothing more."

Corrin began to walk away. Without realizing it, he'd clenched his hands, only becoming aware of the gesture due to the wetness of his own blood dripping through his fingers from his left palm.

"You… you're bleeding. I… I can heal you… if you…" Sakura started to offer, having too noticed the blood. However she trailed off as Corrin continued on.

It wasn't that he hadn't heard her. Rather he just didn't want to complicate things. If the past day had shown him anything, his very presence brought forth complicated feelings in his siblings. It was simply for the best he avoided interacting with them. It would be simply easier that way. For their sakes.

"It's nothing," Corrin lied, shaking his head slightly. "I should go see to the others. I can have someone take a look at it after."

"I-I…" Sakura seemed like she was going to say something more, but was stopped by Hana.

"Let him go. It's not worth it," the samurai told the princess.

Reaching the stairs, Corrin stepped through the doorway. Only when he was out of sight did he slump against the wall, the exertion of the last fight taking its toll. He closes his eyes, his breathing ragged. Slowly he forced himself to move, step by step descending the stairway to the level below.

There's no way I can ever truly make up for what I put you two through. But I swear it, I'll fight for your sakes as well. For your home as well as my own. Corrin thought to himself, clinging to the thought and what small comfort it brought him.

Even if you hate for what I've done. That's my burden to bear. My penance.

He could only hope that could be enough.

. . . . .

"Papa!" Kana exclaimed, leaping into Corrin's arms.

He caught her, awkwardly returning the hug. Not due to any hesitance on his part, but rather from the stiffness and achiness that remained even after Elise had tended to his injuries. Still he did his best to hide this fact, not wanting his daughter assume it was for anything she had done, willing himself to hold his tighter even as his body groaned in protest to every command.

The fighting had already ceased by the time he'd regrouped from the others, the remaining Invisible Soldiers across the city seemingly having retreated the same time as those he himself had thought. Robin had filled him in on the rest after that point. The other Nohrians under Leo's command outside had apparently been able to group up and head off the phantoms sweeping through the streets, holding back their advance until the mass retreat. While there had been many injuries among their own number, none had proven to be beyond the skill of their healers to tend to.

For the people of Izumo, however, the story had been quite different. Hundreds had died in the confusion that had followed during the beginning of the attack alone. Many more had likely perished in the fires that consumed sections of the city or had been cut down despite the Nohrian's best efforts.

Despite the day's victory, the cost had been high.

"You got hurt again. I was scared when auntie told me," Kana said, her words snapping him back to the present. She blinked up at him, her big golden eyes glistening on the verge of tears.

"I… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…" Corrin trailed off, trying his best to smile. "But I'm all better now, good as new. See? Nothing to worry about now." He did his best not to wince as he picked her up, setting her on his lap more comfortably.

Kana looked unconvinced, worry still plastered on her face. She sniffled, blinking as her eyes continues to glisten with tears.

"But right, I have something far more important to tell you. I heard how good a job you did getting everyone to safety. "

"I did?" Kana asked. She sniffled again, whipping her face on her sleeve as she continued to look up at him. This time however, she looked far less worried, a bit of a smile entering her features.

"You did," Corrin confirmed, smiling back at her. "You saved a lot of people. I couldn't be more proud of you."

"Thank you, Papa. I'm so glad," Kana said, hugging him again, this time Corrin managing to return the gesture less stiffly. "I'm so glad I could help."

Before Corrin could say anything more, the sound of approaching footsteps reached his ears. He looked up, seeing Lucina walking towards him. Morgan trotted along behind her, almost hopping as she walked with the same boundless energy she always showed. How she managed to seem so energetic after fighting for their lives, Corrin couldn't even begin to guess.

"I was asked to tell you that Izana has completed his ritual and offer that you join us should you wish to," Lucina told him.

Corrin started to nod, only to hesitate as Kana clung to him tighter than before. She looked worried again, as if fearing he'd be hurt again the moment he left her sight.

"It's okay. It will only be a minute," he assured his daughter. He gave her another quick hug before lifting her off of him and started to rise.

"Come on, Kana. Why don't you and I go do something fun in the meantime. Oh, I know! I'll teach you how to play tome stackers!" Morgan said, taking Kana by the hand. This at once changed Kana's mood, her expression becoming one of excitement as Morgan led her away.

"What is…?" Corrin started to ask, only to fall silent as Lucina shook her head.

"Better to explain another time. It's sure to baffle and confuse you, as with much of what Morgan does," she said, a knowing, bemused smile on her lips.

Letting the matter drop as requested, Corrin followed along. Soon enough they reached the same room they'd met Izana in before. Robin, Xander, Hinoka, and Sakura were already there waiting for them. However, the Archduke was nowhere to be seen.

"Where…?" Corrin started to ask.

The sound of slow footsteps came from the stairway at the far end of the chamber. From the doorway appeared Izana, helped along by one of his attendants. Corrin was immediately struck by how haggard the Archduke looked. His eyes were sunken, his skin having taken on a almost sickly sheen. Yes despite this he continued to smile even as he hobbled along, even going so far as to casually wave the attendant away repeatedly until the man finally obeyed and departed as well.

"I had a chat… with one of the ancient gods. It's odd… he gave two messages. One was vague, and all very prophesy-like. The other was direct though," Izana told them, staggering several steps towards them. He was breathing heavily, which only added the impression his appearance had given that the communion ritual had taken a lot out of him.

"Are you alright?" Corrin asked, voicing his concern first. The others looked equally worried as they looked at the Archduke.

"Never better... " Izana replied, the weariness carried in his tone doing little to assuage Corrin's concern. "We can talk about me later… how about those prophecies then, hmmmm? I'd hate all the work I did to be for nothing."

Corrin glanced to Xander and Robin, looking for confirmation. Robin nodded slowly. Then Xander nodded. Taking this as his answer, Corrin looked back to the archduke. "Right, if you're sure your alright, then… Well, you said a prophecy and a message? We can start with the prophecy first. What was it?" He asked.

"Alrighty, sounds good to me! Let's see, it went something like: 'When the skies change and the way to the land far below is beyond your reach, seek the Reliquary of Worlds. By living two lives, both of light and dark, may an heir lead others to their forgotten home'," Izana told them, his gaze growing distant as he spoke, only returning to the present. "So yeah, that was pretty much it. Vague, huh? Not the faintest clue what it means."

For a moment no one spoke, everyone there seeming to mull over his words.

"What does it mean?" Xander asked, speaking up first.

Izana just continued to stare into the distance, seemingly not hearing him.

"Izana?" Hinoka asked, interjecting.

The archduke turned his head slowly, blinking as he regarded her with a rather perplexed expression. "Huh?"

"The prophecy. Do you know anything of what it meant?" She asked, revoicing Xander's question. Despite her reluctance to work with Nohr, it at least seemed she was eager to get the same answers they sought.

"Oh, right. Nope. No idea. Sorry, bit out of it. Talking to the gods is soooo exhausting," the archduke laughed weakly, sounding almost lightheaded.

"Perhaps he's talking about whatever realm our enemy hails from," Robin offered, referring to Izana's prophesy earlier that day. "If I recall, he used the words "far below" in that prophesy as well, when referring to that dragon."

Corrin tried his best not to smile, seeing at once what Robin was trying to do. He was directing the conversation towards Valla without directly mentioning the place.

"Hmmm," Xander frowned, his expression pensive as he seemed to consider what Robin said carefully. "If you're right, it sounds like this place is one we can't simply travel to by normal means. The way must be opened somehow."

"What about this 'Reliquary of Worlds' the prophecy spoke of. I take it this is not a place known to any of us here?" Lucina asked, looking to Izana

"Nope. Again, sorry. I'm just as clueless as you." Izana shook his head.

"Never heard of it," Hinoka added. Then Xander too shook his head.

"I wonder…" Robin muttered. All eyes fell on the tactician. He did not seem to notice them, his gaze somewhere far off as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "The name seems familiar to be, but I can't recall where I've heard it before…" He looked up, turning back to them. "I'll see what I can find out over the next few days, since from the sounds of it this is our best lead we have so far."

"Indeed," Xander agreed. Turning his gaze to Izana, he aimed his next question to Izana. "You said there was a second, more direct message. What was it?"

"Another… Oh, oops, I'd nearly forgotten about that. Silly me. Yeah, it was 'come find me'. Crazy, huh? A god actually wants you guys to speak to him in person. You're all so lucky, I only get to talk to them. I wish I could go with you!" Izana laughed again, almost drunkenly this time.

"Excuse me? A god asked for us to meet him in person? When? How?" Corrin asked incredulously, eyes widening.

"Couple minutes ago. For the how, he told me, duh. Unless you mean when and how to meet him, that's way way way trickier. Soon would be best, don't want to keep a god waiting. As for the how, well, it's looks like you'll need to travel to the Ethereal Summit."

Xander's eyes went wide, as did Hinoka's and Sakura's. Clearly they recognized the name.

"What is the Ethereal Summit?" Lucina asked.

"It's the highest peak in all the land. Far to the north, overlooking the Bottomless Canyon at its most northern point," Hinoka.

"It's a sacred site, one of the few both Nohr and Hoshido acknowledge. The place where the land and heavens meet," Xander added. "According to the legends I learned as a child, it was on that peak that the first dragons ascended their mortal forms, leaving only the twelve behind."

"And we're going to meet a god there," Robin noted dryly. "Well, I would say this is a first, but that would be a lie. And in a remote hard to reach location too, Why can't gods live somewhere nice and close. Or anywhere convenient really," he added, muttering the words just loudly enough for the others to hear.

"If it were easy to go see a god whenever you wanted, I'd be completely out of a job. So I for one am glad, very glad, it's the way it is," Izana said, grinning. The archduke took a single step forward, swaying suddenly. "Speaking of my job, I think I'm going to stop standing now."

Without warning Izana crumpled to the ground, Corrin managing to catch him at the last moment.

"Archduke, are you alright?" Corrin asked.

"I'm… fine… Just really tired is all," Izana grinned weakly. "The ceremony I performed always requires something in return. Every message has a price, and this one took a lot out of me. Though… not as much as I thought it would. Almost felt like the god asked less in return than he normally would." Izana laughed deliriously, his head lolling slightly. "To be completely frank, I totally expected to die giving this message. Almost disappointed that I think I'll live through this. Was looking forward to the bards writing nice songs about my noble sacrifice and everything. Probably did shorten my life by a bit. Took off a couple years, maybe. Hope it doesn't make me get all wrinkly and gross earlier. I'd hate to deal with that"

"Wait, what? You could have died? Why didn't you warn m- us!? Corrin demanded, panic seizing hold of him. Had he really been that close to seeing yet another person die for his sake? Even if this reality had not come to pass, to even consider it shook him to his core.

"Don't look at me like that. I made my choice willingly. And hey it worked out! Mostly. I still really want my heroic sacrifice song made. Huh, I wonder if that's the real sacrifice. Makes you think."

"You should still have a healer see to you until you recover," Lucina said, rushing over to the archduke's side along with the others.

"I… I-I can help, I… I think. Hold on, I, um, let me see…" Sakura said nervously, beginning to cast simple restorative magic to both relieve some of the archduke's exhaustion as well as dull any pain he may be feeling.

Izana protested this weekly, assuring them that his own healers could look at him later. But by this point he put up little real resistance as Lucina and Sakura helped him up and half carried him back to his personal quarters for him to rest.

"So it seems like we need to go to this temple then, doesn't it," Hinoka said as soon as he was gone. She turned to the over, regarding them with a firm look devoid of any clear emotion, her arms crossed over her chest.

"We?" Xander asked, arching an eyebrow.

"To be blunt, I still don't like the thought of working with Nohr. I hope that's clear," she told him, her gaze briefly flicking over to Corrin as she spoke. "But today shows that all this, the threat the Invisible Soldiers pose," she motioned to the window, where the rising smoke from the destruction wrought on Izumo could be seen. "It's larger than I could have imagined. For that alone. I will do anything to protect my home, even if it means working with you. "

Xander nodded. "That much is all I can ask. You're not the only one who is prepared to do whatever it takes to protect one's home." He turned to Robin, adding "We should make preparations to depart as soon as we are able. See to it that we render what aid we can to the people here in the short time until then. We must balance kindness with pragmatism so long as time remains against our favor, I'm afraid."

"I'll do what I can," Robin said. He glanced to Hinoka. "Lady Hinoka, if I may, I would like your input on our route from here. We will be moving through your lands, so if there is a particular route we should take, I'd gladly hear of it."

"Yes. Of course. I'll let you know," Hinoka said, her voice perhaps less stiff than the one she'd used when talking to Xander.

With plans already being made and discussed, Corrin was left standing on the sideline. He felt hesitant to contribute. Hinoka would probably not want to speak with him still. Best not to make her feel uncomfortable. Besides, Robin looked like he could handle it. No sense meddling with things.

He gazed out the window, watching the billowing smoke rising to stain the sky black as night. As he did, he found his mind drawn back to the prophecy Izana had given, in particular the final line.

'By living two lives, both of light and dark, may an heir lead others to their forgotten home'. What could is possibly mean? Could this 'heir' be referring me? But I have not connection to Valla. That was Azura who was, not me, Corrin thought.

And even if it is me the prophecy speaks of, I've only ever lived one life. How can I walk a path I chose not to take?

Author's Note: Hey everyone, back again and a pretty much exactly on "schedule" despite my best efforts to get this out quicker. Man I need to find a way to get more time/motivation to get this done sooner than 4-5 weeks. Also, before I forget. Since I got lazy and didn't do a character spotlight last chapter, I am going to do two this time.

Anyhow, this chapter was pretty much the first real hint at some of the additions to Fates' worldbuilding (if you can even consider what was in the games that at all), expanding upon the lore in particular to the mythology the world is based on. Like, it's frustrating, since Fates clearly had some idea about his history compared to that of other Fire Emblem games. For example, the dragons of this world faced the same degeneration problem as those of the Archanea/Valentia/Jugdrel universe, but rather than become manakettes and seal their power into dragonstones, the dragons of Fates left their bodies to become astral dragons. Then you have the parallel of the 12 dragons who stayed behind and fought among themselves here compared to the 12 Divine Dragons who created divine weapons and divine bloodlines in Jugdrel. Then you have how the Rainbow Sage and Anankos both represent different parallels to Naga (complete with Anankos' Japanese name being Hydra, following the same naming scheme as Naga). It's so interesting!

And yet they don't expand beyond that. At all. Which is why I have long been coming up with ideas to further flesh it out, with us finally getting to the part of the story where we can begin exploring that worldbuilding I've come up with. So expect that as well as more Robin's Writtings bonus sections going forward.

Regardless, onto guest reviews.

Dracofighter - Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it as always

B.I. Beast - Yeah, unfortunately there aren't a lot of characters on the Nohr side to have become Invisible Soldiers, at least currently. Perhaps I can rectify the situation somehow, hmmmm….

Anyhow, that's all for now. Let me know what you guys thought. As always, please leave all your comments and criticism you have, as it's the only way I am going to improve as a writer. Besides, it always makes my day to hear your thoughts. Until the next one, have a wonderful day everyone!

Character Spotlight: Hana

Class: Swordmaster

Secondary Classes: Shrine Maiden, Archer (A* Setsuna)

Skills: Swordfaire, Vantage, Astra, Quick Draw, Life or Death

Personal Skill: Fearsome Blow - If Hana initiates combat and defeats an enemy, all adjacent enemies lose 20% of their max HP.

Equipment: Hana's Katana, Sunrise Katana

Status: Alive

Character Spotlight: Setsuna

Class: Sniper

Secondary Classes: Ninja, Samurai (A* Hana)

Skills: Bowfaire. Quick Draw, Astra, Lethality, Life or Death

Personal Skill: Optimistic - If Setsuna is healed with a staff/rod, she recovers 1.5 times the amount.

Equipment: Setsuna's Yumi, Sidelong Yumi

Status: Alive