Chapter 41 - Responsibilities Unwanted

The phantom shuddered as Corrin yanked Yato from it's chest. The fire died in it's eyes as it fell, collapsing into smoke that spread out across the damp earth before fading away.

Spinning around, Corrin peered through the friggid rain, crimson eyes searching for more foes. He found none, the lonely northern road once more still but for the faint hiss of sleet and squelch of mud under the boots of his companions as they gathered themselves after the fighting.

Sinking Yato's tip into the ground, Corrin let the tension escape from his shoulders, taking a moment to catch his breath as the weariness that had plagued him for the past days returned in force. Since the first abush at their camp eleven days prior, the Vallite Soldiers had launched numerous attacks to halt their progress. A day could scarcely pass without encountering an enemy band lying in wait or for an attack to come at the rear while they traveled. As it stood, they should have arrived at the Dragon Gate three days ago, yet it remained two more out of reach. And that was assuming no further delays on those two days, a prospect that seemed a little more than a foolish hope at this point.

If we even manage to make it that far. We're all on our last legs as it is, Corrin thought. The lack of sleep, brought on by the threat of assault on the Astral Keep while holed up for the night, only further had worn them all down. While only three such attacks had happened, each had proven how little safety could be afforded to them while on this venture.

Perhaps it had been a mistake to come here. Perhaps they were better off turning back now while they still could.

Corrin hated how seductive that idea seemed. He hated it, and loathed himself for how much he wanted to give into that temptation. He didn't want to keep going. He was tired, and each step he took closer to the Dragon Gate seemed heavier than the one before.

Because he was afraid.

Afraid of what he would find Reliquary of Worlds and what he might see.

He was afraid.

Afraid that he'd only confirm his own failings, finding out how poorly he'd chosen his path.

Or worse, find out his choices had been futile from the start. That every path that had been laid before him ended in nothing but tragedy and heartbreak.

Corrin tucked a hand underneath his shirt, gripping the amulet pressed against his chest. Azura… he grimaced, feeling again the dull pang of loss he'd done his best to bare over these past few weeks. To move forward despite them

I wish you were here. If you were, if you were here besides me… I think I could face it without fear. You made me so much stronger than I really am...

"Are you okay?" a voice asked.

Corrin bolted upright, tearing his hand free from under his shirt and reflexively going for Yato's hilt. He managed to half turn before he stopped, relaxing as his better judgement asserted control once more and he beheld who'd spoken to him.

"Sorry, startled me a bit," Corrin apologized to Marc. Not that he could blame Marc for checking on him. He could only imagine how he'd seemed, standing there lost as he'd been.

Corrin sighed, letting his shoulders slump wearily. "And, yeah, I'm fine, just tired." Letting his fingers close the rest of the way around Yato's hilt, Corrin pulled it from the dirt. He flicked the blade to one side in a rapid motion, clearing the mud from it's tip before returning it to it's sheath.

"Gottcha. Just wanted to make sure you hadn't been injured or something, just standing there with that pained look on your face," Marc said. He flashed a disarming smile that caught Corrin completely unexpected.

Corrin blinked dumbly, unsure how to respond. How exactly the boy managed to remain so jovial when the rest of them were on their last legs, Corrin could barely fathom. "Sorry to worry you. No injuries here," Corrin assured him, holding out both arms to show there was not a scratch on him.

"It's okay. Besides, it's me who should be sorry for sneaking up on you like that," Marc said, shrugging. "I'm going to go see if anyone else needs looking after."

"You know, you really don't need to trouble yourself with that. I'm sure the healers can deal with any injuries fine on their own," Corrin told him.

"Yeah, well… I figure this way I can at least make myself useful. But thanks," Marc said, waving as he turned and hurried off.

Corrin watched as he left, lingering on those final words. There was something to them underneath the upbeat attitude. Resentment? No, that wasn't right. Resignation, more like.

Perhaps his apparent upbeat attitude was less genuine than it had first come across.

. . . . .

"You've been quiet all evening. Are you alright, Corrin?"

Corrin blinked, staring blankly at this question. He took a moment to swallow the spoonful of stew he'd just taken before pulling the utensils from his mouth and setting it at the edge of the bowl. "Yeah. I'm… fine…" he told Robin.

Good job. Real convincing.

Robin stared at him for a moment, his expression dubious at best. The tactician began to open his mouth, about to say something before Corrin quickly interrupted.

"Okay, I'll admit, that probably sounded worse than it actually is. I'm just tired. Like everyone else." Corrin dragged a hand over his face before letting it fall down onto the table hard enough to rattle his bowl and plate. "I meant to do that," he excused quickly, grumbling as he mopped up some of the broth that had spilled over the edge with a napkin.

"Then perhaps you should get an early rest. I am sure no one would begrudge you for taking one night to recover," Lucina offered.

"I don't deserve special treatment," Corrin replied simply, picking up his spoon and shoveling another mouthful of stew in before continuing. "And even if I wanted, I doubt I'd get much sleep if I tried."

Robin's brow furrowed as he regarded Corrin thoughtfully. "Are you afraid of what you'll see at the Reliquary of Worlds? I can't say I'd blame you for that. Not sure I'd have the guts to find out how things might have turned out differently in my life. For good or ill…"

"No, that not…" Corrin caught himself in that lie, grimacing as he set his spoon down again. "Okay, okay, you're right. But… please don't worry about me. Too much is at stake, right? Afraid or not, I have to do this."

Not waiting for a response, Corrin shoveled the last of his meal into his mouth before getting to his feet and collecting the now empty bowl. "I'm going to do a few rounds. See if anyone else needs anything."

Before he turned to go he saw Robin looked like he was going to argue that point, only for Lucina to stop her husband with a hand on his arm and a shake of her head. For an instant Robin hesitated, then he relaxed back into his chair, saying nothing more.

"If you need anything of us, do not hesitate to ask us," Lucina told him, smiling gently and nodding in approval.

Grateful that they'd decided not to press him any further, thanked both Lucina and Robin with a nod of his own before departing. Making a quick stop by the mess' kitchen to stack his bowl atop the pile of used dishes, he turned back to scan the room. Of their group, less than half were currently present in the dining hall, most either being on watch duty or having long since finished their meals. Rather than strike up a conversation with the few stragglers, Corrin instead made for the doors, stepping out into the fading daylight of the astral keep.

Looking out from the porch of the dinning hall, Corrin gazed out through the front gates, over the gentle swaying of the sea beyond. It's watered glowed gold, stained by the setting sun's radiance as it sank towards the horizon.

Corrin reached up to his chest, feeling the amulet beneath his shirt. He stared out into the water for a long moment, transfixed by its beauty. A gust of wind rolled around him, rushing through his hair. He closed his eyes, for a moment the wind feeling like a warm breath against his skin. Then it faded, replaced by a chill that left him shivering.

Tugging his cloak tighter around him, Corrin made for the training grounds, wondering if anyone was practicing this late in the evening. Sure enough, he could hear voices coming from behind the armory, their words muffled by the stonework that sat between them and them.

Picking up his pace a bit, Corrin looped around the building, the training grounds coming into view. The instant he rounded the corner, Corrin stopped dead in his tracks, stared for a moment, then swiftly backpedaled back out of view. Nope. Not touching that one.

And his hasty retreat didn't come a moment too soon. A dull thump reverberated through the stonework, a puff a black smoke rising up over the building, followed by a chorus of coughing and spluttering.

The sight that has filled him with such distress had been Soleil, a ragnarok tome in hand, being instructed by Morgan with a very concerned Inigo trying to talk them out of it. Why Morgan had decided to start with such a dangerous tome, Corrin couldn't fathom. Especially when Soleil had professed a complete lack of aptitude with magic.

Corrin covered his face with his hands, slowly dragging them down. Just walk away, Corrin. Just walk away. Before you get caught some horrible, if invertible, accident himself

Beating a retreat in the exact opposite direction, Corrin only slowed once he was sure he was well outside the blast radius of the cataclysm he was sure would be consuming that half of the keep any minute now. Okay, time to find something else to do. Something that doesn't involve getting set on fire, perhaps?

Something reached his ears then, coming from elsewhere in the keep. It sounded like music. Curious, Corrin headed in that direction, being able to make it out in better detail as he drew closer. It sounded like two string instruments, one of which he recognized as a violin. The other however he could not exactly place.

Entranced by the melody, Corrin's feet pulled him toward the direction of the music. With each step, the music grew louder, it's notes reverberate deep within him almost akin to the times that Azura would sing to him, the music soothed him, washing away his doubts and worries.

Standing before the tent, Corrin pulled back the cover, eyes widening to see the source of the music. The mysterious musicians were none other than his youngest siblings: Sakura and Elise. Neither noticed Corrin's presence, so focused were they on their instruments. The mystery instrument he'd heard seemed to what sat in front of Sakura. It looked to be a curved wooden board with strings strung over it and small bridges underneath each string. As he observed, Sakura plucked the strings in a rhythm to create the sounds of her music. Corrin could recall how the day his mother had died, the festival had played music that made sounds similar to this…

Of course. Whatever the instrument wasn must at least be somewhat commonplace in Hoshido.

Even with that realization, it was no surprise he hadn't recalled hearing it before, it's music melding with and almost synchronize so well with Elise's violin.

Never had he heard such music before. But it wasn't the music that struck something deep within Corrin. No, it was the way Sakura and Elise smiled with one another as they played, seemingly free from all the burdens of the world, that shattered something within Corrin. Tears began to fall uncontrollably, tracing silver stream down his face that he easily wiped away.

They… I've never thought that…

The music soon stopped and the two girls giggled together. "Good job, Sakura. I think a little more practice, and we could even hold a recital in front of the camp," Elise declared cheerfully.

"Y-you really think so?" Sakura asked. The tone in her voice… there was so much joy, and more than that, confidence, behind it. Was this really Sakura?

It was then that the two noticed his presence, a small gasp falling from Sakura's lips as they turned to face him.

"Ah! Big brother! Were you spying on us?" Elise demanded playfully, a pout forming on her face as she pointed her finger at him accusingly. Sakura's face turned a brilliant scarlet as she threw up her hands over her face in sheer embarrassment.

"I'm sorry, I heard you playing and, well… I was curious," Corrin explained hastily. This seemed to satisfy Elise, but Sakura continued to cower, looking utterly mortified.

"What kind of instrument is that? I don't think I've seen one before," Corrin asked, speaking gently to Sakura in the hopes to get her to relax and open up a bit.

Sakura slowly uncovered her face, blinking as she stared at him. She opened her mouth to answer, stammering she seemed to struggle to form words. However, before she could, Elise jumped to her rescue, stepping forward to answer in her stead.

"It's a koto. I didn't know what one was either until Sakura told me about it," Elise said proudly. "It took a whole lot of work, but last town we stopped in I managed to work my Detective Princess Elise magic and found one for her so we could play together!"

"W-we've been… um… practicing t-t… together for a few days now," Sakura mumbled, keeping her gaze down. "Hoshido and Nohr music is so… so different that it's been hard… t-to figure out how we could… make the two instruments work together…"

"It was beautiful. Truly," Corrin told her, swallowing the lump in his throat. He felt himself begin to choke up, tears threatening to form once more. He'd always wished, no, dreamed of having a chance to see his whole family, both from Nohr and Hoshido, being friends like this… that perhaps even too their nations could put aside their differences. But he couldn't ever bring himself to truly believe that it could be possible…

Yet here he was, seeing his youngest sisters having done just that. Coming together as friends and to combine the music of their homes in perfect harmony.

If only it hadn't come so late. If only everyone was still alive to see this, Corrin though, thinking of Ryoma, Takumi…

...and Azura.

"Are you okay? You look upset. Did we do something wrong?" Elise asked.

"Uh, no, it's just…" Corrin tried to smile reassuringly, quicky brushing away the wetness that had pooled at the corners of his eyes. "I'm just happy to see the two of you being friends. It means a lot." He looked between Sakura and Elise. "Do you plan to kepe practicing.

"I… I hope so. But with a war going on, I don't know how much time we will have…" Sakura answered, frowning.

"Yeah. Though the war won't last forever, right? Once it's over, I was thinking we could keep playing our music together. Maybe even get others to join us and do a big concert! You know, bring everyone together to perform and show how great both kingdoms can work together," Elise exclaimed.

Corrin blinked in surprise, caught off guard by the scope of this suggestions. Would that work? Would… that even be possible? Could they really get everyone to come together like that, even after everything.

"I think it's a w-wornderful idea. S-sure, it won't… be easy, But I think…. Once the war is over… we can show everyone how our people can truly come together," Sakura said, her words gaining strength and resolve as she stood in agreement with Elise.

"That… would be wonderful…" Corrin whispered. "I… I am not sure if there is anything I can do to help, but when the war ends… I'd like to see that concert too."

"You mean it?" Elise exclaimed happily, hopping up and down. "Well, we better get practicing, huh Sakura? We got a lot of work to do."

Stammering an argument, the two resumed practicing in ernest. Corrin watched, listening to them as they played for awhile, then, seeing that they were engrossed in their work, slipped out of the tent. As he departed he listened to their music even as it faded into the background, each footstep he look taking him further into the still night.

If only the rest of the world could see things the way they do. Though perhaps… with the future eventually falling to people like them…

Maybe there truly is hope for lasting peace.

. . . . .

Corrin couldn't sleep.

That was not unusual. He rarely had slept soundly since Azura died. Their room felt too empty without her, the bed too cold. His rest fraught with restless tossing and turning, interrupted by fragmented dreams and half-remembered nightmares.

Corrin ran his hands over his face, wiping the cold sweat that he'd woken to in the wake of another fevered nightmare. Breathing heavily, he tried to slip back into sleep, but found himself unable to no matter how badly his exhausted body longed for rest.

Rolling out of bed, Corrin pulled on his clothes and stepped out into the cold night air of the astral keep. Leaning his hands again the railing, took a deep breath and vaulted over. Wings unfurled from his back, spreading wide to slow his decent, allowing him to alight safely on the ground below.

Straightening and dusting himself off, Corrin began to wander through the silent keep. In the distance he could see the faint torchlight near the castle's entryways, where he knew those currently on watch duty stood guard. Perhaps I should take over for one of them. If I'm not going to sleep, I should at least make myself useful…

Corrin stopped, recalling how Marc had used that same statement to describe his own actions. Shaking his head, he continued on, heading for the southern gate of the keep.

"Can't sleep?" a voice suddenly called out.

Corrin stopped, turning towards it, surprised to find by sheer coincidence that it was the very person he'd just been thinking about who'd spoken up.

Marc sat against the fountain at the center of the keep, his back pressed against the stone base, his arms folded on top of his knees. Falchion rested next to him, leaning against a cloth wrapped bundle propped against the fountain. Moonlight pooled in the surface of the fountain, glinting silver in the dark.

"You really have it out for me, don't you? Second time you startled me half to death today," Corrin told him, a bit of a smile tugging at his lips as he made the jest.

"Sorry," Marc said, shrugging sheepishly. "You didn't answer my question though."

"Couldn't sleep," Corrin confirmed, moving to stand across from him. "Though I could ask the same question of you. I can't imagine you'd be up now either if that was not the case."

"Hey, I could be on guard duty," Marc countered.

"At the fountain?" Corrin asked, arching an eyebrow dubiously.

"I… well, that's… okay, fine, I couldn't sleep either," Marc admitted.

"Nightmares?" Corrin asked.

"Yeah, not that they are entirely unexpected at this point." Marc shrugged, smiling wearily. "Don't tell anyone I said that. I'd rather them not know..."

"I see. Like earlier today when you tried to act cheerful," Corrin noted. He crossed his arms over his chest, regarding Marc with a steady look, half expecting the boy to try to deny it.

However, much to his surprise Marc did not try to argue to the point. Instead he sighed, letting his shoulders slump. "Ah, you saw through that," Marc said, his smile vanishing. He frowned now, looking visibly exhausted as he let down his guard. "I imagine it may sound a bit unconvincing, but it's really nothing to trouble yourself about. It's just easier if everyone thinks you're all upbeat and positive all the time. Especially when it keeps them from worrying about me.

"Sounds a lot like a coping mechanism if you ask me," Corrin told him, regarding the boy with a hard stare.

"Well… maybe," Marc shrugged. "I guess it feels more productive than being gloomy all the time." He sighed deeply. "Plus it beats everyone trying to cheer me up. I think I've had enough of that for a lifetime, thank you."

Corrin nodded. "I guess I can see that. I've had my share of people treating me like that in recent months…"

Marc grimaced, his gaze fixed on Corrin's face for several moments. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to- I didn't think about what you-"

"It's fine. I'm the one who brought it up," Corrin assured him, brushing the words aside. Dropping down onto the grass, Corrin crossed his legs, taking in the cool, still night air of the astal keep. "I know you said I shouldn't trouble myself with it, but I can't stop thinking about something you said earlier."

"What? Did I say something wrong?" Marc asked, looking worried.

"No, not anything like that," Corrin assured him. "It just stood out to me. What you said about how you could 'at least make yourself useful'."

"Oh, that…" Marc looked away.

"Do you feel like you aren't helping enough?" Corrin asked.

Marc laughed, catching Corrin completely by surprise. That… certainly hadn't been the reaction he'd expected.

"No, far from it. Though I guess you could say I do but… it's really more complicated than that. I am not sure I could explain really," Marc told him, shaking his head as the last echoes of his laughter faded. "Besides, that I really don't want to trouble you with."

"I have time," Corrin replied. He folded his arms, sighing wearily.

Marc was silent for a few moments before he looked up. "Do I have a say in this?"

"Of course you do. If you don't want to talk about it, we don't have to. I only wanted to offer to listen.

Marc nodded slowly.

"Well, it's…" he trailed off, fidgeting nervously before continuing.

"Mother, Father, and even my sister... they are each playing some role, overcoming such harsh obstacles to grow... and meanwhile, here I am, joking and playing with Owain and Ophelia... it's strange... I should feel like I ought to step up and do something too... but I don't," Marc shrugged, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "It's selfish, but I can't help but feel like they can handle everything. That I'd… well, much rather watch from the sidelines and act as support wherever I am able."

"There is no shame it playing a supporting role," Corrin told him, trying his best to puzzle out what Marc was getting at.

"Oh, I know. It's just… I'm not ashamed of the role I am playing… it's more… I don't know how I feel about the fact I'm happy to let others take all the responsibility? Should I really be content with that?" Marc asked.

"Well, I think…" Corrin fronwed, pondering his next words carefully. Gods, he was the least qualified person to give advice on this. What did he know about Marc's predicament? He'd give anything to be in Marc's shoes, to let others-

Oh.

Maybe he did understand it. Maybe he knew better than anyone, given how he wanted the same thing.

"It depends. Do you feel like you be better suited for that responsibility? That's the first question I'd think to ask."

Marc sighed, shaking his head. "No, not really."

"Then why feel like you should be doing more?" Corrin asked.

"I don't know. It just feels… selfish. Like I should be doing more, you know? Besides It's not really my say. I have reason to think the universe thinks I should be doing more." Marc motioned his hand over the space next to him, where Falchion lay propped up.

Corrin nodded, understanding flooding into him."You feel the same way about Falchion that I do about Yato, don't you?" Corrin asked, though he was already more than certain of the answer.

"Yeah, I do," Marc confirmed. He smiled, the expression tinged with what almost seemed to be resignation, "I just can't help but question how someone who gladly lets others take charge while he watches from the side could still be worthy. Anyone else in my family would have been a better choice, really."

"So Morgan can't use Falchion, then?" Corrin asked.

"Well… not exactly. It's… it's not exactly cut and dry as that." Marc chuckled, a genuine full small flashing for a moment. "She can use it, but it's more like… wielding Falchion always came naturally to me, while for Morgan she had to focus more to use its power, and sometimes it won't even work completely. If that makes sense."

"The divine weapons here are much the same. I couldn't use my siblings weapons even if I wanted to," Corrin noted. He sighed, closing his eyes as he collected himself. "You're right though."

"What do you mean?"

"About wishing that Yato had chosen someone else. I never wanted this responsibility… but really it doesn't matter what I want. I don't think responsibility is something you are supposed to want, really. It's just something you have to do," Corrin told him.

"You sound like my mother. I mean, don't get me wrong, I don't mean that in a 'nagging' or 'scolding' kind of way. I meant more that, it sounds like the sort of thing she'd try to explain," Marc floundered, averting his gaze sheepishly, looking thoroughly embarrassed by his own choice of words.

Corrin chuckled, finding himself smiling now too. "It's no surprise, as she was the one who made me realize that. Though I think your mother put it better than I did."

"Oh, I see…" Marc continued to keep his gaze on the dirt.

"So what about you? Why don't you want the responsibility?" Corrin asked. "Do you feel you aren't good enough to live up to those expectations.

"Well, I… No that's not quite is. It's more that I… I guess I just don't really feel like I deserve it," Marc said, trailing off. He shook his head, whispering something under his breath that Corrin couldn't quite make out. "Yeah. It's not deserving it that I think is my problem…"

Marc fell silent once more, completely still but for the fidgeting of his hands in his lap. "How much do you know?" he said, speaking up suddenly..

"About?"

"My past. What I did."

Corrin considered this for a moment. "None of the specifics. I do know you served the Fell Dragon who'd possessed your father. And I know you did a lot of things you regret."

"I see." Marc nodded. "Well, then you know enough then to get the picture, I think. Why I'm the last person this responsibility," he motioned towards Falchion's sheath.

"I know how that feels. The weight of the sins you carry, how because of you, so many good people died, even if you were just trying to protect someone or help others..." Corrin smiled sadly. "I know that feeling too well…

"I know you do, and I didn't mean to…" Marc shook his head furiously, stammering as he tried to correct himself. "Don't get me wrong, I am not looking for forgiveness at this point. Or trying to disregard your own troubles. It's just that I'd... I've accepted what I've done, and trying to make amends is something that will take the rest of my life..."

Marc pulled himself to his feet. He bent down, picking up a small stone. He rolled it over in his hands before flinging it out into the fountain. It vanished into the crystalline waters with a faint plop, ripples distorting the reflected moon before falling still once more. "It's just no matter how much Mother and Father insist that I am free of guilt... or how much I have overcome Grima's influence... the weight of my sins cannot be so easily erased… I can't help but feel it's better if someone like me has as little responsibility as possible. Especially if it's responsibility for other people..."

"I may sound silly coming from me, as I have done more than my fair share at feeling undeserving… but don't you think that sounds a bit like running away?" Corrin asked. "Which, as a note, is something I've also done more than my share of."

"I know, it's just… Ugh... what is wrong with me? If my family heard me, they would lecture me, saying that it's not my fault, and that it's all Grima's fault... to be honest, I don't want to hear it again. Cause it always makes me have this urge to lash out at them, and tell them that they don't understand. I wonder if I'm at that rebellious phase of my life?"

"Can't be worse then the way I acted. I think I have you beat in the childish rebelliousness," Corrin countered, referring to the way he'd acted following Azura's death. How he'd lashed out at the very people trying to extend their hand to him. "Though I guess your family sounds like mine. I can't even begin to count how many times Xander lectured me."

"I suppose so," Marc noted, laughing softly. "It's funny. When you get right down to it, we are really similar."

"Yeah, we are," Corrin agreed. "Both defined by the mistakes we've made…" Corrin pushed himself to his feet, nodding to Marc. "But thanks."

"Huh, for what?" Marc asked, looking visibly perplexed. "All we did was talk about my problems really. Why are you thanking me?"

"Because, I think I have a better grip on my own problems now. Listening to yours helped me figure a few things out," Corrin explained. "I think… I think I've been feeling like I've not deserving either. That's why I'm so afraid of facing it head on. But I don't think I can run from that anymore."

"I see…" Marc frowned, his expression becoming pensive. "I guess that's the benefit of your responsibility being far more pressing than mine, huh? I mean, I'm an entire world away from home. A home that isn't even my world. Not really much of destiny I need to live up to right now."

Corrin considered this for a moment, his eyes catching on the wrapped bundle of cloth sitting behind Falchion. For a moment he thought he could glimpse a small glint of gold within. I'm not sure how certain I am you're right about that, Corrin thought to himself, deciding to keep that suspicion to himself for the present. "Perhaps," Corrin told him, shrugging. "But I thank you nonetheless."

"Don't mention it. But really, it was nothing." Marc dropped back down against the side of the fountain, tucking his chin against his folded arms.

"Consider it returning the favor then. You gave me some good advice awhile back. This was the least I could do." Including his head to him, Corrin turned and departed, leaving Marc once more to his own personal musings.

Now to see if I can put my own advice into practice. Corrin thought to himself. Are you ready to face your responsibility? Or keep cowering from you like you always have?

Author's Note: I did it! I finally did it! I got this chapter done after nearly two months. Ignore the fact that the main reason this took so long is because I spent four week playing Three Houses instead of writing (Bernadetta is best girl btw, fight me). Ignore that fact and pretend I had an actually good reason to have taken this long!

Erm, umm… so with that out of the way, what did you guys think of this one? We are rapidly approaching the end of Act 2, so I thought now was a good time to get some insight on Corrin's headspace right now as well as set up the first inklings of the B plot for Act 3. Since Morgan's character arc was that for Act 2, I wonder who will get the same treatment in act 3? I wonder…

Anyhow, onto responses to guest reviews. Not much to really say in response, so thank you Dracofighter and Alex for taking the time to leave reviews. As always I will respond to every review I get, either via PM for non-guest reviews and here in the notes for guest reviews.

Until next time, please let me know what you thought of this one. Have a wonderful day everyone.