Dear Chrom.
As requested, here is my evaluation of princess Lucina based on my observations of her studies and her conduct. I understand that there had been some challenges with the princess and her current tutors, and I'll start with alleviating your concerns about her abilities within the world of academics.
While it remains true that she might have some difficulties with the more learned aspects of her studies. She is a very responsible child and makes every effort to learn. Your daughter is gifted, it's just that I believe that she might need a more practical approach to learn, and it would be beneficial for her to find a new tutor that is proficient with this.
With that said, it is also my opinion that it might still be too early to come to any conclusive answer given her young age.
However, I believe that it would be a disservice to your daughter to not acknowledge her other strengths.
Like you, she is a natural leader and is often seen to take a role of leadership amongst the other children whenever they play. Some might say that this is to be expected given her station.
However, I don't believe it to be so simple.
It's not by her station alone that they followed her. No, the other children follow her because she has a genuine ability to lead and inspire loyalty. She seems to have taken you as an example well, as she never places herself higher above the people around her despite her elevated status as a member of the royal family, and she would never demand anything that she was not willing to do herself.
Interestingly she has proven to already be able to (almost subconsciously) consider everyone's ability and assign them their tasks accordingly during wargames and sports.
Despite her inability to recognise it herself, Lucina is shaping to be a great tactician and a strong independent leader. And I have every confidence that she would prove able to weather whatever the future might throw at her, especially with the friends she surround herself with who are each capable in their own way.
My dear friend, you have nothing to worry about when it comes to your succession.
Your humble servant and friend.
Robin.
What seemed to be a simple task had proven itself to be more troublesome then Nah had anticipated. While Lucina had been able to give them a rough estimate on the location of that small fishing village, getting anything useful information would be impossible given how the village had been razed to the ground.
Both Noire and Yarne had dismissed it as the unfortunate result of a brutal raid of some pirates, but Noire was doubtful. Pirates did not usually burn an entire village to the ground; Who would they rob again in a few years' time? And they most certainly did not dig mass graves for their victims or leave valuables like coin in the ruins.
It seemed that Lucina was right on sending them to investigate the small village of Inial.
Someone was trying to hide something, and Nah intended on find out what that was.
So, they made their way to one of the neighbouring towns with the intent to find someone who could shed some light on the fate of Inial. Thankfully they had been supplied with a wagon drawn by two horses, making traveling less taxing then if they were to travel by foot through this scorching heat.
To hide their more obvious racial traits whenever they travelled into a town. Nah had let her hair grow into thick locks that could conceal her long knifelike ears. Meanwhile Yarne had to don a heavy cape that could cover his bunny like ears, with the effect that he constantly grumbles about the heat, much to Nah's irritation. Despite this little inconvenience, so far this have proven to be effective by Nah's own account.
Nah doubted that it would be efficient if they were to run around and ask random people about a small fishing village, not to mention suspicious. But from her own experience a tavern or inn could be a good start; owners of such establishment usually had a good ear for the happenings around their local areas.
They found an inn in the nearest town; it was a small one just outside the eastern end of the town. A sorry sight, it was a two floors shack of a building with only one common room and maybe some smaller rooms upstairs by her own judgment. As they settled their horses, Nah had Yarne stay in their wagon, while she and Noire went in.
Given the time of the day, it was not surprising that the place was empty of patrons save for the innkeeper himself. A fat man with a sur expression, he glanced at his two new guests with obvious suspicion, as he stood behind the small counter absently cleaning jugs with a dirty rag. He reminded Nah about an old angry ox she once saw in her childhood village.
''Wha ya want?''
He asked with a tone that indicated that he didn't care for strangers in his town. Nah decided to come to the point quickly.
''Merely information, me and my companions would usually buy some fish from a nearby village called Inial, but we found it destroyed and wondered if you could tell us what happened to it?''
The innkeeper took a measured look at the young manakete.
''That village burned down years ago…Aren't ya bit too young to have any dealing with that village?''
While Nah could sense that Noire became nervous at the question, Nah was careful that her expression remained as a stone.
''I assure you, I'm older than I look, but my mother was fond of that village, and would make a point of taking me there whenever she wanted to buy some fish, I'm merely curious what happened to it.''
This of course was a lie that Nah had come up with, a believable story that hopefully would not attract too much attention.
The innkeeper for his part made a grunt.
''Alright alright no need to yap ya entire life story. I might know something, but my memory can at times be a bit hazy…''
Nah quickly guessed what the innkeeper really wanted.
Money, he wants money. Nothing is ever free.
Luckily Laurent had supplied them well, and Nah casually dug a silver coin up. She could easily had given him a gold coin but would not do to appear too desperate or well off.
''Will this jog your memory?''
The innkeeper considered the coin for a moment, satisfied with the offer he began to talk.
''Aye…Army came around four years ago and put the entire place to the torch. Don't know much else, they probably displeased the former king or something. Its bad luck to speak about it, but if ya really want to know more then find Garrick; a local drunkard who usually begs near the west wall of the town.''
Nah nodded at this, this was a silver coin well spent.
''Thank you, sir, and would it be possible for you to see to our horses while we are gone?''
At this the innkeeper grinned.
''Aye for a silver more that is.''
Nah paid the unreasonable price, such services would normally just cost them a few coppers. It was good that she did not pay him any gold.
''I don't like him; I don't think that he is very trustworthy.''
Noire declared with her usually frightened voice once they had gone out of the inn, while some might dismiss Noire statement as a product of mere fear of strangers, Nah had learned that the archer was usually accurate with her judgement.
''I don't trust that innkeeper either. Not the way he looked at us and certainly not how greedy he is.''
As a precaution Nah instructed Yarne to remain behind and hide, while she and Noire continued further into the town.
Yarne did not like it at all.
''Are you leaving me behind? All alone? What if someone jumped me?''
''I don't expect you remain within sight, just close enough so that you may hear him go and come, shouldn't be too difficult with your ears.''
This seemed to ease the frightened taguel, and he made no further protest.
As the innkeeper, it was clear that the town did not take well to strangers, but no one made a move against them. Still the town gave Nah and Noire the creeps, its buildings was poorly maintained and there was an eerily silence about it. They both quietly agreed to finding this drunkard quickly. As luck would have it, he was not difficult to locate.
A pitiful sight, he was an old and haggard man, Nah could hear him mumbling incoherently as they approached him. In front of him was a dirty and rusty jug; it had only a few coins it. He stank of piss and alcohol.
Noire got another one of her panic attacks, citing how everything in this town seemed ''wrong'' and wished to leave immediately. But given the effort they had made of finding him, Nah thought that they might as well try to ask him now that they were there.
They introduced themselves, but the drunkard didn't seem to even acknowledge them. He kept on mumbling, seemingly deft to the world around him. That was until they mentioned the village.
''Inial? We should never had let that witch stay! Her and her brat! Bad blood! Cursed blood!''
That took both women aback.
''Witch…boy? Who are you talking about?''
The drunkard Garrick spoke incoherently for some time before he would come with something that vaguely made sense.
''…Came from the capital she said…Did not want her boy to take part in something…Village elder took pity and took her in. They seemed decent he said, they seemed genuine…the woman was learned, she could teach the kids to read and count...But the boy…''
Suddenly Garrick grabbed Nah by the arm and tried to pull her in. His eyes shone with madness.
''I heard her talk one day! Said her boy was cursed…Two souls in one! That the priests wanted him for his blood…''
Nah tore herself away from the crazed vagrant. He did not make any further attempts to go near them, but instead curled up like a small child and began to cry. Nah felt pity for him despite his sudden outburst.
''I should have been there…I should have burned with my family. They came four years ago, burned the entire village, and put them all to the sword for harbouring some traitor. I know they meant that bitch! I told them to not take them in! I told them…''
''That's enough!''
An unfamiliar voice behind them called out. Nah turned around and saw a tall man flanked by two militias approach them. Judging by his clothes, he was apparently some kind of official.
''Forgive me for my intrusion, but I feel it's my duty to prevent any harmful slander being spoken about our little fair kingdom. Garrick never came over the destruction of his hometown and have the habit of imagine some rather…dark scenarios.''
His voice was silky smooth, and he carried himself with an air of highborn dignity, a stark contrast to the inhabitants of this town. With a short nod, one of his men moved towards Garrick and dragged him away. The drunkard tried to feebly resist, but to no avail and soon disappeared into one of the smaller alleys around the corner.
''Apologies…We'll see to it that Garrick receives the proper care and does not disturb you any further with his tales. My name is Varin; Mayor of this humble town. And who might you be to grace our little…community?''
Nah introduced herself and Noire and gave Varin the same story she had told the innkeeper.
''Ah…An unfortunate fate that befell Inial, a bandit raid wiped it from the map, nothing more. The army moved in shortly after and eliminated that brutish rabble of criminals but was too late to save anyone from the village and could only offer the victims a proper burial I'm afraid.''
A convenient story if not for the fact that Nah and her companions had found lots of valuables left in the ruins, but the young Manakete choose to keep this detail to herself. Instead, she feigned acceptance and gratitude for the clarification.
''It's the least of my duties to clear any misunderstandings. May I ask what your next destination is?''
While the mayor carried himself well enough, every fibre in Nah screamed that she should not trust him. This entire town and its inhabitants felt somewhat wrong, and Nah would now heed Noire's advice about getting out of this as quickly as possible.
''We wish to continue west to the capitol of Plegia. We have been tasked with the army of Ylisse to acquire some magical herbs for the war effort and need to make haste.''
The mayor bowed lightly at this.
''Why of course, nasty business this war…I shall not keep you here much longer. Feel free to pass through our town but be warned of the roads. Lots of brigands these days…''
''Thank you for your concern.''
Once they had rendezvous with Yarne, Nah asked him about his observations after telling him about their own experiences.
''It's as you suspected; The innkeeper spoke with one of the guards as soon as you were out of sight.''
''So that's how the mayor found out about us…that innkeeper properly earned himself another silver for that too…''
It was however not the only thing Yarne had observed.
''I can also hear lots of horses…properly riders. They are moving west.''
The young manakete figured out that this could only mean one thing.
''They are likely preparing an ambush further ahead. They really don't want us to leave with this information.''
At this Noire began to panic.
''T-this is bad! T-they could attack us right now! Nah you don't really intend to go further west, d-do you?''
Nah had already considered this.
''Don't worry, they won't attack us while we're near the town. Officially we're members of the Ylissean army and therefore allies with Plegia. It would be foolish to attack us when someone like that innkeeper could yelp back to Ylisse for some coin. No, it's much easier to get rid of us out in the road and deny any responsibility.''
''Still, you're not seriously considering traveling further west?''
Yarne repeated Noire's question. Nah responded with a dismissive wave.
''Of course not! That was just to mislead them. No, we're going back east to Ylisse. We have learned what we can, and the fact that they are preparing to kill us on the road, is already a good indication that this is valuable intel.''
What Nah didn't say was that she could still not make head or tails of what they had been told, but surely Lucina or Laurent could gleam something useful from this.
For now, it was clear that they had overstayed their welcome, and it was time to retreat.
Sorry for the delay. Had to re-write this chapter a few times.
Will take a small break from writing but will come back somewhere next month.
Might have given Nah a bit much focus in this chapter, but I just love her character. From her impractical name to her contrast to her mother (her mother being the older but childish one and her the young but mature one). She is also one of the more mature characters amongst the children of the Shepards, so I frequently imagine her to easily take a role of leadership.
Also, she, Yarne and Morgan was among my most op characters in the game. I remember accidently leaving them alone in a field where a huge number of enemy reinforcements would spawn. It went down like this: One turn my flank was threatened, next turn it was not. Enemy cavalry; Puf! Gone!
Thank you all for reading ^.^ Next chapter will be Lucina again.