Chapter 18 – Scout and Rescue
Shamir sat in Jeralt's office with her squad, waiting for the returned Captain of the Knights of Seiros. It had been a week since word of Lonato's rebellion had reached them, and the monastery had been abuzz. Knights were training and preparing equipment while their diplomatic corps reached out to nearby territories for support.
They had ample enough forces to deal with a militia like Lonato's, but she felt was better to prepare in excess. Something her partner told her came to mind. When hunting rabbits, expect for tigers.
Speaking of hunting, she had been testing Lucas's stealth since he had been placed under her command. So far, she had been satisfied. He was quiet on his feet, quick with a blade, and thought fast. The hallmarks of a good scout or assassin. Swordsmanship wise, he was as good as the average knight, though he was far deadlier.
His ability to teleport, or Shift as he called it, was a major advantage. Being able to teleport inside someone's swing or out of the way was great for dodging. Teleporting mid swing was a great way to land a quick attack with little chance for reprisal.
Though it had a weakness. Or rather, he had a weakness. Predictability. It was a skill that was great for catching an enemy off guard, but a skilled opponent like Catherine would find a way around it. In short, he can't over rely upon it. He told her he had a secret weapon, one he liked to keep hidden. She would have to ask about it later.
"Hey boss, what's this meeting about?" Her right-hand woman asked. She didn't have many subordinates, but a few were odd enough to want to join her squad. Mostly the Knights that didn't fit in with the others. Kendra was a self-proclaimed bastard of Kingdom nobility. But Shamir knows how to spot a thief, former or not. And Kendra might as well have had 'cutpurse' tattooed on her forehead. Still, she was dependable and that was enough for Shamir.
"Jeralt told me they got some intel on Lonato's location."
"How goods the intel?" Another subordinate, Mikel asked.
Shamir shrugged her shoulder. "He hasn't given me the details yet. That's why we're here."
"Think it's about the new blood?" Mikel asked again.
"No way we'd all get called in for that numnuts." Kendra retorted. Mikel laughed at the burn, leading other members of the squad to snicker. Shamir liked her boys and girls; they kept things fun. Still, there was a time and place, and Jeralt's office wasn't it.
"Alright, enough. Last thing we want to do is annoy our new boss." Shamir said, quieting the others. At that moment, Jeralt walked in the door, Edelgard, Seteth, and Dimitri in trail. She could understand Dimitri and Seteth, both had skin the game. But why the Heir of Adrestia?
"You're here, good. Where's Lucas?" Jeralt asked.
"He told me he would be training last night and wouldn't be available till morning. It wasn't worth the effort of trying to find him." Shamir said.
Jeralt waved it off. "It's fine, you can bring him up to speed later. For now, Lady Edelgard has something important to tell us."
The shorter girl stepped forward. "When Lonato's rebellion was announced, I sent word to our assets to locate any former bases that would be suitable staging ground for his militia. And lo and behold, we located an abandoned fortress on the border between Gaspard and Rowe."
Seteth stepped forward. "We used the location of this abandoned fortress and compared it to initial reports of movement in the area." He moved the map laid on the desk. Shamir leaned over and observed where Seteth placed a flag. "We believe this is it. But since we will be marching soon, you won't have much time to scout and report back."
Shamir pursed her lips. "It might be too late once we arrive." It was a short timetable, not something she liked to work with.
Jeralt nodded. "And that's why I wanted Lucas with you. He's told you about his magic?" She nodded. "Then you know the benefits of his skill set. He can take the risks you can't and escape with ease." She had already factored that in. His stealth was good, but his ability to go far into enemy territory was even better.
Dimitri looked alarmed. "Even so, that is putting him in grave danger! What you are describing is sending him alone into an enemy fortress with no backup." Edelgard seemed to disapprove as well. She wondered if they were aware of Lucas's magic.
Seteth shook his head at them. "Lucas is a Knight of Seiros. And I am aware of his capabilities, both on and off the battlefield. I daresay, if he is discovered, his chance of survival is far higher than the average scout."
"He won't be going in alone." Shamir interjected. "If that's what you're planning, I'll be going with him. He'll need someone to watch his back." She looked back at the rest of her squad. "He and I will scout their numbers and send the rest of you back with that information. Then we'll see if we can take out Lonato."
It didn't surprise Shamir that the Crown Prince didn't like the idea of assassination, knightly types hated this sort of thing. Thankfully, Seteth seemed to agree. "I understand. I do not take pleasure in such actions, but it necessary."
Jeralt took over. "Alright, you have your orders. If you leave tomorrow morning, you should arrive at the fortress after nightfall. Good luck." Seteth and Jeralt left as quickly as they came, probably to check on the main force's preparations. Shamir turned back to her squad.
"Alright, you heard the man. Everyone get ready, we ship out tomorrow morning." Her squad nodded, though a few gave salutes.
"Before you go, I would like to speak to Lucas personally." Edelgard said. Shamir looked at her with confusion. "There is a matter I would like to discuss with him." Dimitri looked at her with concern. Shamir nodded.
"Alright, I'll send him your way if I see him. Good day"
"Edelgard, surely if it relates to the mission Shamir should know of it. She is leading…" Edelgard cut him off.
"Did I say it was related to the mission?"
He frowned. "Then why did you ask Shamir at all instead of finding him yourself? And if was unimportant, why not tell him after his mission?" Edelgard said nothing, her gaze blank. "Or did you think I didn't have noticed how quickly you procured this information." Edelgard went silent, her familiar gaze boring into him. Dimitri sighed. "While I admit I am… clumsy in politics, do not take me for a fool."
Edelgard sighed. "It would raise questions with the Church I am unwilling to answer at this time."
"I am not the Church Edelgard." Dimitri insisted. He understood the Church was not popular in the Empire, not after the Southern Church's dissolution. "Edelgard, I give my word it will stay between us." The memories of a brown-haired girl teaching him to dance came to mind. He hoped their past might be enough to bridge the gap between them. Their interactions since coming to Garreg Mach were… strained. She seemed to shun his very existence, pretending as if they had never met.
Edelgard's eyes hardened. "I would be a fool to take your word for it."
"Perhaps, but your secrets will just lead to problems." Perhaps it was time for a more drastic step. "If my word is not enough, then let me swear on my stepmother's name." He extended his hand.
"Not good enough. Good day Dimitri." She turned and left, leaving his hand grasping empty air. He sighed. That could have gone better.
Lucas stood sat the alley, looking over at his partner. For the past week, he had come to town to be trained by Prometheus. According to him, urban environments were perfect places to learn how to be a Wraith.
"Now, cast Dimma on your arm." Prometheus instructed. The spell, Dimma was the first spell Lucas had been taught from scratch. His attempts to learn basics like fireball or healing magic ended in failure, though Prometheus's spells seemed to resonate with him. He called it a Logos magic, his vernacular for what most of Fodlan referred to as Reason magic.
Reason magic relied upon magic circles that were constructed from memory using Maso. These circles contained simplified arrays that altered the Maso particles in a desired effect. After it moves through the circle, the desired spell is unleashed. Maso the fuel, the magic circle the transformer.
"Hey Prometheus? I have a question about reason magic."
"Logos." He cut off.
"I swear, why are you getting hung up on this?"
"You want to learn magic from me? Then you say it the right way." Prometheus responded.
"And why your way instead of literally everyone else in Fodlan?" Prometheus chuckled.
"Because describing Pathos magic as 'Faith' is misleading." Okay, he had him there. That was the other field of magic, one which included healing and what people called white or faith magic. While magic circles were used, rather than forming them deliberately from memory, the circle's creation was more instinctive than Logos. A spell didn't come from memorizing scripture or a formula like Reason, it came from the desires of the wielder and shaping that desire into a spell. As such, a person with stronger faith has stronger convictions, which leads to stronger and more advanced spells. A classic case of a method being confused with causation.
"Okay, you have a point on that one. But you haven't even taught me any Pathos magic. Except for Shifting" Lucas argued. He found it odd that his shifting was magic that didn't use a circle. Warp and rescue both used circles, so why didn't Shifting?
"It was never my specialty. And Shifting isn't a normal kind of magic. Only people like you and Shez can use it. Though something feels off about Shez's."
"What do you mean?"
"Just a feeling. It's… kind of like Coke and Pepsi. Not identical, but functionally the same." He waved his hand dismissively. "We've gotten off track. Now, cast the spell over your hand."
Lucas did as he was told and created the magic circle step by step. The circle was an inky black, pointed right over his hand. He forced Maso through, causing a black substance to drip out, directly onto his hand. The substance spread up his arm, stopping at his elbow. He flexed his hand, observing the inky darkness. It did not shine or reflect any light; it made his arm blend almost completely with the darkness of the alley.
"Very good, now, focus and alter the color." Lucas injected a bit of Maso into the substance, causing it to shift from black to dark green, until the spell fizzled out entirely. He sighed. "Hey, it's a work in progress." He encouraged.
"Yeah, it will be really useful as long as I stay in the dark and pray there are bright colors in a room." He spoke. Despite his complaint, the spell was incredibly useful. Sure, it wasn't invisibility, but in the shadows, he was unstoppable.
"Now, cover your face and try the rest of your body." Lucas summons the circle again, this time over his chest. The substance landed on his chest before spreading around his body. It was an odd sensation, like wearing a skintight suit over his clothing. He looked around his body, barely able to make himself out. Knowing the next part of his training, he grabbed his hood and mask and raised them over his nose, careful not to allow the Dimma to touch his mouth, eyes, or nostrils.
"Good, now, I want you to follow the next person who walks by." Lucas knelt and watched the entrance of the alley, waiting for the next passerby. Unfortunately for him, it was a member of the Academy staff, Jeritza.
Lucas pressed his body against the alley, watching Jeritza towards Garreg Mach, a cup of something in his hand. He looked around to check for anyone else. They were alone. Lucas ran out of the alley, moving towards the next alley behind him. His steps made no sound as his boots met cobblestone. He made it to the alley and placed his back to it, peeking out.
Jeritza continued to eat his dish, though Lucas could spot a bit of cream at the top of whatever it was. A parfait of some kind?
"Dimma absorbed the sound, but it won't hide everything. You kick a rock or knock something over it won't work." Prometheus explained. "Now, Shift onto the roof." He did, though rather than in a bright flash of light, it was muted.
He stood at the top of the roof crouching low. The sun was setting, and Lucas moved slowly to the edge to get Jeritza back in sight. This time, the Professor suddenly turned down an alley. Intrigued, Lucas shifted again to ground level, noting the strain was more than he was used to. "You're using two spells simultaneously; the strain is greater." He remembered one of his lessons. Maso isn't stored like magic points in videogames. Rather, the body limits how much Maso can be processed and activated. Once you hit the limit, your body rejects Maso to prevent overheating or permanent damage.
He looked in the alley, only to find the professor with his back to the wall, his right hand on his sword, his left holding his parfait. "Can I… help you?" He took in his shadowy appearance, his voice laced with intrigue. Lucas sighed before releasing Dimma and lowering his hood. "Ah, Lucas. May I ask why you were following me?" He asked bluntly. He could tell the man was annoyed, though he had released his sword.
"Sorry Jeritza, I was training." Lucas explained.
"For your mission?" He drawled out mission dramatically. Jesus, he had a deep voice… "Be mindful of your shadow." Lucas frowned, before it hit him. The roof. Even with Dimma activated, he still casts a shadow. "How long were you following me?"
"Just when you passed that alley a few blocks away, so no more than a few minutes." He stared at him, looking for something. Lucas was used to Byleth's stares, but his was more intense. Finally, he nodded, before attending to his treat.
"I see…Lady Edelgard was looking for you, as well as Shamir. You shouldn't keep them waiting." He told him. Lucas nodded.
"Thanks for the tip. And you didn't notice me before then?" He asked, looking for tips. He shook his head. "Then I better get going to the monastery." Lucas turned to leave the alley, leaving Jeritza alone.
"Hmmm" Jertiza growled. "Perhaps he would be worthy …"
Edelgard was making her way back to the dormitory after her lesson with Shez, thinking about the takeaways of their tutoring session. Court was laced with intrigue, where even a polite refusal to something as mundane as lunch had consequences. Explaining it in simple terms to Shez made some courtly practices sound, well, a tad ridiculous. He asked her why to get all worked up about the small stuff and focus on the big picture. Which she didn't disagree with.
The two went through an informal dinner, teaching Shez the difference utensil usage and proper pacing of conversation. To eat too fast was poor manners and to eat too slow was an insult to the host.
Though she did prefer her friends using her name without titles, it was important he understood how to use them properly. She had to explain that heads of the family referred to by their family name, where heirs and other members were called by their given names. His mother had been the origin of his proper speech, so he stopped using contractions. Contractions seen as tools of lower nobility and commoners, as it was a sign of low education and birth.
In return, she and Shez pretended to be at a normal tavern. He played the role of the bartender and she the patron. It was… something. He asked to hold no bars in his exercise, so she requested the same.
Her introduction of 'Good Day sir' caused him to laugh. Apparently in an establishment like that, a simple 'hey', or 'how's it going' would suffice. Then he criticized her posture as too stiff. As she tried to fight years of etiquette, she over did it which led him to ask if she was trying to look drunk. And then she ordered, and even that screamed blueblood. He told her she should try starting conversations with 'hey' or 'so' to sound normal. And she should use contractions more. His most important criticism? She didn't sound natural or relaxed.
She fantasized that near the end of their first lesson she would feel confident going out in disguise to try out her skills. Now that confidence was shattered, and she knew it was far too early for such an attempt. Still, Edelgard is not a woman who gives up at small setbacks. "Relax and be natural" Shez's words echoed.
"Edelgard, you wanted to see me?" Speaking of being casual… Lucas walked up to her, slightly out of breath.
"I did. I take it you have heard about your mission?"
He nodded. "I have. Had to find you before curfew, we leave tomorrow."
"Then you know I am the source of the location?" He nodded. "And you will keep this conversation between us?" She asked slowly. He did pause at that, before looking around. Edelgard motioned him to a corner where they could keep an eye out for eavedroppers.
"I won't keep a secret if it puts the others in danger." He warned.
"I admit it might. I need you to save someone." Edelgard lowered her voice to a whisper. "The reason I found them so fast is that some time ago, one of my supporters went missing." Lucas looked around.
"Lonato took them?" He deduced.
Edelgard shook her head. "No, we do not believe so. Lonato has sponsors who are funding him. I believe in return for these funds, he is holding onto this person. It is just one in a long list of prisons they have kept her."
"And everytime you got close, she disappeared…"
"Until now. She might already be gone, but if you find her, I will find myself even more in your debt." She looked to her left where a knight passed by. The two remained silent as the guard kept marching past them. "And she may just be able to identify who took her."
"Who is also sponsoring Lonato's rebellion…" He concluded. "Alright, I'll look for her. But I might have to tell Shamir if things get dicey. What's her name and what does she look like?"
"I understand, just save her if you can. Her name is Monica Von Ochs." She had taken a gamble; she could only hope it paid off.
Lucas and Byleth stood at the gate of the monastery together. It was almost time for them to leave on the mission. Lucas's new outfit consisted of leather armor and gloves with fur lining. His gloves had metal wrist guards that would only be good for deflecting small blows. On his right leg was the half skirt that kept his pistol out of sight.
"I hear you and the students are going to be with the rear guard." Lucas said.
She nodded. "Hanneman and I are combining all three houses for this month's assignment. Seteth said it was so the students can observe a real battle. They don't expect any fighting to reach us."
"We both know that it will." He retorted. She remembered the dance they shared at Lonato's feast, a good memory that was already feeling tainted. "This is going to be ugly By…" He said with certainty.
"I know." She whispered. She had fought other mercenary bands before. Some who she worked with, others she had only heard about. It was ugly and personal, and she hadn't seen it for a while. And this was a bunch of barely trained militia members against the best Knights on the continent.
"I might be able to stop the fighting. If we go in and take out Lonato, his militia might disband or retreat." He proposed, though they both knew better.
"It's never that easy. Just do me a favor?" She leaned forward and pecked his cheek. Her cheeks began to burn in embarrassment. "Just make it back safe and sound, alright?"
He smiled. "I promise. And you make sure to keep your students safe. They may be nobles and expected to lead armies, but it's still their first battle. These aren't bandits."
"What, not going to tell me to be safe?" She teased.
"Byleth, I think I would need to save the militia from you." She smiled at the joke.
"Lucas, we're going! Kiss your girl later!" A scout called. A few scouts jeered and laughed while a nearby a man slapped her upside the head.
"That's my cue." He flashed one more grin before joining Shamir's squad. They mounted their horses and began to gallop towards Gaspard.
"Sending children to observe such proceedings is questionable at best." Sothis said after were out of view.
Byleth shrugged. Despite her reservations, she could understand the logic. They need to have their first dose of real battle at some point. Even though they were human, Kostas and his crew were bandits, the lowest of the low in Fodlan. It was easy to dehumanize them.
"I still do not like it. Still, perhaps the reality of war will deter theses children from starting needless conflicts." Byleth hummed.
"Explain again how this device works." Lonato asked. "In layman's terms." A thin rectangular box sat in his lap, the front glassy and brightly lit. His benefactors had armed him and his men with weapons, and with this device.
The dark mage sighed. Lonato did not like this man, or any of his allies. They were condescending and spoke down to him. But he could stomach disrespect if it meant justice for his son. "That tablet is connected to spy equipment we have hidden across the stronghold. We have placed fourteen in total, which you can control by tapping the top right." Lonato tapped where the man was pointing, though nothing happened. "You may have to remove your gloves." He did, and the infernal device finally responded to his touch. He could see an image of the wall, where some of the sentries stood at attention.
"Incredible… I have never seen such a thing. And this is all happening right now?"
"Incredible?" The man scoffed. "That is nothing. And yes, it's live."
Lonato continued to hit the smaller squares, enlarging them to see other spots in the fort. His movements were clumsy and uncertain, though he felt he was improving at using this. His eyes eventually stopped on one placed in the dungeon, where a scarlet-haired girl had been taken several days ago.
"You give me weapons. You give me this strange magic I have never seen nor heard of before. All in exchange for holding this girl?"
"Are you complaining Lonato?" The mage asked. "We will be taking back our surveillance equipment upon our return. That is not gift. And those weapons are paltry compared to our stores."
"Then why do you not share such incredible weapons with us? Do you not want the witch dead? Do you not want the righteous followers of the Goddess to prevail?"
The dark mage had a mask, but Lonato could feel his mood change. "Our price for the support we have given you is to hold this girl here for now. If you are incapable of that, then perhaps the Church of Seiros would be interested in the location of this place?" He threatened.
Lonato's jaw clenched in anger. He knew his cause would attract plenty who had issue with the Central Church. But his reaction proved this man was no follower of the Goddess. And then there was the girl herself. It twisted his stomach, but he knew that great change was rarely clean.
"I will hold the girl. But we will be marching in a matter of days. Then this place will be abandoned."
"That is all we ask." The mage turned around, before pausing. "One more thing before I go. There is a small button on the bottom left." Lonato looked down and found it. He pressed it, only for the images to change. "All living being have some level of… ugh, magic within their bodies that is active. That mode will detect said energy and display it. It is useful for finding foes in the dark."
Lonato hummed, before sitting back on his desk, fiddling with the device. He continued to flip through various sections until one drew caught his eye. "Is that…"
Lucas was lying on his belly, peering over the edge of the roof. Shifting to the top of the walls in between patrols was easy. Getting on the roof of the inner part of fortress was also a simple matter. Shifting back and telling Shamir and the rest of the scouts about the openings was also simple. No things were getting more difficult.
The roof he was currently on overlooked a nondescript storehouse that had three men guarding each entrance. He guessed it contained food, though it could have been an armory just the same. He crawled backwards out of sight.
"Storehouse. Can't tell what's inside. Pretty well guarded." He whispered. The woman hummed before making a note on a piece of her map.
"Think that's all for today. Let's head back." Lucas reached over and grabbed Shamir by the arm and shifted away to the wall, right in between two patrols who had their backs turned. He took a breath and shifted again, ending up in a bush outside the wall. They took cover and Lucas took the moment to let himself collapse on the ground. He was drenched in sweat while his body felt feverish. This was the third day of scouting with Shamir, and they had the exterior down. The escape plan had been made, now it was time to sneak in and take down Lonato.
"You alright?" Shamir asked curtly, not taking her eyes off the wall. The two sentries the snuck around before were facing outwards. They were trained soldiers, and soldiers are creatures of habit. They would face outwards for two minutes before moving to the next position.
"Shifting alone is easy. Shifting with passengers was like trying to sprint through molasses while carrying a hundred-pound statue." When Shamir asked if it was possible, Prometheus warned it wasn't a good idea. And he was right. That was the sixth time he had shifted with Shamir today, and as far as Lucas was concerned, the last.
"I can sneak back on my own, go on ahead back to camp." Lucas sat in the bush for a few more minutes, letting his body cool off and regain the strength he needed for another shift. Lucas triggered the maso, shifting right in the middle of their makeshift camp. Just like before, every scout raised their bows at him, forming a medieval firing squad around him.
"The boss on her way back?" Kendra asked, cocking her head quizzically. The others lowered their weapons, before getting back to their tasks.
"Yeah, shifted with Shamir six times today. I've hit my limit and Shamir didn't want to carry me."
"Hey, considering how damn easy you've made this mission, you've earned a break." Shamir's right-hand woman sat next to him. "Are you sure you can't teach me how to do that? I'm not into that goofy magic shit, but I will make an exception for that."
Lucas's shoulders began to shake in quiet laughter. He liked this group, they were a fun bunch, more like a mercenary band than the rest of the knights. "Sorry, no can do." The woman gave a good nature pout before returning to join the others.
Lucas took the moment to relax, reflecting on the mission. The intelligence gathering was over, now it was time for the more unpleasant task of eliminating Lonato. Half of the squad would mount up and make their way to Garreg Mach while he, Shamir, and the rest would finish the job. So far, everything had been what they expected. A contingent of guards he recognized. A few priests and mages dressed in the attire of the Western Church. Finally, the vast bulk consists of peasants who would have had weeks of training. Up against lifelong soldiers and fighters backed by the most powerful institution on the continent.
It was a fool's errand. Everyone knew, which was why he had no open support. No nobles, no merchants, even the Western Church had not formally supported him. So, what pushed him to do this now? When Ashe was in the clutches of the very people he hated? Revenge was obvious, but he's waited years, and this was not the result of years of Machiavellian scheming.
Lucas sunk down on his cot, ready to enter the real of Morpheus. Only for a flash of light to annoy him.
Prometheus manifested himself in the corner of his tent. Lucas turned his head, studying the figure laying down on his side. "What do you think is the biggest lesson to be learned here?"
Lucas nodded, curious what his companion made of all of this. "That revenge makes you impetuous and reckless?"
"True, but not entirely. Tactically speaking, revenge is a terrible motivator. It's too personal, too ugly, and tends to burn everyone involved." Prometheus sat up, raising his knee to lean on. "But it is motivation, nonetheless. Every great leader has something in their character that drives them. And more oft than not, it's something dark."
"I could have sworn you were about to give me a revenge solves nothing speech."
"It can if applied correctly. A person driven by revenge confuses a desire for justice with a desire for retaliation. A good avenger can reason which is justice and stop themselves from becoming a monster."
Lucas chose his words carefully. "Is that what you did?" Prometheus went silent, and Lucas feared he pushed him too far.
"I did not." He raised his hand. "I did a lot driven by what I thought was justice. I spent years in a haze… sometimes I delude myself into thinking it was someone else. But the exhilaration," An image flashed in Lucas's mind. He… Prometheus was falling fast, his sword gripped with both hands, ready for a downward thrust. A massive reptilian creature was beneath him, eyes wide in fear.
"Pride" Another flash, this one of men and women in similar armor to his, weapons raised, shouting his name. They were standing in the dark of a forest, huddled around campfires. A flag around them depicted
"Anger" A pile of blackened bodies stood before him; the smell haunting. Prometheus just stared at them, before kneeling to pick up a tattered flag. He punched a wall, causing concrete to crack.
"Rage" Prometheus's sword kept hacking away at his foes. Limbs flew off, as his boots squelched on the human gore. They pleaded for mercy, throwing their weapons down in surrender. They had lost, Prometheus had triumphed. But he ignored their pleas. He raised his sword and began hacking again. "It was all me. Let your darkness drive you. But don't let it control you like I did."
"Those visions are getting more frequent." Lucas pointed out, noting the resulting headache of the intruding thoughts wasn't as severe.
"We're connected kid. The stronger your powers get, the more vision's you'll see."
Lucas closed his eyes, ready to sleep. He hoped it was restful, because tomorrow, he was going to kill Lonato.
Private Johannes struggled to stay on his feet. He had been up all day running their recruits through drills. Now he was on guard duty all night in the cells. Only Lord Lonato and that weird mage had been down to visit their red-haired prisoner.
"Hey?" Asked his fellow guardsman, Simmon. They had both been stable boys before moving up the ladder. Now they were guards of a soon to be failed rebellion. They had both been out late the night Lonato announced his rebellion. Which meant that in the morning when the whole regiment marched out, they followed without question.
"Yeah?"
"Do you ever wonder why we're here?"
"I don't know. It's one of the Goddesses' great mysteries. Is the Church right? Are we part of her great vision, or are we just some… insignificant speck of existence…"
Simmon turned to face him, breaking protocol. He lifted his visor, eyes wide in surprise. "What? No, I mean why are we on guard duty?"
"Oh, well, just to watch the prisoner I guess." He answered, a bit embarrassed.
"No shit! What was that stuffed with the Goddess?"
"It was uh, I mean…" His answer was cutoff when an arm reached from within the cell to grab him from behind. She tightened her arm, cutting off the flow of air. Johannes thrashed, desperate to free himself from the harpy. As dark spots appeared in his vision, he looked over desperately to see Simmon falling to the ground, a dark shadow looming over him. Finally, a dagger pierced his throat.
"Thanks for the assist." Lucas told the girl. He studied her face. Scarlet hair and eyes, hair in a bun, and in an officer's academy uniform. "Monica, right?"
"That's me! I knew someone would come for me. Did Edel send you?" The girl had a hopeful smile on her face.
"She did. My superior is upstairs, dealing with Lonato." Shamir was not happy when he told her about Monica the night before. She said Edelgard should have told the Knights, but it was done. He argued they should get Monica and stash her while they went after Lonato. Shamir disagreed, thinking it was better to do them both around the same time. Plus, she worked better alone. The only reason she brought him on the assassination was to shift her out in a hurry.
He kept this information to himself until the last minute because of a promise to Edelgard, potentially risking the mission. Still, Shamir was a professional, and adapted. Lucas searched the bodies for a key, hoping they had it.
"They don't have it. Lonato took the keys with him." Monica informed him. "I've been a captive for a while now, this isn't my first escape attempt." Lucas raised a brow before gesturing to her dagger. Or rather, edged scrapped metal. "Took me a while to get a hold of this. I'm so glad you got to me first!"
Lucas picked up the guard's sword, casting Mirage. If it could cut through a monster's hide with ease, iron bars should be a piece of cake. Monica wordlessly backed up, her eyes wide in fascination at the spell. Lucas placed the sword above the lock and swung. Lucas heard the metal start to hiss from the heat.
"Wow… You've gotta show me how to do that!" She gushed. Lucas fought back a blush as the girl got… uncomfortably close. "Oh, sorry. Personal boundaries…"
"It's okay, you've been here a while." Lucas deactivated mirage, leaving the metal malformed. He discarded it and checked their surroundings. No boots or shouting yet. Either Shamir had killed Lonato and not been discovered, or she hadn't reached him yet.
Monica moved to the unconscious guard, who had a dagger and short sword on him. She took both, strapping them to her sides. She drew the dagger and held it in a reverse grip. Right as he was about to ask what she was doing, the girl drove the dagger into the unconscious guards throat. She looked up with a satisfied smirk adorning her face. "Didn't want him waking up and making trouble out, right?" Was she looking for approval?
"Fair. But I wasn't planning on sticking around. We have horses outside the keep ready to go. Once my partner takes out Lonato we should be good to go." Lucas turned around, ready to make their way back towards the exit. He knew where the exit was, but he didn't want to shift through so much solid space, not when he couldn't see where he was going. Once they were in fresh air, he would shift Monica and himself out.
"Hold on." She grabbed his shoulder with surprising strength. "When my old captors left me here, they gave Lonato something. They were talking about it in front of me, the arrogant fools. Apparently, it can be used to find infiltrators." Lucas frowned. It couldn't have been that good. They had been in an out for days and… they had sent everyone ahead with a report.
"Sonofa… They let us see what they wanted. Lonato kept something out of sight while we were here and now everyone has gone ahead and…" They knew about Shamir. They might know about the other scouts too. If they knew… "I need to warn Shamir. If I get you to the horses, can you ride south towards Garreg Mach?"
The red head snarled. "The hell I am! You saved me, your stuck with me! The only way they could hold me was behind bars. I want payback." A year of being locked up would make him want payback too. But even so, both were probably equally ready to get out of this stink. "Plus, I'm not bad at stealth myself. Could use someone to watch your back."
Like it or not, he was stuck with her. "Alright, on me."
The moment Lucas told Shamir about Monica Von Ochs, she didn't know who she wanted to smack more. Him or Edelgard. Still, if word got out that they could have rescued the heiress and didn't it would hurt her and the Knight's reputation.
She had gotten too used to Lucas's shifting. It made getting into the fortress downright trivial. Getting into Lonato's chambers was a different story. Every single night, Lonato was in his chambers working by candlelight late into the night. But something was off to the mercenary, and she trusted her gut. She was outside his door, with no guards stationed by the door. That set off alarm bells. She cautiously opened the door, to find an empty bedchamber with his desk unattended, candle still lit.
There was a short note on his desk."Nice try, Heathen". Shamir's blood ran cold. Her instincts screamed at her, so she grabbed her grabbling hook and placed it right by the crooks of the window and jumped down to the parapet below. An arrow whizzed by, and then another, and another. She sprinted to her emergency exit, only to cry in pain when an arrow struck her shoulder. Thankfully, it struck her metal protector, causing it to bounce off. Still hurts though. Shamir slid and descended on the rope, reaching the base of the wall near the horses.
Two horses. Lucas wasn't out yet. She hesitated for a moment, before mounting the grey stallion and galloping away. They agreed that if one was discovered, it was more dangerous to wait. That if one wasn't at the horses, to just go. It still left a sour taste in her mouth. A job gone bad. It wasn't the first time, and it won't be the last.
Dammit…
The door was closed, not in the state he had left it. Right as he opened the door, he felt someone tackle him. Before he could even think to shift, he felt the unfamiliar sensation of cold iron slapped over his arm. He tried to activate his Maso but failed. He instead swung his head back, feeling the crunch of his assailant's nose. A man cursed while another tackled him.
He looked in the corner of his eye to see Monica rushing his assailants, dagger ready to cut. He headbutted the man on his back again and this time he released him. Only for the man to have Monica's dagger buried in his side. She kicked the other man away, giving them both some room.
"Lucas. Enough lad." An old voice rang out. It's over. Lucas disregarded the old man's warning and tried to call his powers again. This time, he felt something, but not nearly enough. Motes of light gathered around him, only to fizzle out. Lucas growled as the soldiers backed up.
The red in his eyes were glowing fiercely. "Monica, I'll try and clear a path, you…"
"I said enough!" Lonato's voice rang out. The men parted, and Lonato stepped forward, his spear lowered. "You are surrounded. The woman has fled, and you two are alone. We followed the spies you sent ahead. They are all dead. No one is coming." Lucas did not lower his sword and Monica stood next to him, both blades ready. Then, something hard hit Lucas in the temple, and all went dark.
She sat comfortably, or at least as comfortable as she could be with her arms bound behind her. This whole affair had gotten annoying. She looked upwards at Lucas and wondered how they had been captured like this. Then again, not even she saw the magic fetters coming.
He began to stir, no doubt feeling one hell of a headache. A blunt arrow to the skull was always painful. She could undo her binds, either by dislocating her wrist or snapping a guard's neck with her legs. "You always go for what's in front of you." A ghost reminded her. "Sometimes, the key is to let your enemy make a mistake. I know patience isn't in your nature but do try."
She forced herself to relax as Lucas came to. He blinked away at his dizziness, and realized he was in the same state as her. He once again tried to activate his magic. Red sparks fizzled around him, unable to properly utilize magic.
Lucas glared at the iron bracelet on his arm. He couldn't find a locking mechanism. Magic perhaps?
"Magic fetters" Monica scowled. "It prevents the external application of magic. They came prepared."
"How long have we been here." He asked.
"They just made camp after marching for a few hours. My bet is that the battle against the Knights starts tomorrow.
Lucas sighed. "Sorry for the botched rescue attempt." He looked behind him at the fetter. "You said it stops external magic?"
Monica tilted her head in thought, trying to remember everything she knew about them. She had tuned out that lesson, though Lonato had not put one on her. "Yeah, why? You can't exactly cast healing spells on yourself."
Lucas said nothing. She could tell he was scheming. She didn't want to believe this was all he was capable of. Light filled the dark tent, as Lonato entered the tent. The old fool opted to say nothing, instead walking in circles around the two of them. Lucas looked up defiantly, though Monica kept her eyes on the ground. Let him think they broke her will. That will make the sight of the old man gurgling on his own blood even more satisfying…
"I got a good measure of your character back then lad. I had several days to watch to gain an understanding of your skills." His expression was calm, befitting a man who held the upper hand. "Despite your actions, you have not harmed any under my command. That woman, on the other hand, killed not one, but three of my men. What do you think I should do with her".
Lucas had a few options. Fight and die. Give up Monica and tell him what he wants to know and hope their history was enough reason to spare him. Or convince him otherwise and escape.
"She's been held captive by people for a year. You don't strike me as the type to take schoolgirls hostage."
"She killed my men." He countered, though his lack of denial was telling.
"And you had the chance to free her, the chivalrous thing to do. So why didn't you? What would you do to escape after a year in captivity" Lucas countered, hoping he could use the man's honor.
"A mercenary lecture a knight about honor?" Lonato asked. Lucas didn't correct that he was a knight as well. "Hah… Truly said. But if I spared her, what does that say of the worth of my men? Would that not mean that I care not for the lives of those who fight for our cause?" He turned to a guard who followed him in, watching the events stoically. "You good man, what are your thoughts?"
The soldier froze, before looking to his left and right and pointing at himself. The man bit his lip, before taking off his helm. "W-well milord, we're on a Holy quest, right?" Lonato nodded. "She's just a kid and he's just following orders. Don't feel right kill'em like this, especially since we got the Goddess on our side. Don't wanna anger her and lose favor."
Lonato began to clap. "And that attitude is why we will triumph, my good man. What do you think is a fitting punishment? We cannot let the death of a comrade go unanswered."
The soldier had relaxed, seeing that he wasn't in trouble. "How 'bout seven lashes each?"
Lucas looked at the girl, who's kept looking for a way out. He knew there was none to be had. She was young looking, no more than seventeen. He had never been whipped before, but this girl was too young. And…
"I'll take them all." He spoke. "And you release her once your battle is about to begin." Lonato turned back to him, eyes grim.
"Agreed. Charles, fetch the lash. They were my men; the burden falls to me." He walked closer to Lucas, ignoring Monica who glared daggers at him. "Don't be ashamed if you scream or cry. Everyone does." Lonato cut his rope free, though leaving the magic fetter on. He appreciated Lonato letting him walk on his own. As he passed Monica, Lucas knelt. He grabbed her hand gently, still tied behind her back.
"I'll be alright, don't worry kid." Monica stiffened, then simply nodded.
A soldier marched him out of the tent. The soldiers looked at him in surprise and gathered around. A servant held out a leather whip for Lonato. Lucas felt two men seize his arms, though not roughly. They held him still, as Lonato began practicing with the whip. He couldn't see the man, but he could hear the cracking, getting sharper and sharper. At least they let him keep his shirt, that would help dull the pain.
He told himself he wouldn't scream. That he wouldn't cry. He lost his home, his family, his world. What could compare to that? That's what he told himself, until the first lash struck.
And he screamed, wishing he had not volunteered to take Monicas share.
Inside the tent, Monica sat listening to his screams as he was whipped. She knew why he did it. In her hand, she held a small razor. Without anyone watching her, she smiled viciously, and began to slowly weaken the ropes.
Authors note – The lack of interactions or supports between the three lords in the academy phase was a missed opportunity.
Sorry for the late update, work has been rough and I'm getting ready to move onto the next stage in my career. Lonato's arc will be finished next chapter, and the Sword of the Creator will be a much shorter arc.
Previous chapters have been updated to remove the Divine pulse. But rather than leave it empty and reduce the word count, I wrote flashback sequences to Lucas's old life.
You might think Edelgard is acting rashly, she sees an opportunity and takes a calculated risk. No different from when she convinced Rhea to back her coup in Three Hopes. Once she gets Monica, she can get rid of Solon and give her some breathing room in Garreg Mach.
I will be using Prometheus's terminology for Lucas Pov and regular Fire emblem terms for every other character.
Lucas's outfit is Male Byleth's Sniper outfit, which fits the spy/scout aesthetics more than the Thief or Assassin classes
