Vallite: Purotekutā no Kyōdai ai (Protector of Sibling Love) [Corrin's Naginata] | Hoshizora Seiza (Starry Constellation) [Lilith's Mother] | Jiyū (Freedom) [Lathna's F!Pegasus] | Kanpeki (Perfection) [Subaki's M!Pegasus] | Shi no Mirai (Tides of the Future) [Izana's Crystal Ball] | Kuronikurā (Chronicler) [Forgotten Dragon God of Records/Time-Keeping] | Fuka-sa No Kage (Depths of Shadow) [Afterlife for the Damned] | Todoku No Hikari (Reaches of Light) [Afterlife for the Blessed] | Mizumare (Waterborn)

Hoshidan: Baranotsubomi (Rosebud) [Elise's Mare]

Nohrian: Katáktisi (Conquest) [Xander's Stallion] | Ouranós Trómos (Skyterror) [Camilla's M!Wyvern] | Μαύρο άλογο/Alastor (Dark Horse) [Leo's Stallion]

Antex: Elise is our precious Loli, and she must be protected!

Consort: 'Tis but a brief glimpse, but perhaps enough to prevent the atrocity that happens? As for favoring Hoshido, well… perhaps we're approaching the time when Corrin should be coming into contact with their army, even if it is but a scouting group.

At some point during the late afternoon in Izumo, I was approached by a courier, who gave me a collection of letters. Three, to be exact… each stamped with the Nohrian Royal Symbol.

"Wait, who didn't reply? It was probably Xander…" I roll my eyes, "Big brooother, being steadfast and hard-headed isn't going to win you any comfort…"

I was almost immediately overcome with anxiety by their responses. A feeling I pushed past as I opened Leo's letter, and how my heart dropped at the first two words from it:

"Princess Corrin,

You are as aware as I am of our sides in this war. The only thing that has kept me from burning your letter was to assure that when we meet on the battlefield, that you wouldn't hold reserves or falter. This is no game. You have sided against me and will be treated as such. Move your pieces well, Little Dragon, for it may be your last time."

I grit my teeth… anger, sadness, rejection, all bundled up in one extreme punch to the gut… and I expected no less. That is just how Leo is, approaching this with cold, hard logic and detachment…

Or so he thinks. I think otherwise. He's putting on his 'Tactician' face for this letter. After all, it's so much easier to lie when you aren't looking at the other.

"Princess Corrin,

You have turned your back on Nohr, your siblings, and all the time that we have spent to care for you. I do not know what you were aiming for with this letter, but you best engrave this into your head now. I stand for Nohr, and I will not let anything get in my path for the betterment of Nohr."

Xander, Xander… I can almost hear his voice as I read his letter, and unlike Leo, I'm confident he means what writes… or says. Seeing a response like this makes me think my chances of getting him to surrender have dropped.

"So, he did reply…" I feel myself tense up, my blood run cold, "Then… it was either Elise or Camilla who didn't reply, and the thought of either of those possibilities chills me. There's… literally no way they wouldn't reply, unless…" I gulp, "Unless their mail was intercepted!"

"BIG SISTER!

Oh, it's so nice to hear from you! I've missed you sooooooooo much! It's gotten real lonely without you here, y'know? It's also pretty, well… not-fun. Camilla is sti-" The following statement about her has been covered up in white-out. "Leo ha-" More white-out. "Then there's Xander, wh-" White-out.

...Elise's message had been edited. I growl as I lean back, Damn it. They… they don't even trust her to send a letter without revision.

And what about Camilla's letter? She… there's no way she wouldn't not reply! She is the Doting Big Sister. Camilla is the one who is always there to comfort in some manner. It doesn't matter if I was thinking of some goofy prank, talking about the future, or even rounding on her for spending, at least what seemed like to me, way too much coin for some leisure items… Camilla always has something to say.

Something isn't right here. Nothing from Camilla, and Elise's letter had been tampered with. "Oh Gods, I hope this doesn't get them in trouble."

I stuff the letters into my bag, refusing to get rid of them. Well… Time to sleep, I suppose… if I can. I went to lie on my bed… a few minutes pass, then probably an hour… and I got back up.

"Should've read those in the morning, damn it!" I huff, getting up, swapping the night gown for a simple dress, and I walk out. I sniff the air. "Hey, Kaze."

I hear the slightest of gasps and I resist the urge to smirk. "Is there something I can do, milady?"

"A talk?" I continue walking. Fresh air sounds nice… and so does jumping headfirst into a lake.

"Of course, milady."

"Okay first, please drop the formality when it's just us." I start off. "I'm not…" I stop myself.

I almost said 'Princess Corrin'. "As you wish… Corrin."

Outside, the night is calm, the breeze has a bit of a nip, and the trees are lovely. "The Nohrian Royalty wrote back." I say as I sit under one of the trees, taking a deep breath, running my fingers through my hair.

"Their responses were not desirable, I expect?" Neutral tone… mostly, I hear an edge. But… is that edge because the replies weren't what I wanted? Or is it there because they're Nohrians?

"Xander and Leo have both disowned me, Camilla didn't send a response, and Elise's has been edited." I growl out the two sisters' fates of their letters.

"That does not sound like how the Princesses would have acted."

"Exactly! I don't…" Wait. I pause, I look at Kaze. "How would you know?"

"...Do you not remember? Rinkah and I were held captive for several weeks and King Garon ordered that you fight and kill us." He calmly responds, no hesitation, no cracks in his voice.

"No, I don't. Everything between my initial Dragon transformation and… and…" The fingers in my hair grip tighter, think! "Gunter falling into the Bottomless Canyon is lost to me."

He closes his eyes and nods, "Princess Elise visited my cell, unsolicited that is. She would keep Rinkah and me company, gave us some extra food and water, or heal any lingering wounds and infections."

I giggle, "Yeah, that's her, alright." I smile.

Elise, Nohr's lil ball of sunshine. Gods I miss them so much.

"You're still very tense, mi… Corrin." Kaze adds.

Thump, a sound echoes through the night and Kaze has his Shuriken ready before I can even blink… but then he sighs.

I see the source and I also sigh. "Greetings, Felicia." I smile.

"S-sorry… I was just…" She gets up off the ground and I cringe at the ensuing riiiiip. "Noooo!" She flails and only proceeds to make the upcoming tear even worse.

"Kaze?" I ask, though he's already en route to prevent the worse case scenario from…

Felicia grabs onto Kaze's offered hand, and as he tries to help keep her still, the plank below her gives in and she falls a second time. "Just wanted some water…" She whines.

I get up and move over to them. "Kaze, please get her a change of clothes." I softly say as I help Felicia up… her nightgown has almost completely ripped off, leaving very little to the imagination. Especially her intense frown.

"I… yes, milady." Kaze has the smallest of flushes as he departs.

"Ohhh, I'm so sorry." Felicia huffs.

"No no, it's alright… actually c'mere." I pull her along back to the tree.

"Oh! Are you… uh, sure? I'm… uh…" She resists a bit, as per normal Felicia-Standards. "What if someone…"

"None of their damn business, that's what." I huff as I sit down at the tree, with her right in front of me. She squeaks, I giggle… then tap into my Draconic heritage to summon a pair of wings, which covers her front. The wings also mean that it's containing her cold… it feels nice. "You aren't hurt, are you?"

"Just my pride as a Maid…" She whimpers. "Honestly, why don't you just fire me?"

"Because then I'd lose one of my best friends." I hold her close, her skin on my simple dress.

I feel an instinct surging to protect. "Mine." Echoes in my mind, the same way I'd want to protect my siblings, my family…

The same way a Dragon would for their treasure. Felicia is my ice-stained jewel of the frostlands, a crystal so beautiful that even all the coin in the world wouldn't be enough to trade away.

No one else can have my Felicia.

"Whoo, it's getting warm out here…" Felicia nervously giggles. "Um, are you alright, Corrin?"

Holding her tight, but not too tight. She smells really nice, too. "The letters came back. My 'Brothers' disowned me, Camilla didn't write back, and Elise's letter has been tampered with."

"Oh no…" She then gasps, as if realizing something, "That's why you're holding me so hard!"

That is exactly why nobody is replacing or taking my Felicia. She knows, she understands. She may be 'bad' at being a Maid… but to be honest, I already have Jakob, Kaze, Flora, Camilla, and now Mizumare to take care of the busywork and fighting. Felicia is my emotional support, a job that only Camilla and Elise were ever able to take care of… but now they're on the other side of the war.

Hinoka is great, but she's too battle-hardened to pick up on certain cues. Sakura is… Sakura, too shy to make 'bold' claims on emotions unless it is directly interfering with their health.

"Um, C-Corrin?" Felicia then asks.

"Yeah?"

"Do you… want me to keep you… um, company, tonight? Uh, seeing as C-Camilla…?"

"I would love that, Felicia."

"Your spare clothes, Felicia." Shortly after, Kaze appears, offering another night gown to her.

"Oh, thank you! I'm so sorry for being a bother." I move my wings and let her go to change… but as she stands, the hands of Fate decide to turn a bit lewd.

And she accepts the bundle of clothes as her torn Nightgown falls off. Kaze coughs and looks away, whilst I'm suddenly exposed to Felicia's supple ass. Now, I've come to terms with seeing women naked, one of Camilla's lessons on 'Womanhood'... a woman should not be ashamed of her body, nor should they hold envy for another woman. In fact, every body should be adored and admired. Being nude is a natural thing, after all, we aren't born with clothes. However, all of those lessons didn't prepare me for this.

Especially seeing as Felicia remains adorably oblivious… that is, until she goes to put on the new nightgown. "Ahhhh!" Felicia squeaks out. "Oh my gods, I am soooo sorry!" She scrambles to get her clothes on… nearly drops them, but soon yeets the nightgown over her.

I then giggle, "Ah… channeling Prince Leo's wardrobe, are you?" I ask.

"Huh…? Oh!" Indeed, Felicia's nightgown is inside-out, so she pulls it over her head, giving me a second case of her rear, turns her nightgown the right way, and puts it back on. "Wait, why is it so…?"

"It's… on backwards, Felicia." Kaze points out. "If there's nothing else, milady?" He asks, I shake my head as Felicia takes it off for a third time, turns it around, and puts it back on.

I swear, by now, I have memorized her curves. Ah, Felicia… never change.

"Whew, there." She sighs, moving to sit back down, I wrap my wings around her again. She giggles, "Y'know, Corrin, the way you're holding me… is like a Princess to her Knight, isn't it?"

I nod, "It is… and I missed having these moments. I don't feel like I'm getting enough 'alone time' with people, and even less for snuggle time." Once more, I pull her close.

"Mine." The Dragon in me growls.

Sleep didn't come easily, and I wake up far groggier than usual. A messy head of hair and the sheets are all over the place. I move to stand up and some of the sheets come with me… oh, guess I ripped some holes in them, too. I blink my eyes, and in the bed… the stands are also broken. However, despite all that, what hits me first is that Felicia isn't here.

"Nightmares. You Shifted last night." I startle as Mizumare's calm voice washes over the room. "Felicia went to take a shower.

"Don't. Do. That." I snap back. "I already got on Kaze's case for sneaking around and startling me, don't want you doing it, either." I pull the sheet off of me, only to end up ripping it off.

Today is going to suck.

Mizumare makes a comment, but I don't bother listening. I go to the salve for my Wound and… "Applied a dose exactly thirty-five minutes and twenty seconds ago."

"Breathe…" I mentally tell myself. "Father made her to ensure that I'm at my best."

"Did you also pick out my clothes?" I drily ask.

"No, Lady Corrin. I do not have a 'Sense of Fashion'. I have, however; cleaned, polished, and used what Vallite Magic I could to repair and upkeep your armor and weapon. I also took the liberty of refilling your Dragonstone with water… which was below one-third capacity."

"A bit too good, I think." I rub my forehead. "Gods, I hope she left tasks for Jakob or Kaze to do, because I know they'll get bothered if they can't do anything for me…"

"I have a request." I told Mizumare.

"Whatever you desire, Lady Corrin, I shall do."

I've been slacking on my magic training, and if I don't catch up, then whatever Leo has in plan will bring me down… "Nohrian tomes, need to get a small collection of them, try to get ones that involve Dark Magic, too."

"It will be done." She confirms.

Since we're marching today, I picked out a few pieces of tighter-fitting clothing to go under my armor for the day. A simple shirt and a pair of pants. There. Putting those on, I head out, Mizumare dutifully follows behind.

I'll visit Izana before I leave, of course. Going out into the hallways, I go to search for the Duke, unsure of his daily activities…

Along the way, however, I happen to, almost, run into Sakura as I turn. "Hey!" I exclaim.

Mid-way through a yawn with her eyes closed, Sakura startles. "Ah! Oh, s-sorry." She looks away. "Good morning, Sister."

She has also yet to brush her hair, leaving it in a frizzled mess that Mother would surely raise cane about. "Did you sleep well?" I ask.

A slow nod, "I did. Oh, Izana gave me some Scroll lessons, because he said he exhausted his Divining powers for the day, and…" From her robes, she pulls out a Scroll. She then fans it out, which shows that there is a grand design of a large, white Sheep. "He said I showed great promise, and allowed me to have this." Excitement creeps into her voice.

"That's wonderful! Oh, speaking of Izana, I don't suppose you know where he is?" I ask.

"Um… no?" She sheepishly smiles, stowing away her Scroll. "N-now, I should… prepare myself for the day." Sakura bows and takes her leave.

I pat her head and continue on my way. After walking for about five minutes, I end up just asking a servant, who directs me to the Sauna, and now that I have been told… It makes a lot of sense. Izana's hair and skin were in amazing condition when I saw him yesterday, the kind of quality that takes daily treatment.

As such, I head to the Sauna, and I wait outside, obviously not wanting to intrude. Another twenty minutes pass before Izana exits. "Ah, Lady Corrin!" He exclaims in a really chipper tone. "Oh my, it seems someone just rolled off the wrong side of bed, that's no way a Princess should look!" He smiles. "Now, what may I do for you?"

I giggle, "Just wanted to thank you for the hospitality before I gather everyone up so we can keep marching."

He chuckles, "It's no problem, Lady Corrin… now, are you sure you don't want that hair all tidied up? It won't take but twenty minutes."

"I…" I pause, wanting to say no, we should get moving. The sooner the better, and all that. I mean, I could just get Jakob to brush it and have Felicia put it into a ponytail. Besides, I know my Retainers are itching to get stuff done. I then sigh…

However, before I can continue, he chuckles, "It's alright, Princess Corrin. I didn't mean to impose upon you." He pats my shoulder, "Enjoy your day!"

"This is a problem." Jakob announces.

"I'm afraid it is." Kaze nods.

Felicia is sitting in a chair, her hair doused in honey, she is frowning intensely. Another kitchen screw-up. "I…"

"She is Lady Corrin's Maid?" Mizumare questions with a harsh tone.

"Hmph, she is. However, unlike me, she has yet to improve in any skill." Jakob starts, nearly bringing her to tears.

"Then why…?"

"BUT!" Jakob cuts Mizumare off. "For all of her mishaps, Lady Corrin is very near and dear to her. Lady Corrin's eyes light up whenever Felicia visits her room, shining with as much brilliance as if it were one of her siblings… erm, her Nohrian Siblings."

"Jakob…" Felicia smiles, though her eyes are still wettened.

"Then have her as a friend, not a Maid. We can't afford…"

"No." Kaze steps in, surprising Felicia, though she still seems on the edge of bawling her tears out. "That is not our decision, and even if it was, I would deny it still. Felicia captures our Lady's attention, she is a major morale boost, and she does have skill in battle."

"Kaze…?" Felicia breathes… and her cheeks now have a heavy flush on them.

"Meanwhile, you seem to have a disconnect on what it means to be a Retainer." Kaze continues.

"Excuse you?" Mizumare calmly asks.

"There is more to being a Retainer than doing her laundry or keeping her weapons and armor in superb condition. We must also consider her feelings, but one cannot do that when their face is as barren as yours, Mizumare." Jakob scolds her. "Flora had the same issue when she first started. Kaze has leeway due to his training, but even he knows when he needs to show more than undying resolve."

"Come, Felicia, let's get your hair cleaned before we leave." Kaze helps Felicia up.

"...Thank you, Kaze." She follows him out of the room, Mizumare takes a step and…

"Hold it right there." Jakob halts her. "I am not quite finished with you."

"I must return…"

"Our liege received letters last night, what was her reaction?"

"She was distressed, though she hid it well."

"And how did you handle that?" Mizumare takes a few moments to answer… a few moments too long for Jakob. "Exactly." He harrumphs. "I care not if your skills are beyond even the Royals in combat, or a devotion greater than Kaze's or mine, but if you cannot properly handle her emotional state, you are a shame to the position of a retainer and should either consider a different job or finding someplace quiet to lay yourself to rest. Good. Day!" He leaves the room.

Mizumare remains there for a few moments… stunned. Part of her was angered that he could make such a profound accusation… the other part of her know he's right. It took Anankos over a thousand years to fine-tune 'making' a 'person'. Mizumare is the first and only successful one, but even then… he knew that her 'emotions' weren't working 'right'.

"I need to learn how to be more… human." She nods to herself.

"My my, milady, your hair." Jakob kindly chided me when we finally met for the first time this morning, getting ready to leave Izumo. Felicia, Azama, and Setsuna were both a bit late for arriving. Felicia due to having honey in her hair, Azama because he's a snarky little man who is going to be on the receiving end of the Talk if he doesn't improve himself, and Setsuna because we found her dangling in a tree outside of Izumo's fort.

"I have enough sources of headaches, but Hinoka's retainers always seem to find more ways of stress."

I frown, "Didn't sleep well." I reply, "I feel worse for Izama, the bed I was in ended up being shredded."

"As expected." He, in turn, has a stern frown, "With all due respect, milady, you are as well aware as I am of how those letters were going to impact you. Your skills in battle are profound and your ease with chit-chat comes easily, but you had not thought to ask for some calming tea before bed?"

"...You're right, I'm sorry, Jakob. For worrying you, that is." I responded.

"Huh? What letters?" Hinoka walks up as Jakob is brushing my hair as we march. Big sis's hair is also a mess, but at least it doesn't go past her ears, well that and it tends to get windswept, anyway.

Even though he's behind me, I can feel Jakob giving me The Look, as in 'You haven't told them?'. I shrug it off, "I wrote to my Nohrian siblings."

"...oh." What? Was she expecting something more… "Didn't go well, did it?"

And so, once more, I say, "Xander and Leo disowned me, Camilla didn't write back, and Elise's letter had been tampered with."

"We are at war, sister." Yep, battle-hardened. "I just hope nothing ill comes from sending those out."

"Huh? Why?" I refrain from turning to look at her, lest Jakob gets more work out of my hair.

"Positioning, amount of days it took to reach them, they could use that information to determine where in Hoshido you are." Hinoka warns.

"They could, but the estimation would be inaccurate. I sent them out less than a week after the First Contact." I told her. "Now, if they were only a few days away, then I'd consider that a legitimate concern, but months? No, too many variables, even Leo wouldn't risk coordinating an ambush or trap with that much of a time frame."

"...If you say so, Sis." She looks at me warily.

"Jakob?" I ask him. "Honest opinion."

"...Very well." He starts off, "Have you considered that Lord Leo did not return to Nohr?"

"What?" I ask, "And leave himself with only a Squad's worth of soldiers?"

"Small groups of soldiers can move more efficiently, and if he knows where the other letters are going to, then he could have waited to send his back."

"He wouldn't though, that would be…" I think it over.

"War is more than a show of brute force, Sister." I recall him saying from one of our Wyverns and Riders sessions, "What the civilians see is only a fraction of what actually happens. True warfare is poisons, cloak and daggers, guerrilla tactics. Be it polluting rivers or destroying their food sources, you…"

Food sources. Hoshido is bountiful and it… "The farms." I suddenly say.

"Huh?"

"Mozu!" I turn around and call out to our resident farmhand, "Oh, sorry, Jakob."

Tip-tap, skippity hop as Mozu comes rushing up to the front, she then bows, "Yes, L-Lady Corrin?"

"That attack on your village, they had a farm, right?" I ask, no… I demand.

"Y-yes… it was… burned down shortly before the town was attacked."

"Damn it." I huff in anger, Mozu backs up. "Erm, thank you, Mozu. You may go." She nervously nods and backs off.

"Sister?" Hinoka asks.

"That explains exactly how that Faceless was so powerful. Leo had to have been the one who summoned it, not some random Nohrian Dark Mage. Leo is leading an attack on the Hoshidan Farmland! Sister, where's the closest farm from here?"

"Due west, it's one of the largest ones in Hoshido, and it shares a portion of its crops to Izumo. Uh… 'Sunsoaker Farm'." Hinoka dutifully replies.

"Take Subaki and scout out the area…" I then turn and face our own 'small army'. "We're heading West to Sunsoaker Farm!"

Hinoka and Subaki soon head out, and we change our direction… a move I could only make because we don't have any official orders and due to our size. Jakob resumes brushing, if a bit faster. "Are you ready, milady?" Jakob asks.

And we both know he doesn't just mean 'for battle'. "I think so."

"Milady." He affirms.

"...I am." I nod.