A/N: Hurdle overcame, large conflict over. Time for some Supports.
Vallite: Purotekutā no Kyōdaiai(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) | Wasure rareta kuni(Land of the Forgotten) [The Void. The place where only Shattered Spirits and Fractured Souls go to]
Hoshidan:Baranotsubomi(Rosebud) [Elise's Mare]
Nohrian:Katáktisi(Conquest) [Xander's Stallion] | Ouranós Trómos(Skyterror) [Camilla's M!Wyvern] | Μαύροάλογο/Alastor(Dark Horse) [Leo's Stallion]
Common:Firechaser[Hinoka's F!Pegasus] | Lavender[Silas's Mare]
Retainer Empathy: Trou'B'les
Jakob is a strict Retainer, not to his Lady, no, but to the standards at which he must perform. After all, if it was not for Lady Corrin's trust, he would likely be scavenging the streets and sewers of Krakenburg for his next meal, or worse. Absolutely nothing but the best. A+, all or nothing. It's what he lived by. It's why he is so quick to reprimand Felicia and her constant stumbles, Kaze and his lack of knowledge of what Lady Corrin's needs are. He has even taken the time to learn Lady Corrin's family.
But now, his greatest task lies before him. His Lady is not in immediate danger, no. The toxin she was injected with has been cleansed from her system. He was told that Kotaru was a sadistic psycho who experimented with uncatalogued herbs that he bred, creating toxins that have never been recorded, and that he was wise enough in his ventures to create anti-toxins for those very same weapons.
According to Rinkah and Lady Corrin's report, they were both exposed to a... fear toxin, and the two fought each other with intention to Kill. Thankfully, the dose wasn't permanent, and after knocking some literal sense into each other, managed to break through the false fear with their willpower.
Kaze was not as lucky.
He is lying in the cot next to Jakob. Shivering and shaking near out of control. His heart-rate is way too high, he keeps muttering about 'His Failure'. He needs a supply of water as he keeps sweating it back out.
Jakob was sickened, not by Kaze, but the fact that someone out there is twisted enough to want to make something like this. And doubly moreso that Lady Corrin was affected by it. He pulls out another handkerchief, then a cup of water.
"You can fight this, Kaze." He assures the man. "I know you can." He falters as he gets more fluid into him. He closes his eyes and sighs. "This is... painful to admit, but." He breathes in. "Kaze, my initial observations were wrong. You make an excellent retainer to Lady Corrin. You may not know her as well as I do, but it seems there is more to being a Retainer than knowing what timeframe gives her the best sleep, or how many teaspoons of Lavender make for efficient relaxation. You and Mizumare walked headfirst as scouts, not knowing the dangers, away from Lady Corrin. You were captured, tortured, but returned alive."
Jakob wipes the man's mouth clean of water that failed to make it down, as well as the excess sweat and some drool. "You possess skills that I may never master, and that makes you valuable. I commend you, you have my approval to be a great retainer to Corrin. An honor that only Flora shares."
A sudden chill hits him, but one he pushes aside.
The medical tent flap opens and Lady Sakura walks in. "Jakob... you're still here?"
"I am, Lady Sakura." He affirms.
"You haven't left his side since he was brought in."
"This is also true."
"...Which means you aren't by my big sister." She taps her Festal.
An adrenaline rush surges through him as he assumes that...he takes a breath. "I know." He nods, with a frown. "Mizumare is."
Sakura tilts her head. "I can watch Kaze if..."
"No!" Jakob raises his voice without thinking, the Princess flinches. "I'm..." He takes a breath. "I'm sorry, Lady Sakura, but it's just. I've come to the realization that serving Lady Corrin means more than being by her side every single second of the day. She cares about all of us and that must be a grand burden. I decided that... I would watch over Kaze for her, to give her some piece of mind."
For a moment, Sakura remains silent, before a smile creeps onto her face. "That is... very noble of you. Generous. Big S-sister would appreciate that very much."
Still, "How is Lady Corrin holding up?"
"Her and Rinkah hurt each other very badly. After the adrenaline wore off, they collapsed. Rinkah is suffering from heavy blood loss and an unusually high body temperature, one that affects even her. Corrin is suffering from several broken bones, a cracked ribcage, and an injured skull." Tears well up, but she continues. "That... fear toxin. Why would he make that? They could have..."
"I think it would be best not to dwell on what Kotaru did. He was a sick man. Depraved. Worse than the common criminal. It would be best for all of us if we just forgot he existed."
"I..."
"Ngh." Kaze says his first words that isn't related to the Fear Toxin. "Where...?"
Jakob waves Sakura off, shaking his head, and he pulls out his own staff. A silent, from one Healer to another, let me handle this, you need a break, too. Sakura hesitates, but smiles and nods. She's more tired than she looks. "You are in the medical tent's cot, Kaze."
"I am?" He asks. "Then... Corrin she's..." He looks at his hands, and Jakob can almost see his mind at work as he looks at Jakob.
Fear. Emotion breaks through the Ninja mask. Whatever he saw broke him.
"Kaze, take a breath. Look at me." Kaze's eyes trail down to Jakob's gloves. "No, eye to eye." His eyes flick back up, they tremble as tears form. "Lady Corrin is hurt, but she will recover."
"She's dead." Kaze blurts out. "I failed her, I..."
Kaze's head is forcibly turned as an echoing slap sounds out in the tent. "Kaze, that is perhaps the most idiotic thing I have ever heard, and I listened to Felicia's idea for Corrin's 14th birthday!" He barks out. "I have no idea what you were experiencing, and you have my sincerest reserves of empathy, but you best realize that you are in the Real World now. And in the Real World, you are a damn great A+ Retainer with a liege who is most certainly alive!"
"She is... I am?" He echoes.
"Yes and yes. Now, you need to lie back down. You are not fit to leave yet." He asserts.
"...of course." Once more, the mask returns, but not before Jakob receives a grateful smile. "You're a great retainer too."
"Only the best for Lady Corrin."
"Only the best."
Trophy for 'B'est Sky Knight goes to...
Subaki goes over the redux Blueprints. The self-proclaimed 'Air suit', something that will increase a Sky Knights aerodynamic capabilities. Trading off some armor, the idea is that a Pegasi will have less burden, allowing for more complex flight maneuvers, easier hit and runs, and perhaps most importantly, and easier time avoiding those dreaded Arrows.
But, it's incomplete. Far far from complete. The idea is there, the materials are not. He know not what to make it out of. Thankfully... "Watchya working on?" Lathna, the Kitsune Sky Knight trots up.
Lathna, the Sky Knight who can dismount her Pegasus at the peak of a loop and managed to land back onto her Pegasus at the bottom, whom barely seems to register the sudden rider dropping onto her. "Inspiration to perfect the Sky Knight armor." He smiles.
"Perfect this, perfect that." She looks it over, her Kitsune eyes picking up all the information in a matter of seconds. "So, a birthday suit?"
"Wh-what?"
"Subaki, there is like... no armor. One hit, you're done for."
"Ah, pardon me, but this is coming from..."
"The Kitsune whose fur is as protective as decent leather armor." She smirks. "I only have a few straps to cover the vitals and the joints." Her eyes alight with aloofness, she corners him, a predator honing in. "So, why are you making this?" She picks up the paper, her natural claws shinking out, coming dangerously close to ripping it.
"Because you can do something that I can't as a Sky Knight." He says with a bit of authority.
"...What, my trick? A trick that has no use in battle?" She gives an exasperated sigh. "How will that trick help you do your job? So that Lady Sakura can fret over if the suit fails and you become a perfect splatter on the ground?" She snarls.
Extremely defensive. "It's the principle of the matter. I need to be the perfect retainer for Lady Sakura. She enjoyed your show, so I need to be able to replicate..."
Crunch, she balls the blueprints with one hand. "Don't."
"Don't?" He gulps. This isn't the playful Lathna earlier. He is really feeling like a rabbit right now.
"Replicate me." Subaki sees the briefest flicker of... hurt? "And you know what? I'm also getting tired of this 'Perfect' act. Drop it, nobody is perfect. Embrace your flaws." She drops the balled up blueprints on the ground and nearly stomps out. "Besides, the skies are clear and your Pegasus is pent up. Don't forget that your 'Perfection' needs his time to relax." She departs.
He stoops down and picks up his blueprints. Why was she so hurt? People copy each other all the time. They learn from each other. So why was she so hurt?
A Tri'C'k a day...
Frankly, Orochi wasn't a fan of her new haircut. She couldn't twirl her finger like she used to, yet old habits dictate that her finger attempts to twirl hair that isn't there. Commander Hinoka and her army were surprised at how Orochi managed to keep her cool for nearly a month, and the answer was simple! Her salvation rested in the cards, she knew she would be freed. Now she can eat glorious food, like from a massive pot of stew, or rations that may be questionably overdue, ooo, or the 'Special' that gets cooked, which she knows full well is all of the stuff that is getting close to expire, so then they char it to burn out all the diseases, slice it up into small bits, and stuff it in a, you guessed it, a Massive Pot of Stew!
...She felt like she was going to vomit if she had to stomach another, at least while she is still in Hoshido. What she needed was some social activity, but most of the army are either: Adjusting to what happened, have been directly involved in the crap that went down, or are tending to the people in whom the crap went down upon.
But she supposes there is one... She grins, her finger twirling the hair that isn't there. She rifles through her cards, shuffling them as she approaches none other than the sarcastic mouth himself.
Azama. By the Dawn Dragon she's desperate. "Azama."
"The nine-headed snake goddess herself." He is leaning on his staff, actually doing nothing to help anyone.
"So I've heard." She laughs off. "Care for a tarot card reading?"
"Oh, no thank you. Last time I did that I was told that I would be living in a sewer drain as the Rat King." He grins. "I'd say my current job is a few steps up."
"Yeah, alright, but that was some two-faced cheapskate looking for some quick coin. I'm the genuine article that, may I remind you, served the late Queen herself. Give Tarot Card reading a chance from a pro."
He actually had the gall to think it over. Then he shrugs. "Sure, what's the worse that's going to happen? You're going to take out an eye and then my coin purse? Oh right, you're in the army with me, that'd be pretty stupid." She rolls her eyes and begins shuffling her cards, all the while he's looking and smiling in a way that seems friendly but is also starting to feel creepy.
She rolls back a certain card so it slides to the center. She doesn't need to see it to know which card it is. She then fans them out, the center card aligning pleasantly with her cleavage. Men always fall for it, they always want a closer look, and in turn, they end up picking The Fool. She leans slightly forward for added effect.
As predicted, Azama can't resist gazing at her ample bosom and... picks the card to the far right. She resists the urge to frown. Then the far left... then his third is one just right to the center. She folds her cards back and grabs the three he picked.
"The Wizard... The Jester... The Snake." She notes.
"Oh boy, is this the part where you tell me you're nothing but a joke and I'm the best magic-user in Hoshido?" He chuckles.
"No, this is the part where I tell you that..." She holds The Wizard in her hand, a simple spell causes the card to reflect images into her eyes. The most briefest of images. "You will stumble across forbidden knowledge."
"Like seeing my father walk out of the bathhouse naked?"
She rolls her eyes. She repeats for The Jester. "You will attempt to make a grand revelation, but you will be ignored."
"Oh, nobody can ignore me." He smiles, unbothered.
Gods, she wishes she could, but she brought this hell onto herself. One more, The Snake. "And you will hear a truth you don't want to hear... it's gonna hurt."
He opens his mouth again, and Orochi could actually feel her blood boil. "Like how you quite deftly, I will add, flicked a card back into the center and proceeded to lean forward so that you could hopefully prove that I'm a pervert and have me pick the one card that is known to be unable to transmute Divination magic, The Fool?"
"..." Orochi stands there, dumbfounded.
"Sorry not sorry." He smiles. "As I said, you're The Jester and I am the ever-brilliant Wizard. I know you, charming others, sneaking into their lives, and using mind-games and hormone-based skills to get men to pick the cards you want them to pick. Say, did you ever reveal to Queen Mi..."
"I'm done. Thanks for cooperating." Orochi returns her Tarot Cards back into her dress.
"You're right! Your Tarot Card reading was wonderful, can we do it again soon?"
She just wanted some fun.
Riv'A'ls
My head spins as I wake up, a grunt. Pain and a lot of it. Strangely, there is a lack of sore muscles. None of my pain came from my actions, it's what Rinkah did. "Lady Corrin." Comes the flowing but otherwise near monotone voice of my Created Retainer. "Broken bones, cracked ribcage, damaged skull."
I nod to her. "Mizumare, you may depart." Without question she does so.
The Fire Tribe Warrior is awake, alert. On bed-rest like me. I feel like a wreck, anxiety creeps into my chest. I just gained their support... surely they can believe in back-to-back circumstance? We had no idea that Kotaru was a toxin-expert! That he had manage to make in his mind a... "When can we do that again?" Rinkah asks, her eyes burning with excitement.
YES! I hear my body scream in delight. My blood rushes and I revel in that memory and and... "Are you crazy? We could've killed each other! And I just got out of a precarious situation about losing control."
She scoffs, for a moment she looks pissed off. "Royals." She says in a manner that reminds me of that Mystery Ninja, but instead of an intense aura of Hate, I sense... disappointment. "Figures, finally met someone who could push me, and you're too worried about looking like a Gods-damn savage."
My memory is dragged back to our toxin-hazed... wait. "Rinkah, how did you do it?"
"I have half a mind to not answer, but..." She sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Alright, how did I do what?"
"Were you never affected by the toxin? How did you free yourself?" Because I was, I'm a Demi-Goddess and I had to FOCUS divine energy to detox myself.
Her face twists, and for the first time since I've met her, she shows difficulty talking. "I'll tell you under one condition."
A secret? Enough to place down an ultimatum on me? I wrack it over, but I soon brush the cons aside. She isn't going to ask for anything huge, I know that to be true. "Alright."
"We will fight like that again. In Lilith's bizarre other-world or whatever she calls in, or some other place. But I need to fight like that again."
I nod, "As soon as we can find a reprieve and we're back to full health."
"Good." Rinkah takes a breath. "Fire Tribe members are capable of feats of strength that can rival a Royal if we train hard enough. We are also capable of becoming resistant to fire." She pauses, "And the truly exceptional can set ourselves on fire, a fire that won't harm the user. A fire that burns outside and inside. When I felt the effects of the toxin coming in, knowing what it did to you? That's what I did, but I could also tell that that sick psycho wanted to see something, so I played along until I could find an opening."
I groan as I feel the back of my head flare up. "Did an opening really have to wait until you flung me around like a ragdoll?"
She gives me a look. I feel like she's demeaning me, "You know, for such a powerhouse and this brilliant tactician. You're a Gods-damn idiot on the field.."
She's akin to Jakob in this matter. When they have opinions, they speak it as is. The perk of not being a Royal who has to maintain an appearance. I'm strong, I'm fast, I'm book-smart, but yes... "I was Sheltered, Rinkah."
"Look, while you are not Commander, I'd recommend you get with the people out here who have real experience. You're gonna end up misjudging a confrontation and then you will be dead."
She probably could've pulled it off. No, actually, I don't know. Could she? The fear pushed me so far. I took a club from a non-feared Rinkah to my Wyrmslayer wound and I didn't flinch. "Is that your fear then? Being seen as weak?"
The instant tenseness gave me the answer I asked for. "I'm not weak."
"You are not weak, nor could I think how you think that anyone would believe that."
"I don't give a rat's arse about what other people think. I'm talking about MY expectations for MYSELF!"
I blink several times at her outburst. "...You think you're weak?"
"DAMN STRAIGHT! You know what I pulled off on YOU! I... I never felt so much concentrated strength in my life! I didn't even need a weapon for the Fire Dragon's sake. Your weapons were just grazing me. That's... THAT'S why I NEED to fight you like that again. I NEED that feeling." She is working herself up, and the increased heart-rate causes her bandages to become soaked in her blood. "You're my rival, and I fully expect you to keep pushing me higher until I... I can do what I did then at will." She turns a bit pale, before lying back down.
Sakura comes in as if on cue. "I heard shouting is...?" She looks at Rinkah. "No fighting?" At me.
"No fighting, she just worked herself up." I smile, but it falters. I am focusing on Sakura's face, looking for that fear that I know they must have.
She nods, moving over to Rinkah. "And how are you feeling, big sister?" Her festal alights and Rinkah's wounds close more.
"Recovering, sore." I respond.
Keep pushing her until she can do what she did then? I recall that flaming form of Rinkah. Does she recall those details? She... she Partially Shifted, but it was less than mine. The scales were only half-there. She had claws, fangs, slitted eyes, but no wings, no natural armor, no formed weapons.
Yes Rinkah, I will keep pushing you higher. The thrill of having someone I can actually go All-Out on. It sounds... fun.
New Fa'C'es
Takumi scans the army as he polishes his Fuji Yumi. He recognizes most, but not all. "Archers! Knock, steady... fire!" He shudders at the thought. The battle at the Canyon went poorly. Cutting off the bridge did nothing, the Ice Tribe members managed to create an Ice Bridge. He had to call for a retreat. Not everyone made it. But nothing, nothing set a pit in his stomach more than that one roar he heard. It echoed throughout the entire Canyon as if...
It came from below, somewhere in the Bottomless of the Canyon. "Greetings, Lord Takumi, was it?" Great, one of the Nohrians. Azura's retainer.
"Ignik." He says without a trace of humor.
"Ah, it's Ignis, Lord Takumi. Do you have a moment?"
"Yeah, don't we all?"
Ignis nods, taking a seat on the bench next to Takumi. "How much of the battle did you see?"
"The aftermath. I heard and felt a lot more. I was expecting an entire army... not what I'm hearing. Corrin and Rinkah duking it out."
"You were made aware, then?"
"Of course." Takumi sighs. "The Nohrians messed her up. No offense to you."
"None taken." He coolly smiles. "It does worry me, though. That's the second time she lost control."
"Rinkah?"
"Lady Corrin."
Takumi slowly lowers his Divine Weapon. "What?" He near-glares at the Nohrian Retainer. "What do you mean?"
"She and Lady Hinoka were pulled into a trap that separated them, Teleportation Magic, as I understand it. When the two came out, Lady Hinoka seemed traumatized and she denounced Lady Corrin as Commander."
Takumi scowls. "Wonder why I wasn't told."
He attempts to console with a, "They were probably looking to drop one important fact at a time."
Takumi shakes his head. "So, she terrified my big sister and lost her Commander title. What else?"
"She almost died because she let her guard down around Leo."
Takumi huffs, then swears under his breath. "Thanks for the vote of confidence on her. What the hell Corrin, what were you thinking?"
"She has lead well..."
"Can we stop talking about her? Actually, excuse yourself, I need a moment." Takumi waves him off.
Ignis nods, looking apologetic, but... success. Driving a wedge between family will make it easier for Lady Azura's goal. He departs as requested.
Animal Hus'B'andry
"Shh, easy girl." Silas coos as he brushes Lavender. "Corrin will be alright. She's got the best healers in the army and you and I both know she's one tough cookie." Lavender shakes her mane and snorts in agreement. "See? You know what I mean."
"She hasn't the tint of Lavender color on her." Silas turned to see... ah, the woman that Corrin saved.
"Lilith, was it?"
She gently nods, "Yes. And you are Silas. We haven't had a lot of time to talk since you joined."
"No, no we haven't. You always frequented the stables back in Nohr, didn't you?" The Maid approaches Lavender and pets her. The mare practically pushes herself into Lilith's treatment. "And you were always better with animals." He pauses. "I named her Lavender because that is one of Corrin's favorite things. Besides... she's gentle, she calms people."
He swore Lavender just rolled her eyes at him, snorting as if to say 'Flatterer'. Lilith giggles. "Yes, yes she does." She smiles at him. "Tell you what, it's Subaki's turn to tend to the Stables, would you mind if we visited Lady Corrin and reminiscence on some memories? I think that would help calm her."
His jaw tightens. "The fear toxin."
Everyone is talking about the lingering effects of the Fear Toxin that Kotaru made. Everyone is also relieved that the man who created it is dead, and there are no records on how to make it. As far as Silas is concerned, they should've just burned the plants down and...
Lavender head-butts him. "Ow!" Silas rubs his head, but his mare only snorts again. "No, you're right. And you are too, Lilith. I would love to take a trip down memory lane."
"Excellent!" She steps back, but... hrm. "Lavender, I'll get you some special oats if you can give Subaki a good Kick-Start."
"Lavender! Don't listen to that. Oats and an apple if you remain on your best behavior." Lavender snorts in agreement. The two depart, but Lilith turns around and mimics a brushing motion and points to the mare. Lavender nods.
Commanding 'B'urdens
Hinoka goes over the reports again. "It's just a coincidence." She tells herself. Her sister lost control, and then a Master Ninja, who just happens to specialize in toxins, makes one that causes Fear, and her sister lost control... again. Still, she can't get the sight of the central village out of her head. Ninjas bisected, splattered, buildings destroyed.
There was no Anti-toxin. Orochi admitted as much. A captive for nearly a month and every toxin she was experimented with left her body naturally. Something wasn't adding up.
Was... there no toxin? No! Kaze is experiencing it now. Then why is he suffering but her sister and Rinkah aren't?
"Laaaaady Hinoka!" Oh gods.
"Setsuna, why..." She actually looks at her. Filthy, branches and leaves in her ruffled hair. "Where were you?"
"I just got baaack."
"From?"
"The fight." She lazily strolls over to Hinoka's desk. "I was wedged between dozens of pikes while the group I was in were fighting and... they kinda forgot about me?"
"Did you call for help?"
"Noooo?"
Hinoka facepalms with such force that she knows she's going to have a red mark for days. "And why didn't you call for help?"
"Because I knew that I would be found... eventually. I was. So here I am."
Hinoka removes her hand from her face, already feeling it sting. "Go clean yourself up." She doesn't need this right now.
"Okaaaay. See you laaaater." Setsuna departs.
But the flap opens a second time. "Commander." Azura.
Hinoka relaxes. "Everyone settled in for the night?"
"Yes. Corrin, Rinkah, and Kaze are still in recovery. It will be a few days."
Broken bodies, broken houses, destroyed earth. Hinoka knew that Royals were strong, but this? What did the Nohrians do to her precious little sister?! "Orochi?"
"Despite the near month-long capture, she is taking it well."
Hinoka snorts. "Of course, if anything I'm sure Kotaru was pulling his hair out in agony from her. Orochi knows how to keep herself calm like..." Humor fades and a horrid scene re-enters. "Mother."
The Nohrians likely experimented with Corrin, and they murdered her mother, her father. And STILL Corrin insists that they spare the Nohrian Royals the worst. HOW?
"Commander?"
Never doubt that Hinoka loves her sister, but her judgement is misguided. Kotaru broke the Pact of Neutrality to side with Nohr. Orochi said that he was going to cash in on a bounty from Crown Prince Xander to bring in Corrin.
"Hinoka, you're trembling."
She can't lose Corrin, not again. Not after all this training. Not after losing her parents and...
"HINOKA!" Azura uncharacteristically shouts, her voice slamming into Hinoka like a tidal wave. She staggers back as if she were actually struck.
"Sorry." Hinoka coughs. "Thank you. I was... spiraling down a dark set of thoughts."
"Let me finish the reports." Azura offers. "You need rest."
"How aren't you overwhelmed by all of this?" The Sky Knight asks.
Azura wets her lips, "I am used to the burden of others. Lest not we forget that it was only the Hoshidan Royals that accepted me. I was an outsider to everyone else, ostracized, unwanted. They were convinced I was a spy. It hurt at first, but I learned to block it out."
"So, that's what you're doing now? Blocking it out?" Hinoka shakes her head. "You can't heal if you can't feel."
"No, but if you keep bending like this, you may never be able to straighten out again."
"If I never bend, then I will break."
Azura solemnly nods. "It is a difficult balancing act, and you have been bending. It is time to block it, straighten yourself out. You can bend again another time. So, allow me to finish the reports."
Hinoka hangs her head. "Yeah, you're right. Thanks Azura, I owe you one." Hinoka departs from her desk. She needed some fresh air, anyway.
Faltered
Ignis enters some time after Hinoka departed from the Commanding tent, and shares an approved look with Azura. [Takumi already had some initial distrust. It was easy to sway him.] He whispers, handing her a stack of documents that... mean absolutely nothing, just an excuse to talk to the secondary Commander.
[Hinoka's fervent devotion is cracking.]
[You got past Hinoka's defenses?] Ignis has a moment of disbelief.
She nods. [She was struck with Dragon Fear, and now she is realizing that Corrin isn't who she says she is. She's changed in a way that scares her.]
[Bravo. What's next?]
[We wait. If we keep bending them, they may break and will refuse to trust. We can't keep bringing Corrin down to bring ourselves up. We need to start showing genuine goodwill. Any ideas?]
Ignis hums. [The war is bringing untold amounts of stress, they may break on their own.]
[Are you suggesting we...?]
[Set up a means to relax.]
Azura lets out a light giggle, then pulls out the map. [We will need a militaristic reason for getting close.]
[There is a lovely natural hot spring in the mountains next to Cheve. One of the natural wonders of Nohr.] He offers.
[You mean in the mountains conquered by the Wolfskin?]
[The one and the same. Cheve is also known to be one of the cities that is most displeased with the King's orders.]
Azura nods. [Then that is where we will direct them. There are mountain paths for old cavern trails before the Wolfskin began heavily populating them. We will travel through those, and happen across this Hot Spring. Take a moment to relax...]
[As Cheve inevitably explodes with a rebellion.]
The two nod to each other.