"Finest Knight, make me a sword." Priscilla ordered Julius as if he was her servant.
But the knight complied. "Iku, please." His spirit of earth left his body, and began glowing. Slowly, a sword made out of rock emerged from the ground.
Priscilla grabbed it and gave a few swings around. "Not as good as Al's work, but it shall be enough." And then she looked at the Heitor. "Piggy, command us."
Right, they didn't have the time to waste. "Right now I see two ways for us to do this... Either we try to defend the village, or we get into the carriages and try to run away. That will mean crashing right onto their heaviest hitter though."
He continued. "And as for that... pretty much every Witch Cultist is strong, but there's one who's stronger than all the others. He's a spirit, and has... multiple invisible hands he can extend and control." Heitor couldn't see them.
He was aware of their existence, but his ability did not keep track of their location. Fighting the boss of this map would be as dangerous to him as anybody else.
And things got worse. "And even if we do get past that cultist, well... If he dies he takes over the body of someone else. He shouldn't be able to do it with any of us specifically, but killing him here wouldn't mean anything permanent... His... replacements, are somewhere else."
Julius paled. "That must be an Archbishop then... Sloth most likely, as he is by far the most active one..." He put a hand on his head. "And the Witch Cult is relentless. Be it running, or defending, they will give us a tough battle."
Priscilla growled. "One we shall win." She pointed at Heitor. "We defend this city until dawn. When the Sun shines upon us, I, Priscilla Barielle shall eliminate that Archbishop once and for all! Of that you have mine word!"
How was she planning to do that...!?
The Yang Sword Vollachia. It had to be. She would only be able to use it when the Sun was shining, but it could burn through anything. If she did something as crazy as burning Petelgeuse's soul, then they might actually turn this into a full on victory.
Then that was that. "Well, I'm obligated to follow your orders..." He looked at Felix. "Hey, since you can't fight, go and group the carriages as close as you can. It will be easier to protect them that way."
Felix gave him a thumps up. "Sure, but do remember to call me with your ability when I'm done."
Heitor nodded. "Of course... and as for the rest of us, let's split into three groups. One to handle north, another to handle west, and another to handle east."
He raised a finger. "The south is where the Archbishop is, but so far they aren't moving, so... let's ignore them. If they move though, I'll give us the order to retreat immediately."
Crusch crossed her arms. "How arrogant of them..." Actually, it was just Fire Emblem boss A.I. "But taking advantage of it is wise. Although we do have four people capable of fight..."
Priscilla raised a hand. "Piggy will come with me. His death could mean the end of our formation, and I am by far the most suited person to keep him alive."
Was she talking about Soul Marriage...?
Well, even if she was just hyping herself up, he was okay with it. Priscilla wasn't nearly as strong during the night as she was during the day, so he wanted to keep an eye on her. Because while he did want to avoid building more Support... He wouldn't sacrifice her life for that.
And speaking of Support, since he had an A with her anyways, fighting by her side would be optimal.
Crusch drew her sword. "You seem to believe that at least... Very well, let us move to our positions!"
They separated... Heitor heading north for... reasons. Greedy reasons.
Even if the real prize would be dropped by the boss.
Petelgeuse had an Arms Scroll! He needed to get that!
Hopefully that wouldn't bite them in the ass later, but it couldn't be helped. If they didn't do something like this, they would be letting the Witch's Cult gain too much ground and hit them at a weakspot.
Of course, that meant leaving the south open for an attack, which might be the what the cult wanted. However, he was hopeful that his ability could mitigate that danger somewhat.
Finally, they stumbled upon the first cultist.
"Goa." The man raised a hand, and shot a fireball towards them.
Priscilla cut it in half as if it was easy, and dashed towards the man. Heitor tried to follow, but he was actually interrupted by another Witch Cultist on the way... Which was actually a bit convenient.
By far the most annoying part of their defense, was how the village was fairly big, and so cultists could theoretically slip through the cracks of their defense.
And while he was constantly updating everyone of the cultists positions, it was still a pain.
So a cultist throwing himself at him was actually kind of useful.
This one was more of a swordsman, a dual wielder to be more specific. Heitor clashed his Rapier against the man with as much strength as he could muster...
And was rebuffed.
It was a complicated situation. Heitor was not particularly weaker than the cultist, nor was he much less skilled, they were more or less equals... And being equal to what was essentially fodder was dangerous.
However, Heitor did have the advantage. Not only did the cultist count as something 'unholy', but Heitor was also fighting fairly close to Priscilla. This was doable.
But doable did not mean easy. A person could fall to someone who was technically weaker than them
And so, with a stroke of luck, the cultist actually manage to leave a gash in Heitor's ribs.
Only due to the adrenaline running through his body did he manage not to scream. "Guh..." Instead sharply inhaling as the pain shot through his body.
The cultist raised his second sword now that Heitor was recovering, and—!
Got decapitated by Priscilla. "Be more careful, piggy." She had finished the battle against the other cultist, now carrying his blade instead of Julius' stone one.
Heitor put a shaking hand on his wound. "I'll try to." This was just the danger of battle at the end of the day.
At least the knife wasn't poisoned.
Priscilla squinted her eyes, looking at his wound. "Come here, I shall deal with that."
He knew what was coming, but it was still embarrassing to comply... Nonetheless, better be embarrassed than dead, so he nodded and got closer to the woman.
Priscilla cupped his cheek with one of her hands, and pulled him for a kiss.
It lasted for just a moment, and there was nothing truly intimate about it. More important than the kiss however, was the fact that his wound had begun to heal...
This was Priscilla's trump card, the Soul Marriage Technique.
Heitor grinned as he stared at his wound. "So I guess you love me, huh?" He was mostly joking around. Soul Marriage did not require romantic love, just love in general.
And to prove his point, Priscilla sneered. "I love every men and women who is brave enough to pick a sword and defend the innocent against the darkness." Yep. This would probably have worked with someone like Julius too...
She blushed. "But I suppose I would be particularly aghast if you perished..." A rare nice Priscilla? "And do not forget that Soul Marriage goes both ways, fool." Ah...
Well, he did know of course, but he had never actually told people he could read their abilities, so—. Yeah, as if. At this point that was his worst kept secret, pretty much everybody knew.
And so he just had to admit that he did hold some care for Priscilla... Like someone who liked their abusive mother or something! So not in a good way!
He pinched his nose. "Let's just go to the next cultist." This wasn't the time to have a moment!
Priscilla giggled. "Very well, but do try to pull your weight next time." Hey, it wasn't like he was actually weaker than the cultists! And he was the one managing this whole operation!
He didn't have the courage to tell Priscilla that though, so he just grumbled to himself and started to move.
The next battles were fairly smooth, in all sides really, and with Priscilla and Heitor now trying to not let themselves be separated so easily, victory at this section seemed reachable.
Naturally, this meant it was time for a tougher enemy! He and Priscilla found a cultist that was above the rest. One strong enough to not just be Heitor's equal, but to be his superior.
A axe user. Specialist at Fire Magic. Has a Divine Protection that makes him more resistant to fire... Well, the latter didn't really matter right now.
He pointed a hand at Heitor. "Al Goa." An inferno of fire flew towards him.
What the hell was he supposed to do against that!? He couldn't really dodge it, and he definitely couldn't cut it like some super swordsman! He just wasn't at that level yet!
Priscilla jumped into the flames. Acting as a shield.
For a moment Heitor paled... but then remembered Soul Marriage, and rushed at the cultist, trying to use this opportunity to close the gap between the two so he could engage in melee.
It was both amazing, and horrifying to have his swift strikes made by a rapier get parried by a fucking axe of all things.
Something interesting happened however.
Level up!
+1 Str
+1 Skl
+1 Lck
He hadn't killed the man, and yet he gained a level. Which wasn't absurd by Fire Emblem mechanics of course, just engaging in combat was enough to give exp. But since he had yet to see that play a significant role, he hadn't been expecting it.
That surprise bit Heitor in the ass however.
It was kind of depressing. His mind somehow managed to fight just fine while also keeping an eye on Julius, Felix and on Crusch, but the moment a level up screen showed up in his head he froze.
The cultist hit Heitor with the blunt side of his axe, with more than enough strength to send him flying.
"Gah...!" And to take the air out of his lungs as well.
He landed on the ground, and actually ragdolled from the impact. The blow may not have made a open wound like the other cultist had done, but it had been certainly much more damaging.
The cultist pointed a arm at Heitor, probably hoping to finish him off with a Goa...
But at this point Priscilla had had more than enough time to reach him, and start her offensive as well.
However, while she was more skilled than Heitor, and stronger as well, she was still struggling to break through the man's defense. So the cultist actually managed to stood up his ground.
Heitor punched his knee. "Get up...!" And gave his body an order.
Slowly, he managed to stood up. His leg now had a limp, but he tried to ignore it and go to Priscilla's aid. Even if the man could match her, he wouldn't be able to fend off two people at once. Surely.
He reentered the battle with an attempt at stabbing the man, that was what a rapier was for of course... but the man just took it. Ignored as if he wasn't even wounded.
And actually grasped Heitor by the wrist, holding him in place. Once again, Heitor's life was close to ending...
Priscilla was still a combatant however, and with a quick swing of her sword, she took the man's head.
Heitor barely managed to pull out the Rapier from the man's corpse. "What's with these guys...? They act just like undead." That was a trend he had noticed.
Unless a finishing blow was delivered, they would just ignore it and keep fighting. Was their devotion to Emilia just that strong!? Well, he wouldn't let them have her. The poor half-elf already had enough troubles.
As the corpse of the man fell, Priscilla kicked it. "Do not think too hard about a mad man." One shouldn't look into the abyss...
Heitor looked at the corpse. "Even so... these guys are seriously elite. Where does the Witch Cult even find them?"
Right now Heitor was boosted by Priscilla's Soul Marriage, by her Support, and by his own personal Skill... and yet he was still struggling a lot. In fact, he was pretty sure he would have died already if he wasn't paired up with someone.
Priscilla shrugged. "I do not know. It is common knowledge that your average cultist can match your average royal knight however." She sent me a worried look. "There is no shame with struggling against one. Are you wounded?"
There was shame in struggling against one! He wanted that guy's loot! He had a Armor Slayer damn it...! Oh well, he had given up on getting all the loot in this map from the moment he saw how complicated it was anyways.
Heitor shook his head. "I am, but your Soul Marriage is dealing with it."
She nodded. "Very well, then take us to the next battle."
"Right, let's go—." Oh shit.
Petelgeuse had started to move. Even though none of the teams had cleared their battlefields of its enemies. And considering random mobs were this annoying, the boss would be even worse...
He scowled. "Sorry Lady Priscilla, change of plans." They couldn't let him get to the carriages...
So it was time to retreat. "Everyone, please go back to the center. The Archbishop is on the move!" At least they were all more or less okay.
Julius had taken a minor round to his sword arm, but Felix could deal with that. And speaking of the Blue, he had eventually gone to Crusch's side, so the duchess had handled her side with minimum problems as well.
There was no time to talk, time was of the essence. So they began making their way to the meeting point. Priscilla actually speeding up past him.
At first it was just a small gap between the two, but as they kept going, that naturally widened. Priscilla would arrive to the fight considerably earlier than him, but that was fine.
He could see and guide them after all. And right now it was quite the brawl, Witch Cultist's were coming from all sides, barely being repelled.
In a situation like that, it was better to aim for the boss, right? Kill the head and all that.
So he focused on Petelgeuse. "Everyone go and fight the Archbishop. If we just stay fighting cultists it's never going to end." It was kinda of depressing to say that seeing as he wasn't even at the thick of it, yet, but...
This could be a map where enemies just kept spawning as long as there were maps.
Crusch was the first to arrive at Petelgeuse, just a bit before Heitor himself did. Nonetheless, he actually managed to see her in person.
She lifted her sword. "One blow...!" And began charging up her wind slash.
"Oh?" Petelgeuse raised an eyebrow at her.
And one second after she was lifted up to the ground, a crunch being heard from her leg. In Heitor's eyes, it was like the Archbishop had raised her with telekinesis.
But he knew better. Even if he couldn't see the hands, they were most certainly there.
So Heitor dashed into their middle, and slashed the air around. Unsurprisingly, he was met with actual resistance as his Rapier presumably cut through the hands.
Crusch fell to the ground, wounded but not dead. Since Heitor had severed the hands, she hadn't been slammed into the ground.
Seeing this, Petelgeuse recoiled. "Oh!?" And then began biting his fingernails. "Can you see them...?" He sounded absolutely serious... At least as serious as a wacky Fire Emblem villain could be.
Heitor pointed his Rapier at him. "I can see you. That's all I need." Probably. He would try to buy time talking until either Crusch got up, or someone else arrived
Petelgeuse squinted his eyes. "Um. Um. Um. Indeed." He bowed. "I am Petelgeuse Romanée-Conti, Archbishop of the Witch's Cult representing Sloth and..."
He began... crying? "It is so wonderful to see such diligence! Such work ethic! Even though we are so numerous! Even though you most certainly cannot see them, even through all that...! You and your allies stand up and fight...!" O-okay...?
Petelgeuse looked down. "So where is she? Ummmm...? I don't get it. I don't get it at all." He didn't either!
But he had bought enough time, from Petelgeuse behind came a jumping Julius and Priscilla, ready to turn the mad man into sliced bits.
However, with surprising agility, he batted Julius away, drew a sword, and actually engaged Priscilla in one on one combat.
There was a smile on his face. "The failed empress..."
Priscilla grit her teeth. "Oh? I do not remember meeting someone as horrifying to look at as you." Insulting someone was basically second nature for her.
But he ignored her. "The Finest Knight... The Valkyrie of Steel... The Blue..." Almost as if on cue, the knight arrived, going to Crusch's side so she could be healed.
Priscilla was swatted away, presumably by Petelgeuse's hands. More of her jewels cracked, as the damage was transfered to them.
Petelgeuse grasped his own head. "And the half-elf... That's how it should be. That's how it needs to be! That's what it is! Right!? But..." He pulled out a strange book, once again hiding his sword in his cloak.
And then he began frantically reading through it's pages. "But I see no swordsman! What's with this!? A mistake...? Did I make a mistake...? How slothfully of me! How sinful of me!"
He turned around and faced Heitor. "So my boy, who are you again?"
Heitor's eye twitched. "My name is Marth Alm Sigurd Seliph Leif. A pleasure to meet you." There was no way he was giving this freak his real name!
Surprisingly, Petelgeuse seemed to believe him. "I see... Marth Alm Sigurd Seliph Leif, a fine name." In what world!? "A fine name for a fine diligent boy. Fighting with his comrades, his comrades fighting with him, now this is lov—!"
Once again Julius and Priscilla rushed at him. This time however, Heitor and Crusch did the same hoping to overwhelm him before they got surrounded by cultists and—.
Why was Emilia floating?
"Everyone, stop! He has Emilia!" His order went out immediately.
They all stopped.
Petelgeuse scrunched his eyebrows. "Why did everyone suddenly stop? Did I say something wrong...?" He blinked in confusion. "Did I make things awkward for everybody? Um...?" He bit his lip hard enough to draw blood. "How shameful...! To ruin such displays of sloth! I must be the most slothful person in the world!"
He sighed. "Alas, I am not. Isn't that insane? How could that be?"
Heitor paid him no mind. He could see it in his mind, Emilia slowly being dragged out to their location, still asleep. Was the man's control over his invisible hands that good...?
Well... this was troublesome. Especially since they were now surrounded by cultists, but... the consolation is that at least Emilia wouldn't be harmed.
Petelgeuse was clearly here for her. Probably on the some business of trying to restore her memories or something.
Heitor took a deep breath. "He has Lady Emilia with one of his hands! Try slashing around you and see if you can free her! And do not get captured!" It was a desperate attempt...
But it was the only thing he could think of doing.
At first Petelgeuse raised an eyebrow at their strange actions... "What...?" But then he realized. "Hum...! Even if my hands cannot be seen, I can! Is that right!?"
Emilia floated above him, she had been brought to the battlefield.
Petelgeuse was... crying? "To keep an eye on everything is indeed proper behavior, but that means not seeing what cannot be seen, since you are not seeing it, do you see—?"
Priscilla pointed at him. "Drop the half-wit, and say your prayers, cabbage!" A vegetab—.
Crack.
Petelgeuse's invisible hands slammed Emilia on the ground, raising dust. "Now, now, now, doing that would be lazy. I have to discipline this little girl. She's being no good right now! So I have to!"
Naturally Emilia woke up, and as Petelgeuse slowly lifted her up, she... acted like she had been acting before. "Ah..."
He made a confused face. "Oops, did I hit too hard...?"
Crusch raised her sword. "You...!"
But Petelgeuse raised a hand, this time his real one. "Stop. If you don't stop, I'll kill her."
And then the duchess stopped... Petelgeuse was saying the truth.
This was... not a good situation.
Petelgeuse slowly brought Emilia close to his face. "So, what's going on with you, skipped breakfast today?"
"Ah..." No reaction once again.
Petelgeuse motioned to everyone else. "Even if you did, taking a nap while everyone is diligently fighting is no good. No good...! No good at all!" He started screaming at her face. "They're showing you love! Love must be returned with love and love and love and love and love—!"
"Geuse?" For the first time, she actually said something.
Petelgeuse put a finger on his hear. "Sorry, did you say something?"
And Emilia, ignoring her own hurt body, reached out her hands to him. "G-Geuse...! You're here! You're here!" She knew him?
Of course she did. This must be awakening some Satella memories on him...
The half-elf sounded like a scared child, now crying just as Petelgeuse had been doing. "I...! I had a bad dream, a bad dream where—."
He cut her off. "Actually, I am Petelgeuse Romanée-Conti." He tilted his head. "That's no good you know? Your friends are the very picture of diligence, while you cry and hide and you are always hiding!"
He began pulling out his own hair. "To have failed at the first tribulation, no, not just at the first tribulation, but at the first tribulation of the first tribulation! To do such a thing is...!"
And suddenly he calmed down. "Are you trying to aim for a different sin? You have to be envious." He raised a hand. "Let me correct you." And drove her on the ground once more.
Blood flew to the air.
The half-elf was slowly lifted up. "G-Geuse...?" This time she felt it, pain running through her now broken body. And even so... confusion was the thing that most filled her.
Heitor grit his teeth. "Julius, try to sneak a spirit near him or something. This guy is gonna kill Lady Emilia if this keeps up." They had to do something.
Julius didn't show any visible signs of understanding, but Heitor could see with his ability that a small fire spirit had left the knight's body from his back.
He would slowly try to find a way to Petelgeuse. Hopefully the Archbishop... and his followers, wouldn't notice.
Or Emilia's life was forfeit.
The Archbishop pinched his nose. "It's Petelgeuse. Petelgeuse. Petelgeuse. Why can't you understand that? This isn't a dream! This joyful reality! A reality where she watches over you...!"
Emilia looked down. "I... was so scared... B-but you're finally here..." She was delusional enough to not notice what was happening!?
Even Petelgeuse seemed shocked. "You... you... are truly slothful, aren't you?" His voice... changed.
Before Petelgeuse had constantly gone from calm to overly excited, but now he seemed straight up gentle.
Emilia shivered, as Petelgeuse raised a finger. "If you were a child this would be understandable, if you were a kid this would be forgivable. When you were a child, this was forgivable. But you aren't. Lady Emilia, you are an adult."
He chuckled. "Adults move forward Lady Emilia, one way or another. Even if they're lonely or scared, that is what diligence is, what it must be... But if you want to keep being a child, that's fine too. You can be a slothful adult like me."
His voice returned to its normal insanity. "However! Slothfulness must be punished! Must! Must! Must! You can't move forward anymore."
Emilia's legs twisted, and twisted, and twisted, as the girl screeched.
He bowed. "Remember, I am Petelgeuse Romanée-Conti, Archbishop of the Witch's Cult representing Sloth! To end up like this, like me, is only natural after wasting a century without doing anything."
Julius's spirit was close.
"Without moving forward, with entropy setting in, with your own actions, with your own inaction, you slowly, but surely, but slowly, and surely...! Became me." As he said, her... her legs were ripped out from her body.
Emilia didn't have the strength to scream anymore.
The red spirit threw himself at Petelgeuse, flashing red.
The Archbishop's eyes widened in fear. "A dirty spirit—!?" He even dropped the half-elf.
Crusch slashed at him. "One blow!" Her wind flew, and actually hit the man.
Heitor worried, he really worried that the Archbishop would dodge at the last second. But he did not, still trembling at the red spirit, he was hit full force, becoming a geyser of blood... and covering Emilia on the ground who was bleeding herself.
Heitor dashed at her. "Felix, heal her! Everyone else, protect her at all costs!" There was still the other cultists to worry about...!
The cultists were retreating.
The battle was over, and the Sun had yet to rise.
AN: Extreme Emilia bullying probably ends this chapter, so if you're worried... Don't be, I guess. Also, fuck Petelgeuse. Writing this chapter made me realize he is by far the hardest Archbishop to write.
I should have made Regulus the boss instead!
Current Stats
Lord
Level: 6 (20 Max)
Str: 9 (28 Max)
Mag: 2 (20 Max)
Skl: 13 (26 Max)
Spd: 13 (27 Max)
Lck: 9 (31 Max)
Def: 8 (25 Max)
Res: 3 (25 Max)
Weapons:
Sword: D (B Max)
Lance: E (C Max)
Growths:
Str: 60%
Mag: 10%
Skl: 60%
Spd: 60%
Lck: 70%
Def: 45%
Res: 25%
Inventory:
Rapier - E, Lords Only
Killer Lance - C
Empty
Empty
Empty
Gold: 2000
Personal Skills:
Dawn Breaks Through
— +To all stats when fighting unholy enemies.
— +EXP gained from unholy enemies.
Supports:
Aldebaran: C
Priscilla Barielle: C B A
Yae Tenzen: C
Shult: C
Emilia: C B
Crusch Karsten: C