Chapter Final: Light Part 2
As everyone finally came up the stairs, they were greeted by the man who was anticipating them. He stood confident with a malicious grin on his face against the group. The Lycian lords, Greil Mercenaries, Black Fang, Athos, and Renault all stood in defiance against the dark druid.
"Nergal!" Eliwood shouted as he pointed the Durandal at the sorcerer.
Nils also stood resolute against his father while Nergal merely snorted from the resistance of his son. Ike stood at the ready, with his hands on Galuth.
"... You're here. But you're too late..." Nergal gestured North to the Dragon's Gate as he declared to the troop in front of him. "The gate is already opened. I will claim the mighty quintessence of dragons. I will become stronger and move ever closer to perfection."
Eliwood gritted his teeth in frustration at the man who refused to see reason. "How many lives must you steal before you're satisfied!? Your family is still here! Nils! There's nothing more for you to continue this plan! There is no more power you should gain from this point onward!" Nergal only stood silent with his eyes narrowed at Eliwood's rant. "And it's not only those who die. What about the ones left behind in pain and sorrow? What about them? Do you realize how much grief you've caused your children with your actions!?"
Renault and the Black Fang stood as they tightly gripped the weapons in their hands. The latter have been greatly affected by the man's actions with their organization broken and their beloved father lost. Renault remained guilty of his sins yet chose to repent by facing the man who tempted him.
Nergal did not respond to Eliwood's words. Only just a simple scoff. He did not confirm nor deny Eliwood's claims.
"I am who I am. The pain of others, I do not feel. The sorrow of others does not touch me. Death feeds me. Death pleases me. I am the essence I consume..." He raised both hands upon trailing his words. "You fools will become corpses here, because I wish it to be. Rise and come forth, my servants!"
A huge teleportation array appeared in front of the army and then came Brendan and Ursula alongside other menacing morphs. The pale complexion of Brendan confirmed their worst fears as Lloyd and Linus saw the state of their beloved father.
"Father..."
"Commander..."
The grip on their weapons tightens along with the anguish evident on their faces. Everyone stared defiantly at Nergal, and he only snorted at their reaction.
"It saves me the time for you since you've seen my work, no thanks to Sonia..." He gestured to his creations and reanimated puppets as he spoke. His greedy expression eyeing hungrily at every single one of his opponents, even his son. "I've made them far more powerful. And I will make all of you the same... Whether you enjoy it or not is irrelevant–the result is inevitable. You will all face oblivion and servitude towards me..."
Nils breathed in more rapidly through his nose, his father's depravity knew no bounds. He looked down at the floor, trembling in sadness and anger towards the man.
Eliwood took a step forward with a shocked and disgusted expression. He along with many others stood dumbfounded by his assertion.
"You continue to infringe on the dead and the living to this extent..." Eliwood shook his head as he was horrified by the man's actions. "Ninian... Ninian would be ashamed of seeing you like this! Even now, your son can barely look at you."
Nergal growled at Eliwood but he soon caught a lone figure in the corner stepping forward. His former Angel of Death... He snorted at the sight of the man he raised now in the hands of his enemies.
"... It's you, Jaffar? Turning your blades against me, your master? Do you forget who raised you?" He gritted his teeth against the one he trained to be the best killer. "You are worthless..."
"...Wrong. I am a man," Jaffar twirled his daggers as he spoke. "For the sake of the family I've made, I will end you, the man who refused his own flesh and blood in the end..."
Lloyd and Linus said nothing in response to Jaffar's declaration, only their eyes trained on their father and Nergal. Legault followed suit, staying silent but his eyes looking for every opening.
Nergal narrowed his at Jaffar's last statement, giving the man a deathly glare with his left eye.
"Oh, really?" Nergal remarked with an aggressive look. "If so, then I will give you a man's death!"
"It is time to stop!" It was Renault who spoke up and stepped forward.
"Renault..." Nergal muttered in a harsh tone. "You're still eking out a wretched existence?"
He did not appreciate receiving his stiletto the last time they were all here. Even after he made good on his end of the deal, he remained against him. All the more reason for Nergal to feel that even business relationships were doomed to betrayal.
Lucius held a worried look towards the man but the enigmatic bishop remained stalwart. He stepped once again to the dark druid.
"I went astray," Renault admitted to the sorcerer. "I listened to your honeyed words... I dreamt of the impossible... the return of a lost soul. But...what you gave me was... a puppet... It was soulless...nothing more than an empty vessel!"
"Just an empty vessel..." Nergal chuckled with a grin. "Isn't that what you wanted? You desired to bring back your dead friend. You were my experiment, and I completed my morph. I'm grateful, Renault. Thanks to you, I gained power."
The power that ultimately failed to achieve his ultimate desires. The irony he failed to acknowledge. His attempt at bringing back the dead as morphs was nothing more than a perverted attempt to bring back loved ones.
"You villain... look around you!" Renault shouted. He then gestured to the morphs in front of him. "We cursed him and all these people! Our crimes can never be forgiven! We both achieved nothing to bring back our loved ones! They're all empty! You couldn't bring back my friend or your beloved wife! So why continue this horrific excuse of a charade!?"
It was then Nergal widened his eyes and his expression turned to sheer anger.
"How dare you!" He cursed out against Renault. "How dare you preach to me about morality and forgiveness, you hypocrite! Your weakness runs deep in you. You can never understand. The concepts of good and evil are devoid of any meaning, any value. These ideas prevent humans from liberating their own strengths. Such foolishness… The ultimate foolishness of the human race! Just like you Renault!"
Renault snorted at the man's denial, only further enraging the sorcerer.
"I can never understand?" He repeated while scoffing. "I know you better since we both chased after a delusion... The only difference is that I stopped my foolishness... You have not."
Just as Nergal was about to give a scathing reply, Athos stepped forward to his former friend.
"Nergal, after all these years… You have not stopped to reconsider your ideas at all..." Athos shook his head in disapproval. "Even after being conveyed the truth of your family."
"Enough of your lies, Athos!" Nergal snarled at his former friend. "All living creatures take energy from somewhere. We all use it to create, to change it into something better. The knowledge of Arcadia has shown us the road to the ultimate transformation. And yet you will not take that road! Why do you reject the obvious? Why do you continue to lie to me and this natural philosophy of life!?"
Athos shook his head and responded, "I am not opposed to the quest for power, for greater knowledge." He gestured by pointing to himself as he continued to speak. "However, that quest must be driven from within. To fuel your quest with the stolen lives of others, this brings not wisdom but abomination."
"Heh heh heh…" Nergal chuckled, somewhat nostalgic of the words that were spoken by Athos. "I remember. I still remember! Those words are unchanged from when you first said them ages back. When you and the dragons conspired to bury me!"
Upon his last statement, he unveiled his turban, revealing the right side of his face. Misshapen and severely burnt with his eye still intact but appearing to be bulging out.
His crazed countenance further made Nils uncomfortable with what the man became. However, Nergal only gestured to the disturbed audience of his current state.
"Look at this wound! The wound I took from your magic!" He barked out against Athos. "It was a mistake. The only person who understood… The man I thought my truest friend… It was a mistake to try and destroy me. Heh heh heh heh… It confirmed some things for me. That trust brings betrayal. That friends bring weakness!"
Athos closed his eyes in sadness for his fallen friend. To go this far to consider him an absolute enemy...
"Really?" Ike remarked, finally speaking up. His expression seems more exasperated than angry. "I can't even begin to tell you how deluded you've become to shut out your best friends. The same people who would have been willing to go out of their way to reunite you with your family. But it seems as though you're the one who should have never been trusted. Since you didn't have enough faith in them in the first place..."
"Ike..." Athos muttered.
"Still continuing this nonsense... Hero of Chaos?" Nergal growled out, refusing to entertain the notion. His eyes narrowed to the source of all his distress. The boy who dared to defy him and fill his head with nonsense.
Ike stood resolute and stepped forward without fear. His men having already prepared their weapons looked at their commander with confidence. Lyn also stood resolute along with the rest of the army.
"You'll get no sympathy from me. If you refuse to see reason and acknowledge your family... Then, I'm going to make your defeat as painful as I know how," Ike declared as he unsheathed Galuth and pointed it at Nergal. "Maybe the pain will really jog your memory..."
Nergal snorted and chuckled. His jeering smile never left his expression as he stared down at the young mercenary commander. "Heh heh heh… Amusing. A weak fool like you will make me face defeat? Interesting, whelp… Now, if you hope to defeat me, you may have your chance. Of course, you will have to best my morphs first!"
Upon his last word, he warped away along with his morphs. Leaving everyone prepared for the fight to come as the first door to Nergal's minions opened. They could hear the sounds of battle from down the stairs. The rest of the army that stayed behind was likely dealing with remnant forces that emerged.
"Let me show you how much my blade has matured!" Guy exclaimed with a grin. "Let's fight to the bitter end as the best mercenaries in Elibe, Ike!"
Priscilla nodded with Guy "I don't want to lose anyone, my family, so I will fight my strongest."
"For years, I've studied..." Erk spoke while holding his tome in hand. "Now, let those studies show their worth!"
"I… I…I'll do my best!" Florina declared while stammering.
"Blessed Saint Elimine," Lucius prayed as he spoke. "Please grant us a miracle…"
"It is for this moment that I have lived..." Renault said while his eyes were closed.
"For the wisdom of future generations, allow this battle to be forgotten by history..." Canas spoke his fill as his monocle held a glimmer.
"For those whose reasoning is bent. I will straighten it with my bow," Rath said with a determined gaze. He looked to Ike and spoke: "At your command, Ike."
"For our father..." Lloyd declared to which Linus also stepped forward. "We will bare our fangs against anyone that dares to threaten our family!"
"My oh my… Fools aplenty," Legault snorted as he then readied his knives. "That includes me, too. Uhai, watch over us... The Commander will be with you soon..."
Jaffar stood silent but determined. He readied his blades alongside the rest of his fellow Fang members.
"I fight for my family..." Raven proclaimed as he readied his axe. "At your command, Ike."
"We fight for tomorrow, we battle for Lycia and the rest of Elibe!" Eliwood declared.
"Don't forget me, Lord Eliwood! And…" Nils spoke up with a determined gaze. "Ninian. I'm sure she's here as well."
"We give it our all, Eliwood!" Hector exclaimed.
"That's right!" Lyn added as she soon turned to Ike with a smile. Her Mani Katti at the right hand and Sol Katti at the left hand. "We're all ready, Ike! At your call!"
"We've come this far... This is the final battle!" Ike declared to his comrades. He held up Galuth high up in the air. "Let's move out!"
With a great war cry, they all moved out. For their lives, the families they held dear, and everyone living across Elibe, they could not afford to lose this battle.
From the Southeast door stood nomadic troopers and snipers aiming their longbows at the army. Hector and Raven rushed to defend their allies, as the former used his heavy armor while the latter used his shield to defend against their arrows. Fending off the arrows, they closed in and counterattacked with axes, cleaving away the morphs as they fell with the nomadic troopers quickly being dispatched by Rath and his Reinfleche.
The morphs turned to ashes, and doors quickly opened one by one to unveil more enemy morphs. Magic users were seen from the Northwest while Ursula was seen in the Southwest wing accompanied by a morph with a rune sword. Northeast from them were a pair of morphs like Lloyd and Linus while generals were situated in the East.
"Priscilla situate yourself in the middle! Heal using your Physics staff when necessary! Raven, protect your sister while she heals from a distance. Magic users, defend from both corners of the West side!" Ike ordered his men. "If some of you finish the battle, support the army who are likely dealing with more morphs down the stairs!"
He knew who the Black Fang were going to deal with. He could see Lloyd and Linus rushing with Legault to where Brendan was in the middle room of the West side.
With his announcement, they all readied their weapons in hand with zeal.
"""Yes, Commander!"""
Canas stood beside Jaffar as the latter quickly exchanged blades with morph, dodging the spells from the runesword. While Canas stood off against Ursula. Her pale complexion no longer shows the life and beauty once displayed by the Blue Crow.
The pair opened their tomes.
GIGASCALIBUR
A gale appeared like a crescent moon above Ursula and was ready to shoot itself like the Tellius wind tomes but with terrible magical strength. However, so would Canas to counter the powerful wind magic with fire. Holding a powerful Elfire tome from Tellius in hand, he chanted:
Oh great flames that burn through creation, light thy enemies ablaze!
ELFIRE
FLARE
The Elfire spell became empowered by the skill, and the great ball of flame overtook the gale spell. The fireball hit the Blue Crow and burned away through her magical resistance. The burning figure's color returned as they turned to ash, smiling at the last moment, leaving behind just the tome.
Canas quickly turned to the morph clashing with Jaffar, as he switched to a new tome in hand.
I call upon the dark forces to plunge thine enemies into the dark abyss.
VERRINE
A pool of miasma began to form along with seven magic circles underneath the morph as Jaffar shifted away, but before throwing his dagger at the morph at its feet to pin it. The pool imploded, killing the morph and ruining Jaffar's blade.
"... Thank you..." Jaffar muttered as he quickly took out a new pair of daggers and went off to fight South down the stairs where enemies were likely attacking the reserve army.
Canas happily received his thanks, but not before taking the tome left behind by Ursula in hand. It would make for a good advanced tome to gift to his new niece. He rushed to North where the others were fighting, with tomes in hand.
Ike stood beside Guy against a warrior swinging its axe at the pair. His blade met the advanced fighter's silver axe and swiftly parried the heavy blade with a single chip on Galuth. Using the pommel of his blade, he rushed forward and hit the solar plexus of the morph, stunning it. Ike heard swift footsteps from behind and quickly shifted to the side, as Guy somersaulted into the air.
SOLAR ECLIPSE
Dropping downward, he successfully hit the morph and followed up with a spinning strike, felling his opponent with ease. Ike and Guy nodded to one another before looking ahead at the Reed brothers and Legault.
They had difficulty facing Brendan, as his powerful axe quickly broke Linus's shield leaving the man with just his weapons. His eldest son, Lloyd, attempted to strike at his father with blinding strikes, only to be astounded by the man's reflexes. Brendan's emotionless pale face only made the brothers more desperate to end their father.
Brendan jumped up in the air with his axe in hand.
COLOSSUS
Ike's goodwill was turned against him, or rather, his sons as they quickly dodged the immensely powerful strike that made the ground resemble cobwebs.
Legault quickly launched his knives at Brendan, who quickly took out his axe from the ground and deflected the flying blades. The trio stood tired of facing their beloved leader. It was then that flute music was heard. It was a familiar tune.
SORROW - BIORHYTHM DISRUPTION
"Now!" Nils declared after playing his flute. Brendan was visibly disoriented upon hearing the mystical melody that hindered his vigilant assault.
Grabbing his axe at his side, Linus threw it at his father's leg, causing the man to kneel. Legault launched more knives into the man's arm wielding the Basilikos, causing the man to drop the deadly axe to the ground. With the morph incapacitated, Lloyd dashed forward, with tears falling from his face.
Before Brendan received Lloyd's final strike, he smiled warmly, but Lloyd did not relent, as his blade ran through Brendan and caused a great gash on his upper body. Brendan remained smiling, his color returning, and closed his eyes as he turned to dust.
The door to Nergal's gate opened relatively early. Ike quickly looked at Guy who nodded. Ike quickly dashed up North while Guy kept guard of Priscilla with her brother, who used a Fortify staff to heal the army. Nils went off to assist the others.
The trio stood silent with their injuries and fatigue relieved. They quickly moved to retrieve the fallen weapons. Linus held his father's Basilikos in hand and went South with the other silent Fang members down the stairs to support the reserves. But not before Ike looked back and noticed the nostalgic smile they held for their fallen father and leader. They would keep their promise to Brendan to live to the fullest.
Hector met the axe of a general morph with Armads. His axe was unmatched as it quickly tore through the silver weapon with ease, cleaving the morph swinging parallel to the ground. His excitement stirring from the battle grew. However, his victory was short-lived as another general aimed their lance at him without him noticing.
"Look out!" Eliwood's warning reached Hector as he shifted to the side. The Pheraen lord rushed with his horse to deflect the powerful Rex Hasta lance, staggering the armored general. Closing in on the stunned morph, Eliwood raised Durandal into the air...
SOL
Using the mystical skill gained from the occultic scrolls, he swung down his blade at the armored morph, cutting it with ease as it soon turned to dust. Taking the newly acquired Rex Hasta, he turned to Hector with a nod. They saw Ike rushing up the newly opened stairway to Nergal and followed suit.
"We're coming for you, Nergal!" Hector declared. Eliwood nodded with his best friend and added: "For our family and friends!"
Lyn rushed North to where the physical combatant morphs were. Florina and Rath were by her side riding their steeds. Florina looped up into the air with Huey and aimed her lance at the Hero combatant.
STUN
The morph raised his shield only for Florina to ram the construct, causing his shield to break and stagger from the mystical skill. Rath held his arrow up in the air.
Bless my aim, Father Sky.
SOL
Twirling his arrow and aiming at the incapacitated morph, he shot using Reinfleche. The swordmaster morph hoped to deflect it to defend its fellow morph, only to meet the blade of Lyn's sibling blades. The arrow penetrated the morph, turning it into dust. Now it was Lyn's turn as swift strikes were exchanged.
However, even the morph's skills and the powerful regal blade were no match for the spirit-possessed swords wielded by Lyn. Lyn quickly circled her opponent, almost like a constantly flickering image.
ASTRA
In a single breath, 5 strikes hit one after the other while Lyn almost appeared to be dancing. Gashes appeared one by one upon the morph, yet it managed to match some of her strikes, yet gravely wounded. However, Lyn was not done, as she crossed her arms with her blades raised.
ADEPT
Swinging down her blades in a cross slash, the morph quickly dissipated from Lyn's follow-up strike, leaving its weapon and ashes upon its death. Lyn quickly picked up the exquisite blade and handed it to Florina, who caught the blade.
"Give it to someone who needs it!" She told Florina who nodded.
"Right, Lyn!" And thus she flew off with Huey to where Guy and the others made a temporary blockade. More enemies seemed to be rushing up the stairs that had likely gone past the reserve army.
Seeing as there were more enemies she continued onward, only to halt upon seeing Ike rush up the stairs that opened.
"Go!" Rath called out. Lyn looked back at her fellow nomad who nodded. "We will fend off the enemies here. May Father Sky watch over you two!"
Lyn took a moment before nodding fervently. "Thank you, Rath!" And she went up the stairs to catch up with Ike.
A bishop stood in front of Athos with an advanced light tome in hand while the Druid held a powerful dark tome. A sage held a Bolting tome in hand to deal long-range spells against the army. However, two could play that game, as chanting from Erk could be heard from a distance.
Oh power of the Wind! Bring forth a glacier with your chilling gale!
BLIZZARD
FLARE
The morph sage quickly froze and crumbled away into dust with the ice. Erk quickly gave way to Lucius, who came with Renault who held two barrier staves. He handed one to Erk and went on standby.
Lucius came up, with Aureola in hand while Athos held Forblaze. He received it from Athos temporarily and was skilled enough to invoke its great power. To be granted the honor of wielding the tome of his country's founder and leading figure of his religion... He could not afford to disappoint his commander, his friends, and his family...
The bishop morph held Luce while the druid morph held Gespenst. All of their tomes glowed as their spells would be invoked.
LUCE
GESPENST
Divine energy began to congregate at the center with an orb of light while numerous purple flames formed surrounding the vicinity.
Unveiling their tomes, Lucius and Athos began their invocations. A beam of light from the heavens began to shine on their enemies while Athos held out his hand. Erk and Renault readied their staves in hand and prepared for the clash.
Oh light of the heavens, I beckon thee to bring forth your glorious ascension!
AUREOLA
Oh great flame that lights the path of knowledge, scorch thy enemies with your wisdom!
FORBLAZE
FLARE x2
The empowered legendary weapons with Flare quickly overpowered the spells from the morphs. Their spells interrupted with the sparkle that came down with the light and combust along with the swirling torrent of flames that would burn away everything. What was left was a crater with only the tomes dropped by the morphs.
The pair on standby held their barrier staves in hand that would ward off the sheer power of the spells being enacted, even just a little. Their faces filled with sweat and fatigue at the difficulty of having defended some of the power of the legendary weapons to avoid having the spells potentially affect their allies. Even Lucius was panting from the sheer physical and mental exhaustion from using Aureola.
"Here you are, Lord Athos, protect our commander..." Lucius handed back the tome to Athos and went to the others down South.
"We await your victory," Erk followed his companions and he bowed his head respectfully to Athos. Renault followed suit, nodding his head at Athos.
Athos looked ahead where Ike and the others went up the stairway to Nergal.
"So it ends..."
Raven remained fighting alongside the other members of the Greil's Mercenaries while Nils remained playing his flute. He pointed his blade at a general and threw up his axe. He somersaulted forward, grabbing his axe midair.
SOL
Dropping his axe downward, he quickly recovered from his wound after felling his armored foe. He looked around and back to Nils who was still supporting them.
"Go," Raven pointed to North where Nergal and the others were likely clashing. Nils saw where Raven pointed and knew what he wanted. The others also glanced back at Nils, expecting him to go.
Nils nodded and said, "Thank you..." And rushed North to which everyone smiled with a sense of gratitude for supporting them in battle. They returned their attention to enemies that continued to swarm from the South that leaked from the reserve army, yet they were confident the rest of the fighters downstairs were still fighting. More enemies approached the army slowly.
"We fight for our freedom," Rath declared as he readied his bow.
"For our friends..." Florina added.
"For our goals," Guy said with a grin, holding a new blade in hand.
""For knowledge,"" Canas and Erk declared in unison.
"For repentance," Renault said as he readied his tome and staff in hand.
"For faith..." Lucius added.
"For our families..." Priscilla spoke while switching to her tome.
"And..." Raven breathed in as he trailed off. A smile crept up on his face as he looked fearless against the ensuing enemies that dared to interrupt his commander, his friend. "For the right to stand proud!"
They charged forward, with determination in their hearts. All the while Nils proceeded forward to reunite with the Ike and the Lycian lords.
Nils kept running, only to be blocked by enemy mage morphs. It was clear he was to be captured or executed, but he wouldn't have it. He clenched his Dragonstone and glared at the enemies before him. They were in his way, preventing him from reaching his trusted friends, and even his father...
"Get out of my way!" Nils yelled out right before he transformed into his draconic form.
Turning into an Ice Dragon, he roared at the morphs before him and huffed his icy breath. But more enemies kept running and warping before him. He roared again and flapped his wings to clash against his foes once more.
"Nergal!" Ike shouted at the lone sorcerer.
"So you have come," Nergal welcomed the mercenary commander with an insincere gesture. "You've eluded me thus far, but now you will become nothing more than the perfect catalyst to prevent the impediment of the essence of the dragons."
Ike gritted his teeth more out of frustration. He was deluded into continuing this asinine plan to gain power from dragons...
Ninian would likely be disappointed. The man before him remained adamant about obtaining power to no end.
"Your make-believe of gaining power for the sake of it ends here..." Ike pointed Galuth at Nergal. "For your fallen daughter... she must be weeping that her father continues down this path... I know Nils is heartbroken as we speak..."
Nergal snarled at Ike with anger evident on his face. "Enough of your lies!" He then gestured to himself with a vehement look of hatred. "Suppose they are my children, they should obey me by allowing me to use them for my goals!"
"Hold your tongue!"
Just as Ike was about to give a scathing reply, Eliwood called out instead. His horse, Lyn, and Hector went up the stairs. He held up Durandal and pointed it at the dark druid with a defiant glare.
"Ninian told me to protect this land from you! Her father!" Eliwood relayed what was spoken to him by Ninian's last words. With a pained expression, he continued to point his blade at Nergal. "Because of that... I will fight. I will not run away and hide in sorrow... I'm going to put an end to all this!"
Nergal chuckled at the sight of the young lord showing resistance. He turned to Hector and Lyn with a curious gaze.
"I suppose you are both doing this for some miserable friendship?" He asked in a cynical tone.
"I don't expect you to understand," Hector responded while hitting the ground with Armads. "You've forgotten what it means to be human! Nergal!"
"That's right!" Lyn added while dual-wielding her precious blades in preparation. "The nomads of the plains do not abandon their fellow tribespeople. Not only that, my dear friends and family are fighting to protect Elibe against you. Their anger is my anger, as well as their sorrow. To that extent, I am willing to cut you down!"
"Right," Ike affirmed with the others as he readied his stance against the sorcerer. "It ends now, Nergal."
Nergal cackled at the resistance by the mercenary leader and the Lycian lords. He readied his tome in response to their willingness to fight him.
"Don't get cocky just because some of you hold the legendary weapons..." Nergal remarked as he opened his tome. "Now... huh!?"
Nergal let out a small noise in response to being enveloped by a wave of light, preventing him from casting Ereshkigal. He glared at the figure coming up from the stairs holding the Glorious Ascension, Aureola, in hand.
"Do not forget I am here, Nergal!" Athos solemnly called out.
Just before Nergal would give a scathing reply, he turned alert at the leaders rushing at him, only to vanish with a teleportation circle. Warping a good distance away, he once again readied his tome.
"I will send you all to hell together!" Nergal declared while his tome held a dark glow.
Swallow everything into the underworld. The final resting place of the soul.
ERESHKIGAL
"I will never allow you to!" A light from the heavens shone down as Athos declared.
Oh light of the heavens, I beckon thee to bring forth your glorious ascension!
AUREOLA
The wave of darkness that would have consumed all of them inside was countered by the manifestation of light summoned by Athos. The two forces of light and darkness restrained one another and were evenly matched. The sheer power from the clash of opposite forces prevented the lords and Ike from intervening.
Nergal began to cackle while Athos began to groan. The amount of quintessence within Nergal made up for the weaker nature of his tome, elevating the strength of the spell to the same level as a legendary weapon, on top of supplementing Nergal's magical power. His spell began to push back against Athos and overpower him.
"Now, I will crush you with this single spell!" He declared as he put more strength into his tome.
However, Eliwood and Hector raised their sacred weapons and leaped into the colliding forces.
""Aaaaahhhh!"" They both roared out. Armads was enveloped in lighting while Durandal was enveloped by fire. They both swung at the light and darkness, causing a mass of light that dissipated the respective spells of the two sorcerers.
"I-Impossible…! My magic vanished!" Nergal exclaimed as he stood stunned by his negated spell.
However, his current state was taken advantage of, as Ike quickly rushed in and pointed his blade at Nergal. Throwing his blade into the air, he jumped in a somersault, grabbing it in midair. Nergal panicked and quickly set a spell underneath his feet to warp, only to be cut off by Lyn's passing by him with blinding speed, swiftly cutting his leg and preventing his escape. He could only watch in desperation as Ike's spinning in the air finally dropped down towards him.
SOL
Nergal received a huge vertical gash on his upper body, clenching tight at part of his wound. However, Ike wasn't done, as he was poised to follow up on his devastating strike.
ADEPT AND...
Just as Nergal was about to counterattack, he saw from the corner of his eyes a familiar sight... With the boy with tears in his eyes running to the sight of his father... Nergal's single usable eye widened with clarity upon that moment. His vision flickered to a little boy and his sister running to him with tears in their eyes.
The joy he felt upon seeing their birth. The warm embrace as he once held his children tight as they reached out and touched his unscarred face. However, his reminiscing was cut off as his mind flickers to the scene of his daughter... lying in front of him being held by the Pheraen lord that accepted her... His left eye widened in horror in realization of what he had done.
'What have I...' He thought to himself as he saw the blue-haired mercenary in front of him strike at him once more. His mind flickers to a figure smiling at him, her beautiful countenance resembling his children, Ninian especially... 'Aenir...'
LUNA
"AETHER!"
Ike passed through Nergal with a blinding fast horizontal strike that tore through the defense of anything that stood in his path. Nergal stumbled and coughed out blood at the powerful skill that caused two fatal gashes on himself. His leg wobbled and stumbled as he fell back but with somewhat of a relieved expression.
"At last... I deserve such a..." He muttered right before he fell and closed his eyes.
The thud Nergal expected did not come, as he felt enveloped in an embrace. Someone... prevented his fall...
Nergal's face felt wet with droplets falling onto his face. His left eye opens to the sight of his son crying in front of him. Nils's voice cracked as he sobbed uncontrollably at his fallen father.
Nergal was being cradled by his son. It was no dream. He was being embraced by his family.
"F-finally..." Nils sobbed out while sniffling. "Y-you're back..."
Nergal sought to wipe his tears but couldn't find it in himself to do so. His mouth quivered as his left eye began to water. He didn't deserve this...
"L-leave me... you w-whelp..." Nergal tried to reject the boy in front of him, with his voice cracking in sadness. But Nils would not be deceived by such a half-hearted attempt.
Nils shook his head and smiled while stroking Nergal's hair. "I don't care, I-I finally have you back... Dad..."
Nergal was shaken to his core. He did not deserve to be in the embrace of his child. It was evident to everyone witnessing this scene that Nergal regained clarity.
"I-I am not your father..." Nergal sobbed out while his left eye continued to water. "I've done so much against you and your sister..."
Remorse filled Nergal's being as Nils continued to cradle him. His sins were too deep... But Nils shook his head. He refused to separate from his father.
"We shouldn't have left you... If only we didn't leave through the Gate... Ninian and I would have been happy living a short life with you..."
Nergal shook his head. He wanted his children to live long-happy lives... But he cut one of their lives short in his rampage... An unforgivable act...
He could see from the corner of his single eye the ones who defeated him. Athos in particular holding a sad expression. Nergal merely shook his head and smiled fondly at the man he called friend. He could still see the darkened expression of the former enemies who looked at him with worry and sadness.
"Regret nothing, my old friend..." Athos's attention went to Nergal upon the latter speaking. "You and the young heroes have done nothing wrong in cutting me down..."
"Forgive me, Nergal... I-" Athos muttered in a sad tone, only to be cut off by the man's slight raise of the hand, albeit trembling.
"Don't be... You've stopped me when I've lost my mind..." Nergal said in a low voice. "I did not trust in you enough to regain my family... what a fool I was..."
Even he had doubts about Athos. Afraid of his status as a hero that once drove out the dragons in the Scouring. Even though they helped in the founding of Arcadia, he couldn't bring himself to truly trust in Athos...
The Hero of Blue Flames was correct. He had no faith... Just a poor excuse for an obsession towards a forgotten goal.
"What a fool... what a fool... to bare my fangs against my own children..." Nergal muttered as tears fell from his face as he looked up at Nils with a miserable face. "I-I took away the life of your sister... Oh, Aenir... What have I done...? Ninian, forgive your foolish father..."
He called out to his deceased wife and daughter almost as if in delirium. The others looked at Nergal with a pained expression. Despite everything that happened, they did not wish ill upon the man who regained sanity in his last moments. Nils and Ninian regained their father in his final moments, but the latter was not present.
However, a moment later, a man clad in a dark green robe appeared before Athos.
"Bramimond!" Athos exclaimed as his eyes widened in anticipation.
"… Preparations…took time… …OK. I require everyone's strength. Gather here the legendary power!" Bramimond said in Athos's voice. Upon the Enigma's declaration, the divine weapons appeared suspended.
Athos' Forblaze, Elimine's Aureola, then Hanon's Tempest Bow Mulagir, Barigan's Blizzard Spear Maltet, Bramimond's Apocalypse, and Hartmut's Eckesachs…
Even the legendary Armads and Durandal in Hector and Eliwood's hands glowed and dimmed with each passing moment in unison to the weapons. The lights soon intensified and filled the room with a blinding light. When the lights went out, everyone opened their eyes, they saw a person standing beside Bramimond that shouldn't be there...
"It can't be..." Ike uttered while Eliwood in particular held an ecstatic expression.
Nergal's single intact eye was further wet with tears at the familiar sight. Even Nils at his side began crying out of joy.
"Bring her back… Let the dragon girl's soul be restored," Bramimond chanted.
With the power of every legendary weapon in place, a miracle occurred. Nergal blinked repeatedly to make sure what he was witnessing wasn't a dream.
"Ninian!"
"... Ah, Ninian..."
Eliwood and Nils called out to the revived girl with joy. The girl in question, having regained her life, surveyed her surroundings.
"Where... Where am I..." Ninian then peered over to a familiar sight of her friends and lover. And then... "Father..."
The moment she saw Nils with their father, she immediately rushed to his side. Nergal was seen happily sobbing and gasping in relief at the sight of his daughter alive. Tears of joy fell from their eyes at the reunion with their family.
"The miracle I sought to achieve with my own hands... was never within my grasp..." Nergal weakly chuckled to himself while surrounded by his children. Ninian wept at the sight of her father. Despite everything he's done to them, she was just glad to have his sanity restored.
Just like Bramimond, he lost an important part of himself. By sacrificing a part of himself, he gained power but did not achieve his goals like the Enigma. Nergal worked against his goals in the end... A fitting end for a wretch like himself to die for achieving nothing.
Soon, an earthquake and a roar resounded throughout the building. The heartfelt moment was cut off by the menacing sounds coming from the top of the stairway. Everyone became alert as Nergal cursed to himself, suddenly reminded of what he'd done.
"What was that!?" Hector exclaimed. Eliwood and Lyn wondered what happened.
"Could it be!?" Ike realized what it may have been as he looked up the stairs to the Dragon's Gate. Bramimond and Athos looked up with a pale complexion at the source of the roar.
Suddenly, Ike felt as though he experienced a tight pull. His strength was being sapped little by little as he quickly hid his hand slowly becoming transparent from the others. His expression soon turned into panic as struggled to maintain his physical form. Nergal caught the sight of the flickering existence of the boy he summoned with sadness. He understood the state of the Hero of Blue Flames... After all, his greatest wish had been fulfilled...
'No, not now! Not while Lyn and the others are...'
Suddenly, a familiar voice was heard in Ike's head as he was no longer fading away. He gritted his teeth while being restored to his physical state. Nergal was visibly surprised based on the slight widening of his left eye.
Fight to the bitter end... Fight for your future...
Ike ran up the stairs with newfound vigor with the others to the Dragon's Gate, not minding his ethereal state a moment ago. While they went up, Nergal hurriedly rummaged through his pocket to bring out a single item. Nils's eyes flickered at the familiar stone Nergal brought out.
"Take it," Nergal offered with a shaky hand. The Dragonstone glowed as he inserted as much power as he could. Nils and Ninian quickly grasped their father's hand with the stone. "Use it to close the Gate... Either return to your sanctuary through the Gate or use it as you please... Just live the best you can... I beg of you... I wish happiness for my children..."
Nils and Ninian nodded with a tearful expression at their father's heartfelt wish and blessings. His raspy voice breathed his last as he finally shut his eyes for the last time. His last expression with a smile and a relieved look after seeing his beloved children one last time.
Nils and Ninian let down their father who passed away peacefully and nodded to one another. They ran up the stairs with a tearful, yet determined gaze.
In Nergal's final thoughts, as they went off, he thanked the young hero he summoned... But he was also sorry... Lamenting he could not give more time to the young radiant hero...
'The people I've wronged... May my name be forever expunged and never mar the good name of my children... But I can be rest assured that they will be in your safe hands... Thank you... May all your futures be ever-radiant...'
As the Ice Dragon siblings ran up the stairs, they were greeted with the sight of three fire dragons spewing fire at their friends. Three of them in particular aimed their flames at Ike while he stood behind the barrier erected by Athos and Bramimond. It seems as though the dragons recognized Ike for the death of their brethren based on the hateful gaze they held for the young mercenary commander...
The siblings knew that gestures and words would not reach the indignant enraged state of their brethren. Nils held his Mother's Dragonstone in hand and nodded at Ninian. Transforming into his draconic form, he roared at the trio of fire dragons. They halted their assault against Ike and the pair of sorcerers to roar in kind against Nils.
"What in the..." Hector muttered he saw the scene of dragons roaring at one another.
"Is Nils trying to convince them?" Lyn wondered as she still held her Sol Katti in hand.
"I don't know, but we better think of something quick while they're distracted..." Ike pointed out after being granted a brief reprieve from the breath that sought to turn everyone present into charcoal.
However, Eliwood's attention was not to Nils and the Fire Dragons arguing, but to Ninian who came up to the group.
"Lord Eliwood!"
"Ninian! You've only just recovered!" Eliwood attempted to point out. "You cannot convince them without a stone!"
Ninian shook her head as she held the Dragonstone she took back from her father. However, Bramimond quickly went to the side of Ninian and held out their hand which glowed. Ninian felt empowered by the energy given by the Enigma.
"Girl with the exalted blood of a dragon. Use your powers to appease them," Bramimond beckoned to Ninian who nodded. She felt her powers of an ice dragon return to full strength even without the Dragonstone.
She held out her hand at the trio of fire dragons with a sullen expression on her face. "I am sorry… Even though you have probably done nothing wrong, this has happened… I am sorry."
Upon her final apology, she unleashed her power on the three dragons who halted their assault and spoke with Nils. Their eyes wandered with a look of betrayal from their fellow ice brethren who struck at them, the cold freezing snowstorm that blew out from Ninian's hands was enough to engulf and extinguish the hellfire of the fire dragons.
One by one, two of the fire dragons fell, but a final remained as Ninian exhausted her powers. She looked at her Dragonstone and shook her head as it wasn't the time to use it.
"I now… no longer have any power left…" She uttered right before she fainted. Her figure was caught by Bramimond.
"Ninian!" Eliwood shouted out.
"One dragon still remains. Leave the girl to me. I shall tend to her," Bramimond reassured the group. Bramimond looked to Athos who nodded.
Everyone looked at the lone fire dragon who was enraged. It roared out despite its weakened state, ready to fight to the death. Nils responded to the fire dragon's determination in kind, roaring at his fire brethren.
"You must stop the final dragon! You must save us all!" Athos declared to the group. They readied their weapons at the dragon while Nils roared in his draconic form.
"Everyone, this is the final battle that everything hinges on! We will do whatever it takes to defeat this dragon and return home safe!" Eliwood shouted as he pointed Durandal at the menacing being.
Ike also held out Galuth and pointed it at the fire dragon. His eyes held no fear, no hatred. Even as his strength had not fully recovered, he still held enough energy to fight once again for one final struggle.
The dragon growled in rage at the lone figure who slain their brethren from beyond the Gate. They could tell the weapon that was plunged into it was of a normal kind without the anti-draconic properties that the ones from the Scouring once wielded. Nevertheless, with such a figure, their traitorous ice brethren, and the humans present within this Gate, the dragons will never be able to walk and fly freely in this land... The land that they loved was taken from them by humanity...
"I know you just wanted to return home like our friends..." Ike trailed off as the dragon's eyes narrowed and snarled at him. "Even now, I wish things could have ended differently between me and your brethren. But I know your anger won't be quelled with just words... And I hope that this world can change one day to freely accept all of you back. Where people like you can live without prejudice..."
The fire dragon knew what this human was saying and did what was the equivalent of a scoff. Peace? With humans? Even its brethren from beyond the Gate knew better than to trust humans. After a millennia of being exiled, such a world would never come to pass. And only one side can continue living in this land...
The flames on its wings and fiery breath intensified. Its eyes trained on the group as the dragon prepared its Flametongue.
"But as I stand here, I will continue to fight for my friends and family's lives! I stand here as commander of the Greil Mercenaries in Elibe!"
With that declaration, they charged at the fire dragon and the opposing dragons unleashed their breath.
FIRE BREATH
ICE BREATH
The chilling and fiery torrents clashed with one another. They canceled out one another leaving them gasping for breath to prepare their elemental strikes. All the while, Athos readied his tome and held out his hand.
Oh great flame that lights the path of knowledge, scorch thy enemies with your wisdom!
FORBLAZE
The scorching flames of Forblaze hit the dragon's scales, causing a burn. However, because the dragon lived surrounded by flames, not even flames from a divine weapon could do much harm to it. The dragon, now enraged, spun and swung its tail in retaliation against Athos. The man in question having exhausted too much magical energy in defending and previous fights could only stand helpless against the strike, only Nils to meet the tail of his brethren with his own. He wrapped his tail around the fire dragon, preventing it from using its physical attack. The fire dragon roared in rage as Hector leaped into the air.
"Hold him down, Nils!"
COLOSSUS
Hector's call was followed by the empowered swing of his thick and sharp axe at the base of the dragon's tail, leaving it to screech in pain from its tail being cut off. He then turned to his best friend and shouted: "Now, Eliwood!"
"Got it!" Eliwood readied the Durandal in response to Hector's signal. He jumped and swung the Blazing Sword across the dragon's chest, causing a clean, deep cut. The dragon's roar was like thunder crashing as it cried out in pain.
Ike and Lyn were not idle, as they relentlessly rushed at the fire dragon causing shallow, but painful cuts to the dragon. While their weapons were not as powerful as the legendary weapons, they still possessed the power to cut through a dragon's normally impenetrable scales. The pair jumped and surrounded the dragon with swift strikes against its scales, infuriating the dragon further but helpless against the relentless attacks. The pair saw from a corner of their eyes of Nils inhaling, his breath trained on its fire brethren and they swiftly moved out of the range of Nil's upcoming attack.
ICE BREATH
Nils let out his icy breath, weakening the child of flame as its flaming wings became dimmer.
Eliwood, Hector, Lyn, and Ike all slashed away at the dragon. All the while Athos invoked Aureola, causing the dragon to flinch from the constant light that blasted its scales.
Exhausted and wounded, it roared one final time as it inhaled one final time as a last-ditch struggle to let out its fiery breath. From the corner of its eye as it prepared its final flame, the blue-haired mercenary pointed his blade at the fire dragon, threw his blade up into the air and somersaulted to grab Galuth in midair. Dropping himself downward with all his strength, he once again performed his most powerful skill...
AETHER
Ike's slight wounds from battle recovered, having swung down at the dragon's chest, receiving a deep wound despite the weapon not being as powerful as Armads or Durandal. The dragon cried out in pain as Ike followed up with one final diagonal slash at the child of flame. A Luna strike that ignored the defenses of his opponent, delivering a swift strike against his foe. The dragon's scale could no longer defend against the blessed blade, as a final deep cut was embedded into its chest.
The dragon let out one final low growl before finally falling forward to the ground, its eyes closing as it lost its battle against the humans and traitorous ice brethren. Humanity claimed its victory once again...
Ike panted with a smile after having done his final job... His strength slowly left him as he was glad to be able to protect his friends and family...
I've done my best... I'm sorry...
But Ike remained smiling even though he exhausted himself with the time brought to him by Yune. Once again, he felt a tug at his mind and body...
"Finally, it's over..." Eliwood let out a sigh of relief.
Nils morphed back into his human form, staring at the body of his brethren with a sad look. If only things could have turned out differently...
"Not yet..." Athos warned in a tired state. "The Gate may need to be closed from the other side... They may not be able to remain..."
Eliwood and the others looked visibly worried as they stared at the portal of the Dragon's Gate. After all this effort to fight only to have the siblings leave... But Nils did not look worried, as he stood in front of the Gate, undaunted with his mother's stone in hand.
"Not quite..." A feminine voice called out to the group, bringing attention to the familiar voice. But Nils merely smiled, as if he expected to hear her voice.
Ninian and Bramimond were seen coming up to their friends with the former having recovered. Bramimond ran to the side of Athos to support him while Ninian went in front of the Gate with Nils at her side and nodded. The portal was still active...
"Nils...Ninian..." Eliwood called out but to no avail, the pair of siblings smiled as they held out their Dragonstones with the portal slowly fading away. The power left in their stones slowly dimmed as the Gate flickered.
With that, the proof of their sin of returning this land was to be closed. The other children will be unable to pass, the children of flame. Those who yearned to see home like the siblings. They couldn't afford to allow their brethren to return to this land.
"The Gate... They're..." Hector uttered as Nils and Ninian continued to stay put as their stones were used to close the Dragon's Gate.
"They're... going to stay...?" Lyn added with a tinge of happiness.
"Ninian..." Eliwood voiced out with a surprised but elated tone.
While they both could have crossed to return to the other side, they loved this land and its people too much. Although their lives would be shortened, they would remain in their homeland, the land of their birth... They would continue to live their lives as happily as they can, together. Nils and Ninian smiled at one another as they bid farewell to the other side. The land they've lived in for millennia in tranquility...
With the portal closed, Nils and Ninian looked back at the group with a warm smile. They would stay with them for the remainder of their lives...
Eliwood and Ninian ran to one another as Hector dropped his axe to run towards Nils. Once again, he raised the ice dragon over his shoulders in celebration while Eliwood and Ninian wrapped one another in their warmth...
"I'm so happy…I can't believe you're back. I feel like this is all a dream. Once I lost you… I knew for sure. I need you. I want you by my side forever," Eliwood made his vow to the woman he loved.
Ninian happily nodded with tears of joy running down her face as she continued to be wrapped in the embrace of her beloved.
"I am truly blessed I met you... My Lord Eliwood..." Ninian responded with a lovely smile.
"Glad you're staying, Nils!" Hector happily exclaimed while Nils happily laughed while piggybacking Hector.
"It's over now, Ike..." Lyn fondly muttered as she slowly turned to the mercenary commander. Her relieved expression soon turned to one of horror as she covered her mouth with her hand upon seeing the state of her beloved...
"... Ike...?"
The others had their attention diverted to Ike as they also witnessed the state of the young leader. Their eyes and mouth gaped in shock at the commander disappearing. His figure was slowly turning transparent and fading away by the moment. Galuth also was fading with its wielder. Yet Ike remained smiling, unworried for his current state.
"I see..." Athos uttered as the group's attention went to the living legend. "Nergal's greatest desire had been fulfilled, no longer binding him to Elibe... He is returning..."
"That can't be..." Eliwood remarked. He was hoping for the mercenary commander who made their victory possible to remain present for a little longer. At least until they saw him off formally...
"This has to be a joke..." Hector added. He took a step forward with frustration evident on his face. "You're supposed to celebrate, then return! Come on!"
Ike then chuckled and shook his head. "Gonna have to take a rain check... Maybe next time, Hector..."
"Bah..." Hector replied rashly. "You better come back to celebrate, then!"
Nils and Ninian took a step forward to Ike, gratitude evident on their faces.
"Thank you... For giving us our father back..." Ninian told the fading mercenary.
Nils nodded with his sister and smiled. "Thank you, Ike. For everything..."
"No problem," Ike replied with a smile. "A job well done as a part of the Greil Mercenaries..."
The job was rewarding enough. Seeing their family return made Ike glad to see their burdens alleviated. They were surrounded by friends and family, welcomed by all. He empathized with the two, making them all the more grateful for his actions.
Eliwood nodded approvingly at Ike. "A job well done, indeed."
"And a job well done as the Marquess of Pherae... I hope more employers I encounter are like you..." Ike remarked to which Eliwood gave a slight chuckle.
"Come here, young Ike..." Athos gestured to the vanishing Ike who obliged. He held out his hand and placed it on the head of Ike, who was tangible. "Thank you for everything, I've exhausted my strength... I am not long for this world..."
Ike and the others looked visibly worried at the elderly figure supported by Bramimond, yet his kind eyes never wavered. While his hand never left the young mercenary, he closed his eyes...
"As I see into the future... yet all I see is a brilliant and radiant light... The Fire Emblem's name will be invoked... It will bind us all to a possibility..." The Archsage smiled one last time before separating from Ike as he uttered his words. He turned to his comrade with the same smile. "I… I'll die before you, friend."
Bramimond did not respond promptly to Athos's words but nodded. "…I may well follow you soon. For now…I will sleep again."
The great Archsage and the Enigma would soon retire from this world. But not before the group pondered on the words left by Athos. What did the Fire Emblem have to do with the future?
While they would not breathe their last as of yet, death approaches the pair soon having exhausted most of their powers that will never return.
Athos stared at the disappearing figure having come across many wonders in his life. But alas, he preferred if no one grieved for him... He will be able to see his friends who have passed before him, along with his old friend... Nergal...
"Ike..."
The Man of Blue Flames looked back at the Woman of the Plains, they looked at one another with a fond smile. His existence was slowly being whisked away. He hoped to see the others once more but there was no time...
"Wait for me..." Ike was surprised by Lyn's assertion but she stepped forward. "Wait for all of us..."
Soon, he heard footsteps climbing up the stairs of the Dragon's Gate. The Greil Mercenaries finally reached to see their commander who was disappearing, their expression filled with concern yet determination.
"It will take some time, but we'll be there soon, Boss!" Guy called out. Rath nodded with him and added: "Expect us, Ike..."
"I'll see my family off before I come to your homeland!" Canas told Ike with a smile.
"As will I, Commander Ike!" Erk followed suit.
"May Saint Elimine watch over all of us even after we reunite, Ike," Lucius added.
"I will give my farewell to House Caerleon, but I will always be grateful for their kindness..." Priscilla spoke up with a grateful look to her commander. "And I'm glad to continue to fight under your command alongside my family..."
"Prepare for a warm welcome when we arrive with Lyn!" Florina announced to the young commander who nodded.
"Wait for us, Ike," Raven called out lastly with a slight grin. "Make sure your folks are prepared to receive more family members... OK?"
As Ike's existence flickered, he gave one last warm smile to the group before him. They will arrive in his homeland and he too will one day return to Elibe...
With tears falling down her face right before he vanished, Lyn called out one more time:
"I'm proud of you, Ike!"
"And I'm proud of all of you! Until then, take care!" He responded in kind with a proud smile. "I'll see you soon, Lyn!"
Ike walked through the same forest he and Yune met repeatedly. But then he came across the flower fields where Mist often collected wildflowers... There stood Yune with a smile towards Ike. Ike remembered she helped him maintain his existence in Elibe until the last moment.
"I slumber once again... Until the flames of war hope to awaken us..."
"What do you mean?" Ike asked. "Why did you and Ashera split?"
That lingered on Ike's mind since the last time he had spoken with Yune. Yune took a moment before obliging to answer the young mercenary.
"Ashera and I once were one being, Ashunera... The reason for our splitting? The origin of our division stemmed from conflict between the Laguz and Beorc," Ike widened his eyes at Yune's explanation, but she continued. "They all fought for our love when we were whole and we flooded the world..." Ike widened his eyes in horror at her last statement but she shook her head. With a sad look, she looked up at Ike with an ashamed expression.
"In our despair, Ashunera split herself with I embodying Chaos while Ashera embodied Order..."
So that explained why Tellius was the sole continent in this world... Ike saw the guilty expression of Yune and knew she felt remorse for flooding the world with her counterpart.
But that raised another question...
"So what about Ashera? Is she like you?" Ike asked to which Yune shook her head, surprising him.
"Ashera is not kind or benevolent. She is Order. Stability. Past. Certainty. Restraint. She is Ashera... She wants order among all races..." Yune revealed to Ike, who raised his eyebrow in curiosity. "800 years ago, Ashera and her chosen heroes fought against me and imprisoned me in the medallion. They made a pact as representatives of Beorc and Laguz to maintain peace between the races. If the two maintained peace for a thousand years, Ashera and I would reunite as one... The conflict between Laguz and Beorc beckons us to awaken and Ashera may cast her judgment upon you all..." Ike became visibly shaken by her revelation. But she closed her eyes and continued: "That is why Tellius must not be embroiled by a continent-wide war... Should that come, we both awaken, but I may be unable to reverse her judgment in time..."
Ike mulled over the revelation from Yune. To think such an agreement was made in the past. Then again, the state of the world was far from ideal... Racial conflicts were still prevalent with only Crimea and Gallia making an active effort for unification. For such a positive social change (which was currently limited to Southern Crimea and Northern Gallia at best) to happen everywhere in time was almost impossible...
"So what then?" Ike queried to the goddess counterpart. "Do you expect the world to change in the next two centuries assuming there is no continent-wide war? That we all could get along?"
It was then that Yune looked sullen and shook her head. Ike let out a sigh. Figures... Until he heard her next response...
"At least until I saw you and your group's journey together..."
Ike looked up at the flickering figure who was beginning to fade away like himself moments ago in the Dragon's Gate. "I witnessed love, redemption, hatred, and perseverance... Everything I love about people, you've reminded me of it..."
Ike smiled fondly at the young goddess who praised him and his loved ones.
"Don't forget," Ike remarked to which Yune widened her eyes at his next words. "You were there at our side watching over us... So you deserve as much credit for being part of it all..."
Yune took a moment before she sniffled and teared up upon Ike's reminder. To consider her as a companion...
"T-thank you..." She sobbed happily as her voice cracked.
With that, her figure vanished with the wind blowing through the flower field. But not before leaving one last set of words...
"The song I gave you... the Galdr of Release, it also awakens us with the right person to sing it..." Ike's eyes widened at Yune's announcement. For his mother's lullaby to be used for such a thing for a premature awakening... At least until he heard her next statement: "Should worst come to worse, you'll know when I must awaken through the Galdr. As such, please have others sing or hum in your stead. You suck at it..."
Ike stood dumbfounded by her last statement before chuckling to himself. He laughed at her request in amusement. It took up a good moment to recollect himself before Ike surveyed his surroundings.
He was still there... It wasn't like before in his conversations with Yune that his mind's landscape turned white right before he awoke.
"What is... huh!?" Ike hunched over with a severe headache. He groaned in pain as he panted repeatedly in exhaustion from his current state. He stumbled over as his body and senses felt like he was experiencing an extreme sense of vertigo...
Suddenly, he heard something drop from behind him. His head turned with extreme difficulty only for his eyes to widen at a familiar figure.
"... Mist...?"
The young teenager had grown slightly since he last saw her... She wore a new yellow dress and short skirt with ribbons attached to both sides with a light-blue scarf wrapped and tied to her. Her short brown hair had cylindrical ornaments attached to both ends of her hair in front of her ear.
She had dropped the basket that she carried with her hands covering her mouth. Tears fell from her eyes as she blinked repeatedly at Ike's figure, making sure she wasn't dreaming...
"... I'm home..." He announced right before he lost consciousness.