Chapter 29: Valorous Roland

Within a cave on the outskirts of Ostia, five people traversed the cave after being led to its location. The rest of the Lycian army and mercenaries were on standby until further orders.

"…I never imagined there could be a place like this in Lycia…" Eliwood voiced out in awe of the fiery surroundings.

It was even worse than Nabata, as evident by the scorching lava and flames spurting out from various places. It was amazing to see structures built within this lava cave.

Lyn was panting considerably. "The air is so hot. It even hurts to breathe."

"It feels terrible... why did everyone have to build a shrine here?" Ike asked while his face felt agonized by the embers and hot ash that flew to his face.

"Look down there. There's lava everywhere," Hector pointed out. The next moment, he pointed ahead where flames kept erupting. "Hey! Next to the path… Are those columns of flame?!"

It alarmed everyone how perilous this place was. The ash and smoke from the caves distorted the view despite the area being illuminated by the lava.

"Long ago, in the depths of this cavern… When Lycia was a single country, an altar was built," Athos recited. Out of all the people alive, he and Bramimond could remember the construction of every altar for the legendary weapons.

"Here? In this place?" Eliwood queried to which Athos confirmed by nodding.

"There's something here that needs protection from those with evil hearts."

Eliwood turned to Athos and knew what he was referring to. "Durandal, right?"

The Blazing Blade. Also known as the Sword of Sacred Fire. Once wielded by the Champion Roland.

Said to pierce the scales of dragons alongside the other legendary weapons during the Scouring. Needless to say, with such powerful weapons that could sap magical energy from the world, they were rightfully sealed away to prevent further danger to Elibe.

"That's correct," Athos answered promptly. "The weapons we wielded contained great strength. Power fearsome enough to cut down dragons… Today, the might in those remaining weapons is not what it once was. Yet they have been safeguarded to keep them from evil hands and to prevent the apocalypse. This place… No one's stepped foot in here since Roland's death. Roland's presence still fills the air. All that reside here now are former soldiers who guard the sword."

Upon Athos's explanation, apparitions came into being, gaining temporary physical form. Wielding various weapons to deter intruders who dare to encroach their former leader's blade.

Everyone aside from the living legend became alert at the sentries who guarded Roland's weapon. It would be a difficult endeavor to fight on their own without a variety in their current army.

Athos faced Eliwood and declared: "This is your trial, Eliwood. A few of you may enter, but only you can approach the altar. Go and prove that you have the strength to wield Durandal!"

Ike, Hector, and Lyn readied their weapons. They would be facing off against the specters who once served Roland. Eliwood chose his fellow lords and the mercenary commander to accompany him.

"I'm ready, Lord Athos."

For the sake of his beloved, he would attain the sword that was once used to slay dragons in order to protect them. A strange irony to behold...

Eliwood dashed forward to face the enemies that awaited, while the others nodded and took to the side. They would fight the enemies that would impede Eliwood or ambush him.

"Let's move out to support him!" Ike exclaimed.

""Right!""

Hector fought alone against the archers that would impede his best friend. Their arrows would not penetrate through his thick armor. While he was slightly impeded by the arid and scorching environment, he would not falter.

Ike and Lyn would deal with the mages in the West while he dealt with the archers that could pelt Eliwood. The defenses were all over the place, with no reason making the battle easily exploitable.

"We swore together, didn't we...? Under that rite of oath to protect Lycia as one if one country was attacked?" Hector reminisced as he cut down another archer and a knight that stood in his path. He had to evade the flaming columns that suddenly erupted from the ground at times. His determined gaze never relented. "We wounded our own hands after Erik chickened out and shook on it... From that day on, we promised to aid each other even after we grew old! And I won't let him die before me!"

A sniper and her squadron of archers stood in the path of Hector, with their arrows trained on him. He needed to break down that wall behind them. But first...

"My friend needs that blade to protect his lover..." He spoke as he pointed his axe towards them. Hector sighed as he contemplated yesterday's revelation to him. "How ironic this entire situation is... Ah well..."

What was revealed to him was that their worst enemy was a madman who forgot his dragon kids, one of which was his best friend's lover. This entire situation which needed to be prevented was almost like a terrible joke. Dragons, other worlds, and everything that has happened thus far...

Hector shrugged off any doubts he had. His friend's happiness meant everything to him. They needed to stop a fool doing something drastic to his own children. No matter what, Nergal's children were their friends. The fool is responsible for his own actions, not them.

He jumped with his axe held up in the air. This was a technique used by berserkers and axe warriors. But now, it was his to use.

COLOSSUS

Ike sped past the corridor, quickly dispatching any phantom mages in their path alongside Lyn. Lyn's bladework was swift, as she managed to compliment her slashes with thrusts and strokes using her Mani Katti. Her enemies faded away upon being defeated, releasing the souls of the ones who served Roland even to this day.

Ike was not idle as he lunged at the mages attempting to cast their spells, preventing the completion of their invocations. Swiftly slashing away at their spiritual bodies made physical, they dissipated into nothing. His method of mixing in non-weapon attacks proved effective.

"Looks like Eliwood is also working hard," Lyn remarked to which Ike nodded with her.

Ike saw Eliwood across from them thrusting his rapier at his foes who obstructed his path. He was eager to reunite with his beloved no matter her identity. He would use the legacy of his ancestor to protect Elibe and the innocent.

"Right, yesterday was a wake-up call for him. I'm glad he is still determined to protect Nils and Ninian, no matter who they are," Ike responded with a sense of approval towards the Lycian lord.

Despite everything, the legacy of the dragonslayers from a millennia ago will be passed on. But this time, to protect dragons and their loved ones. Ike wondered as he continued his fight with Roland's soldiers if the long-deceased legendary heroes would approve.

Suddenly, Ike saw a shadow, possibly an apparition, a man with blue hair whose resemblance to Eliwood was uncanny. His figure overlapped with Eliwood as he continued to fight against his enemies. He was stunned for a moment until the figure disappeared. Perhaps all the heat and embers from the lava was getting to him...

No matter what, he would continue to fight to make sure his employers see through to the end.

This journey in Elibe was coming to a climax. With his father's teachings and the experience he gained during the last year, he wouldn't lose. With such powerful allies and friends at his side, they would prevail against a man who must be reminded of what was most precious to him. Something that everyone Ike has bonded with had in common.

Family.

Georg, the berserker who once served his lord, Roland, awaited at the altar.

He could hear fighting within the distance. It seems as though the archers in the East and the mages in the West were being dealt with as he was left to his thoughts. His melee fighters blocked the path that led to the shrine. One by one, they were being freed from their duty...

No, he couldn't fade. He and the others swore a millennia ago to protect the blade even after they no longer possessed their bodies. As undying, they chose to dedicate their duty to the altar that held the Blazing Blade. Now that the seal was released, they were needed once more in this physical plane.

Suddenly, the ground shook from the Southeast, it was no earthquake. It was from a fighter. Were they trying to bring the structure down to the lava? In the next moment, his thoughts quickly ended as a single red-haired lad came into his view. The rapier he held was at the ready.

"…I am one of… Sir Roland's… warriors…Georg…" The specter introduced himself. "You trespass here… I will…cut…you down…"

With that, he dashed forward with his axe in hand, causing Eliwood to narrowly avoid the blade of the tomahawk by parrying the axe. The clang of the sword and axe resounded as the others quickly chipped at the wall to assist their friend, or rather support him.

Eliwood felt his arms going numb despite having parried the axe. Moreover, he saw that his rapier was chipped. Despite being of exceptional quality, his blade was not meant to be used for clashes against stronger weapons.

'I knew it. How strong...' Eliwood thought to himself. But his gaze never wavered, as he quickly recovered and used his blade to once again thrust at his adversary. 'But... I can't afford to lose!'

He heard the walls East and West of him be chipped away with no more enemies attacking from afar. Eliwood mused as his companions always helped him, but he needed to accomplish the task of defeating this powerful foe on his own. Otherwise, how could he remain confident to protect his people and family?

Meanwhile, Georg watched as the young lord swiftly parried his attacks and evaded his strikes. Counterattacking whenever possible when Georg could not land any hits. His glowing eyes showed signs of being astounded by the intruder.

'His swordsmanship... Sir Roland...' Georg thought to himself.

He saw a shadow of his former leader within the intruder, reminded of the past. Despite the little hero being of small stature, he possessed the greatest valor out of all the heroes. He and his men followed him to protect the blade despite the fact they would never know rest.

Eliwood's swordplay mirrored Roland, and his face also overlapped with the young man from a millennia ago. Georg deduced that this was one of the descendants of his lord. But he must remain vigilant against all intruders, as his vows to protect the blade must never be broken. Even against Roland's kin... They must prove their mettle if they wish to break the seal and attain their birthright.

George raised his axe once more, with the rapier now chipped considerably and on its last uses, aimed straight at a chip in the blade knowing the young lord would deflect it. While it proved true, the rapier cracked right into two halves and broke, leaving just the handle and a half remnant of the blade still attached to the hilt. Eliwood was forced to shift to the side to evade the axe that dropped after his blade broke, and Georg's tomahawk stuck itself into the ground.

'At last, with your blade broken, so will your res- huh!?' Georg's thoughts were interrupted by the determined gaze of his lord staring back at him. A moment of hesitation from the stunned berserker which Eliwood knew he had to take advantage of.

Within a single split second, Eliwood quickly closed in on Georg, using his broken rapier and thrusting it once more into the berserker. Georg's body was stabbed with the broken blade piercing through where his heart was supposed to be. Georg stepped back with the rapier still plunged into his being and stared at Eliwood, who bested him.

He can no longer protect the seal. He can only hope the descendant who fought will not abuse the power of Durandal.

"I see..." Georg voiced out as he slowly faded away. "You and...Sir Roland are as one..."

With that, his spirit and many others who once fought under Roland would have their just reward. A long slumber and eternal rest from this world.

Despite Eliwood's blade being broken, his resolve remained stalwart and unbreakable. He gazed at the altar ahead of him as the sound of his fellow comrades breaking the walls of the corridors. They saw the lone Eliwood with no more enemies in his path and smiled. At last, Eliwood's trial was over, and he proved himself to wield the Blazing Blade, Durandal.

"…You have stood your guard for so, so long. I'm sorry…" Eliwood respectfully gave his apologies.

Athos warped to the altar, having observed the trial from afar. The group proved their skills and might against the experienced warriors who once served Roland and still have done so to this day.

Still, to have dedicated their souls to protecting the blade for the past millennia...

"Their souls may now rest… At long last…" Athos added to which Eliwood gave a silent nod of the head. "Time for a reunion of sorts. Eliwood, move back."

Eliwood obliged and stepped away from the altar.

"My old friend… The little knight, Sir Roland..."

A light flashes over the shrine as Athos raises his hands to cast a spell.

"Roland… Awaken, and answer my call," He announced and a figure came into view with the beams of light enveloping the shrine converged and took the form of a human being.

A familiar figure made Ike's eyes widen at the sight of the one who was seen beside Eliwood when he checked on the young lord's progress. Lyn and Hector's eyes also widened at their ancestor appearing before them.

Roland's figure came into clear view, and his countenance did resemble Eliwood aside from the blue hair he possessed and a shorter build.

"…My friend… Wise, all-seeing Athos…" Roland smiled at the living legend.

Athos nodded and reciprocated with a welcoming smile. "Good to see you, Roland."

"I feel much time has passed. Seeing you again… It brings back memories. Fighting the dragons… Old friends… All this time, lost in memory…" Roland reminisced as he became nostalgic for the old times. He then looked to Eliwood and his fellow companions still stunned by the presence of their ancestor. "All of you, in whom my blood runs... Thanks to you all, everyone has been saved."

The three Lycian lords snapped out of their stupor and bowed respectfully to the Champion Roland, save for Ike. He wasn't much for formalities but he did appreciate the thanks for putting Roland's soldiers to rest from the man himself. Roland held a curious gaze towards the young lad not included among his descendants. Yet there was something otherworldly about him.

"It's been almost a thousand years…" Athos voiced out. "And yet, once again, the world is threatened by one who craves the might of dragons."

Roland's gentle expression turned to one of shock as he exclaimed: "…The might of dragons?"

"Heed my words, Roland," Athos announced as he motioned to Eliwood behind him. "This boy is descended from your blood. Please, lend him your strength."

Roland knew from personal experience like Athos and Bramimond that the threat of dragons was no joke. That meant Lycia and the rest of Elibe could undergo the next Scouring.

Roland hesitated for a moment, then responded: "I…no longer have flesh and bone in this world. I cannot… No, wait. Take this," A blade with a red pommel and cross-guard appeared before the group. "Its blade shall serve as a vessel for my soul's strength."

Athos held a saddened gaze as he saw the ever-determined gaze of his old friend. "…If you do such a thing, you will pass forever from the reach of this world."

The Roland before them was a lingering will and memories of the deceased. A spirit made from those elements using Athos's magic. To use the rest of his soul to empower his former weapon would be tantamount to spiritual suicide.

However, Roland smiled and shook his head despite Athos's warning. "And yet my heart will be glad. If I might help my children, there is nothing else I need to do… I ask that you see this through, my friend…"

"I will…" Athos swore solemnly.

Just as Roland was to implant his spirit into the blade, Eliwood stepped forward.

"Esteemed ancestor..." Eliwood spoke up to Roland. "Before I take your blade and strength, I must confess..."

Ike and the others' attention went to the young lord. They had an inkling of what Eliwood wanted to say before his great predecessor. Was it right to say which could influence the decision of Roland? Athos however, stroked his beard and held a patient expression.

"I cannot hold secrets from you if I wish to wield your blade. That is why..." Eliwood kneeled on one leg as he looked up to his ancestor. "The purpose for which I fight is not for just Elibe and our homeland, but also for the woman I love. She is of draconic origin... she is a dragon."

Roland's eyes widened in shock at his descendant's confession. He looked to Athos and the other companions who fought alongside Eliwood. All these years, and his children fight not against dragonkind, but for them?

"You tell me this... despite the fact I might deny you?"

For humanity during the Scouring, they fought for the right to live in Elibe. The Legendary Heroes of Elibe drove dragons into exile or eradication. Such action is akin to betrayal against one's heritage and potentially mankind.

Yet the one before him would choose to protect both the land and former enemies of humanity. Despite such contradictory resolve, Eliwood's gaze did not waver and remained indomitable. It was then Athos also stepped forward and gazed at Roland, the Champion.

"If you condemn Eliwood, then condemn me as well, for I am guilty of holding safe haven for dragons," Athos confessed to Roland. "I found the community that once had the Demon Dragon, Idunn, within their ranks. She was kidnapped while her fellow Divine Dragons fled. That is what happened, Roland. I found them centuries later within the Nabata Desert where they founded a community where humans and dragons live in peace. I hold no shame, for the dragons are people too."

Athos's resolve stunned his former comrade. Soon, the trio that stood behind them also stepped forward.

"Oi, Spirit!" Hector called out crudely. "I know you're my many times great grandfather, but the dragon my distant cousin loves is our friend. Along with her brother. I have no shame in admitting it. I don't quite frankly care about what they are, if anyone has something to say about it, they have me to answer to!"

"That's right, Nils and Ninian are our friends," Lyn added with a determined gaze from her emerald eyes. "No matter what the rest of humanity may say, they are no threat to people. As the daughter with both yours and Hanon's blood, I refuse to point my blade or arrows at them. Their heritage means nothing to me, all that matters is that our friendship will never end."

Ike nodded at Lyn and Hector, as Roland looked at him last. His appraising gaze did not match his youthful countenance.

"So?" Roland asked Ike. "Where do you stand, visitor? Do you not fear the might of dragons?"

From what he surmised, the dragons that they protected were named Nils and Ninian. The latter was loved by the one who partook in the trial for his sacred blade. So where did he fall into all of this?

Ike scratched behind his head and shrugged. He was never used to formalities or talking with ghosts. He could only answer honestly to the legend like he did to Athos.

"I'm just a mercenary, I'm not your descendant. To tell you the truth, I already killed a kid who just wanted to come home after you and the others drove out the rest of his kind. I wish it didn't have to come to such an outcome..." Ike's cerulean eyes met Roland's own and continued: "Whatever conflict mankind and dragons had, I don't quite frankly care. I just care about the people in front of me who I've come to respect, to love, and to fight for. We all have something we can't afford to lose. And that includes Nils and Ninian. It may be dumb to you for us to make friends with former enemies of our entire species, but even the dumbest of creatures will love their family, their friends, and even love others. That's all there is to it..."

Roland stood silent against the resolve of his children, friend, and the mercenary before him. They chose not just humanity, but also dragons. For the sake of anyone that they held dear regardless of species or race.

He held a slight grin and closed his eyes, as small orbs of light enveloped his existence.

"... Elimine once said that our bonds must be as hard as iron, like yours... If only our bond was stronger for Hartmut..." He said as small orbs of light that signified his existence went into the Blazing Blade. His spirit began to fade into the Durandal, marking his acceptance of the group before him. "I am reminded of the sorrow I witnessed when I no longer saw his wife and son at his side... To his last breath, he muttered their name... The world we fought for and bled with our weapons... Maybe you can all fight to make a world where we can all share, where humans and dragons can roam free... Where they can be free once again..."

Roland's statements confused the Lycian lords and Ike for a moment. What did he mean by Hartmut and his family? Before they could inquire more, Roland's spirit already faded into the Durandal. But not before leaving one last set of words.

"Farewell my sons and daughters, use my blade, my soul. Use it not to slay, but to protect those you hold dear. Goodbye, Athos. You as well, young mercenary. I wish you all well."

With the last words he gave to the group, Athos nodded solemnly. All that was left was a double-edged broadsword with a red pommel and cross-guard. Roland's sacred weapon, the Durandal, was theirs to use.

"What a wondrous blade," Eliwood said with reverence in his tone.

Athos nodded sagaciously with the young lord.

"Durandal. The sword of sacred fire."

The group exited the cave, with Eliwood still beholding the blade within his grasp. The long blade looked polished despite being an artifact of antiquity.

"Ha... fresh air, I hope I never have to go through such a fiery experience again..." Ike basked in the outside air, away from the inferno that was inside the cave. Lyn also agreed as she was glad to be away from the scorching lava pit.

While the others were left to themselves, Hector only stared at Athos with a suspecting gaze. He was suspicious of the living legend since they received the blade from Roland.

"Graybeard? What did Roland mean by Hartmut and his family?" Hector inquired to Athos who remained neutral in his expression. His face then turned to an expression of dread at another possibility. "Don't tell me..."

It took a moment for Athos to respond after careful thought. "We know not of the location of Hartmut's first wife and child... Roland was the closest to having witnessed his family one time. To think he suspected..." Athos then shook his head. "The secret lies with Bramimond, I, and the Bern royal family. But what I will say, what happened to them was the same thing that happened to Idunn..."

Hector's mouth gaped open upon the last word uttered by Athos and his eyes fully widened. He then facepalmed at the absurdity of it all while the others' attention went to Athos on his remark. They all surmised one strangely unlikely conclusion... Ike, Eliwood, and Lyn all looked at Athos as if he had grown a new head.

Nils and Ninian were half-human. Their mother was a dragon wife to Nergal. Hartmut's first wife and child were said to have died but what Roland referenced was something else entirely. The reason for Hector's self-slap to the head made things all the more sense... What other dark secrets did the legendary heroes of Elibe have? Was Saint Elimine not a merciful saint as depicted?

Just as Eliwood was about to inquire further, Durandal glowed in his hands. Everyone's attention went to Eliwood's inherited blade and wondered what was happening to the weapon.

Soon, everyone heard flapping in the distance and the light emitted from the blade pointed to the source of the noise. Their eyes followed to the direction and soon, the light dissipated and came something with light green scales. On various parts of its body were fins and its red eyes looking in the direction of the group.

"It can't be..." Eliwood voiced out.

"It's a... dragon!" Lyn exclaimed as she saw the dragon approaching them. Looking at the dragon coming their way, her mind flickers back to the portrait in the library. Lyn's eyes widened at the realization of the identity of the dragon along with Ike following suit as they both came to the same conclusion.

""Ninian!?""

Hector and Eliwood glanced at the pair who pointed out the identity of the dragon before them.

"How did she turn into a dragon and escape from Nergal?" Hector voiced out as he quickly put down the axe he reflexively held.

Eliwood, however, felt the trembling of Durandal in his hand, as he still grasped the blade. It responded to his fear, his anxiety. As if to cut away everything and make it go away upon seeing the dragon fly toward him. Ike and Athos witnessed Eliwood breathing heavily while the grip on his blade was tightened. Even after he learned of the true identity of the one flying towards him.

'Snap out of it, she's there in front of you! What are you doing, Eliwood!?'

Both Ike and Eliwood's thoughts were in unison. If Eliwood gave into the desire for the blade's dragon-slaying properties, Ninian would not survive the blade. As Ninian inched ever so closer, Eliwood's grip on the Durandal did not relent no matter how much he wanted to. Why was it that he was hesitating in putting away the blade?

Suddenly, Eliwood's mind flickers back to the night before he underwent the trial as well as the night before Ninian was taken. His resolution, and the night he embraced Ninian... He refused to cut the one he loved. She and her brother were not to be feared. They've done nothing wrong. Only their father.

Use it not to slay, but to protect those you hold dear.

The words of Roland resounded in his mind. It was not Durandal's fault but his own. His fear and anxiety dropped along with the Durandal with Eliwood's grip on the blade finally loosened. Ike held the blade right before it fell to the ground. Somehow, despite not being the right wielder, Durandal rested easy in Ike's grasp. Athos's eyes flickered at the sight of Ike's contact with the weapon before returning his attention to the dragon and human pair.

Eliwood stepped forward as the others stepped aside for him to meet Ninian. Athos and the others observed Eliwood walking slowly towards the ice dragon flying towards him. He approached the draconic being who finally landed on the ground. Her red eyes stared at Eliwood who walked slowly to her with his hands raised out.

"Ninian..." Eliwood called out, alerting the dragon who sought out the Lycian lord all the way from Valor.

Ninian's slit-red eyes returned to normal before her expression turned to horror. Gazing at her current form and Eliwood, she quickly wanted to fly off in another direction. She didn't want him to see her in this hideous form.

"Ninian! Forgive me!" Eliwood called out once more before she took flight. She turned her head back to Eliwood with tears coming from her draconic eyes. "I'm sorry for being the cause of distress for you. It matters not to me that you are a dragon. If being the descendant of Roland offends you, then forgive me."

Eliwood beckoned to Ninian, who remained and listened to the man as he inched slowly to the dragon whose tears were evident.

'No. No.' Her thoughts responded to Eliwood's statements. 'That's not what worries me the most... What I am most ashamed of is...'

Eliwood smiled as his hands reached her chin, and with a warm gaze. Her red eyes widened from her beloved's next words.

"You and Nils are not to blame for your father, I care not. My father's death by your father was never your fault. I made my promise to you that night. I love you. That will not change, no matter what may come," Eliwood vowed to the woman, as he continued to hold her head. "I will still feel the same. That is why... let me sweep it away. Please, don't cry anymore. I would do anything to see you smile again. You are the first woman I have ever felt this way about, Ninian."

He referred to her as not a dragon, but a woman. She knew what Eliwood alluded to when speaking about her father. What she feared most was his rejection... All those fears she held in her heart were whisked away by the man she loved.

'Lord Eliwood...' Ninian thought to herself as she continued to experience the warm hands of her beloved.

Unbeknownst to everyone, a single man clad in black and a turban saw this scene and trembled. His mind flickers to a scene with a dragon whose appearance is similar to Ninian's draconic form. His own hands holding out to the dragon. With growing agitation, he held a vicious expression and readied his tome.

As the group was immersed in the scene before them, footsteps could be heard from a distance and Ninian's sense for danger beckoned her to warn everyone.

'No. He can't be here! Lord Eliwood!' Ninian thought to herself.

"Ninian!" Nils called out as he ran. "Everyone! Disperse! He's here!"

Swallow everything into the underworld. The final resting place of the soul.

ERESHKIGAL

Suddenly, everything went black upon Nils's announcement. Athos quickly erected a barrier to protect the trio who just became alerted by the presence of their enemy. Eliwood found his cape bit as Ninian sought to escape the spell that was about to harm them. He was dragged along by Ninian to escape her father's spell.

Purple lighting enveloped the pair and a dark portal emerged with various black holes and purple energies swirling, pulling everything into it. Ninian flapped her wings as much as she could while Eliwood's cape was still in her mouth. She could not outrun the portal behind her as she was slowly being sucked in.

Nils watched in horror from a distance as he was witnessing the pair being sucked into oblivion. Ninian closed her eyes and tossed Eliwood away with her mouth. Eliwood found himself in the air, only to see Ninian willfully get sucked into the spell.

"""Ninian!"""

A single flash occurred the moment they called out to Ninian, along with an explosion from within the dark portal, leaving a dragon in tatters and falling to the ground, causing a quake. Eliwood quickly recovered from his fall and ran to the girl to check her state. Her giant draconic form became enveloped in light and morphed into a smaller figure. Everyone watched in horror as they saw Eliwood desperately cradling the now-human form of Ninian. His tears fell onto the severely wounded Ninian. Ike's eyes widened at the sight before him and stunned while the others ran straight to the pair.

"Ninian... why...?" Eliwood sobbed out while Ninian remained in his arms. His voice made Ninian open her eyes and smile back at him.

"Lo…Lord Eliwood…" She voiced out with difficulty as she continued to gaze at Eliwood warmly.

"…Ninian?" He voiced out. "Ninian… Please, Ninian, don't die… I… Oh gods why...?"

He quietly blamed himself for her harm. If only he had been vigilant...

Ninian shook her head and spoke: "I'm glad…"

"What?" Eliwood's attention went to her as she attempted to speak her last words.

"You're unharmed, my lord… I'm glad…" Ninian spoke gratefully. She could see her friends and brother running towards her at the corner of her eye, but her gaze remained on Eliwood, her beloved.

The man who accepted her for who she was no matter how sinful her father was. She could tell her companions also accepted her and Nils for who they were. With such friends and loved ones, she was the happiest girl in the world.

"Ninian…" Eliwood tearfully muttered as his teardrops fell onto the woman.

All that mattered to Ninian upon seeing the man in front of her, was that he could continue onward... To protect her brother... To protect the land they were originally from...

"…Lord Eliwood… Please… Ple…ase… this…land… protect it… from father..." She trailed off as her eyes began to close. Nils was at her side finally, seeing the tearful expression of her beloved brother.

'You'll be fine, Nils. They accepted all of us...' Ninian thought to herself. Seeing Lyn, Hector, and Athos finally at her side with a concerned gaze.

She saw one mercenary commander still slowly walking towards everyone at her side. She never blamed him for what happened thus far. Her eyes finally shut with one single heartfelt smile. A smile that haunted Ike as visions ran through his mind.

Along the path he walked, he saw various dead bodies of fellow villagers andsoldiers, his father had lost his mind. With one final attempt to calm the berserk man, his mother flung himself to take whatever thing his father had in his grasp and became impaled. With the memento in her hand, his father regained clarity, but at the cost of his mother being impaled by his father's blade. The little boy shocked and horrified at the scene before him, stood still as his father's face was lovingly stroked by his mother as she smiled with the medallion within her grasp and fell back, never to awaken again. The man in question having regained sanity but in tears for what he had done, fell forward, exhausted and in shock at the demise of his beloved wife. All the while their son watched every single moment.

Sometime after that, he saw a single man with trimmed short hair and a man with a fair countenance and long dark hair approach the scene and himself. After giving a respectful funeral gesture and healing his mother's body, his sister innocently stumbled onto the scene, unaware of the events that occurred while grasping the medallion that his mother tried to desperately separate from his father. The long-haired man made him forget...

Ike's mind snaps back to reality as he breathes heavily at the current sight before him. There was no time for mulling over his forgotten memories. His eyes scour for the one responsible as his face is filled with rage.

"…Ninian… Ninian? You can't… Answer me… …There's so much I haven't told you… You…can't… Why..." Eliwood tearfully inhaled and shouted out: "Niniaaaaaaan!"

"Hahaha... How pathetic..."

Nergal's voice echoes out to the group before warping to the group mourning the girl. Their expression still darkened as they remained staring and sobbing for the fallen Ninian. Nils was listlessly staring at his sister, paying no attention to the provocation of his father.

"She died for you, Eliwood. Even after you swore to protect her," Nergal snorted at the display of the group clinging to the ice dragon. "It's pitiful, really. Poor Ninian's plight. Coaxed by my honeyed words, she passed through the gate… Though unable to return home, she refused to aid me and wandered lost and alone, until you found her. Although what intrigues me is that you accepted her true form..."

Nergal chuckled at the young lord who remained silent to his words. "And to think you're all the descendants of the legendary heroes..." Nergal mused in a mocking tone. "Just like Athos, you're all full of hypocrisy. A dragon cannot be accepted in Elibe. Have you forgotten your lineage of dragonslaying? Did you believe a place like Arcadia can be commonplace throughout the continent?"

He stared at Athos who stood silently before them all, however, Athos only reciprocated Nergal's taunting with a look of pity. Nergal scoffed at his former friend, offended by the gesture. Nergal's attention went to the Hero of Blue Flames who stomped in his direction with Durandal in his hand.

"Do you have any idea what you've done...?" Ike muttered as he stepped closer to Nergal. He held Durandal ever so tightly in his grip as he spoke. "You idiotic wretch, you just harmed one of the people you wanted all this time... the one you needed... the one you were supposed to cherish with all your heart..."

Nergal frowned at Ike's last statement. He needed the ice dragon siblings to open the gate. He wanted power, not them specifically. What was his target implying?

"Heh... whatever do you imply, Hero of Chaos?" Nergal asked the mercenary commander with a provocatory tone. "She and her brother are dragons. I need their powers and the quintessence of their brethren to rule over Elibe. And you will help me by preventing their impediment with the power you hold..."

This fool. He's forgotten what mattered all this time. Even so, to attack the both of them when Eliwood reached out to Ninian... Why risk Ninian in that instance?

"You foolish wretch!" Ike shouted out, slightly alarming the dark sorcerer. "Does the name, Aenir, ring any bells!?"

Nergal's visible left eye twitched at the mention of the name. It was familiar, yet lost to him. He narrowed his visible eye at the Hero of Blue Flames wondering what he was getting at.

Everyone remained silent within the vicinity in the face of Ike's rant. The only thing this pathetic excuse of a man deserved was pity.

"That's the name of their mother, the woman you loved," Nergal's brows raised upon Ike's answer before widening his eye at his next word. "She was your wife... and these are your children. Nils and Ninian... they're your flesh and blood! YOUR CHILDREN! YOU'VE FORGOTTEN THEM AND NOW YOU'VE KILLED YOUR DAUGHTER!"

Nergal was shaken to his core, as he took a step back. He breathed heavily before cackling to himself and glaring back at Ike who held a furious expression.

"What a lie..." Nergal denied it all while shaking his head. "A good attempt at making me lose my guard. What a laughable joke... Did you come up with this, Athos?"

He gestured to Athos who remained staring at Nergal with pity. A look he remained offended by. It was only until Athos shook his head and opened his mouth.

"Your entire actions were a misplaced attempt to regain your family," Athos revealed and soon exhaled. "From morphs, to taking quintessence, to reanimating corpses... All of them were to regain what you lost... My old friend... I only wish you could have reached out to me... to the other dragons and have you reunited with your family..."

To Nergal, it was all babble. They continued to treat him as a jester. A fool. He regarded everything Athos said as a ruse. An effort to lower his guard.

Nergal snorted at his words and looked to the Lycian lords huddling around Ninian. Hector and Lyn looked up at him with eyes of pity, saying nothing to the man. He snarled at their sympathetic look until Eliwood looked up at Nergal with more of a look of exasperation.

"Why...?" He asked, confusing Nergal. "Why did you attack the both of us? If it was just me, it would have been fine... What prompted you to such a degree? Were you reminded of something in the past...? If you wanted to use her to gain more power, you would not have risked her life... why? Why risk your own daughter?"

It was nonsensical to attempt to take the lives of both Eliwood and Ninian. He would have gained more use from Ninian had she remained unharmed. Nergal's outburst which spurred his attack made no logical sense.

Nergal snarled at the Pheraen lord's line of questioning. He refused to be outed as the madman. He heard footsteps from behind him in the distance. It was the retinue of the lords as well as the mercenaries under Ike. They all looked at him with expressions of pity, horror, and disgust. They all overheard what was spoken.

One man, one bishop out of all of them, Renault. He looked at Nergal not with eyes of hatred, but of empathy. Out of everyone who offended him, Renault's look was the most grating out of all of them.

"How dare you... don't you dare look down on me!" He barked out while showing hostility towards everyone. He pointed to Ike and cursed out: "You deceive everyone with your lies. A fitting role for you as the champion of Chaos! You bring disorder within your enemies!"

Nergal began to regret summoning this mercenary. He felt that this was all a scheme made to provoke him. A chance to grasp a weakness. He would not believe in this farce made to cause discord within himself.

Ike only stared down at Nergal, who remained in denial of the truth. His furious expression soon turned to a disappointed look at Nergal. Nergal gritted his teeth at such a reaction and was ready to cast a spell...

"If only we hadn't crossed the Gate..." Nils uttered out, interrupting Nergal's invocation. He continued to stare at Ninian's corpse with a vacant and defeated expression. Only holding the hand that lost its warmth. "Our lives would have been shortened... but at least you would have remained with us... That day we came back to you... I soon realized all we wanted was to be within your arms once again..."

Nils finally looked back at Nergal, his father, and spoke with tears falling from his emotionless face: "A shame that will never come, Father... Such a pity..."

"That's enough deceit!" Nergal announced while preparing his tome. "You will await the end of the world trembling in the shadows of dragons!"

It was then Athos outstretched his hand. "I will not permit it. Instead, I will see you perish in flame if you refuse to see reason!"

Upon his proclamation, a red torrent shot out from his hand.

Oh great flame that lights the path of knowledge, scorch thy enemies with your wisdom!

FORBLAZE

Nergal became enveloped by the swirling flames that burnt brightly and scorched everything within its path. The blazing flare blinded everyone who witnessed this spell.

With a thunderous roar, the flames rose to the heavens and covered the vicinity in thick smoke. Nergal reappeared in the aftermath, leaving just his left hand burned and still intact.

"The purest fire… Flame breath. Very impressive, Archsage Athos," Nergal snorted at his wounded hand. "However, fire is no longer my foe! Look! Not even a legendary weapon can cause me serious harm! At long last, I am impervious! Ha ha…ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!"

Athos growled in frustration at the failed attempt to take down his former friend. Nergal cackled endlessly at the attempt against his life, seeing the entire debacle as a farce. He truly believed the entire conversation was to lower his defenses.

"Don't count on it."

Nergal's attention went to Ike, who spoke and pointed the Durandal at the dark druid. He frowned at the resistance from the mercenary commander as well as the men under his command who readied their weapons at the sorcerer. The rest of the army and former Black Fang followed suit. Even Lyn and Hector stared down at the lone man who denied his kin.

"If you refuse to acknowledge your children, then you're too far gone..." Holding a defiant gaze towards Nergal, he declared: "Wait for us in Valor. And you better jog your memory while you still can..."

Nergal snickered at the one who pointed the blade at himself. He would not heed the words of enemies. Friends, humans, dragons... he thought of them all as nothing more than life to be used and harvested...

For the past several centuries, he no longer believed in friendships. Bonding with others brings weakness. To live is to take energy from somewhere else, and he will continue to do so.

"Very well, whelp," Underneath Nergal's feet were runes that slowly went from bottom to top of the man. "I await for you on the Dread Isles..."

With that, the man warped away from the vicinity. Leaving only tragedy in front of everyone. Eliwood and Nils never left Ninian's body. Only despair and silent mourning remained.