Interlude ~Base Convos Part 20~

"So let me get this straight..." Linus spoke while rubbing his forehead. "Our stepmother is not a real human... so what Legault mentioned on the way here was literal? Like, I could buy she's an inhuman witch, but to take it literally? And that creepy Nergal is the sorcerer behind creating Sonia and Ephidel... Along with trying to bring dragons back?"

Skepticism was evident on the expression of the siblings within the meeting room the Lycian leaders, Reed brothers, Legault, and Ike occupied. After having cleared away the enemies and compensating the town of any damages that have occurred (to which the Reed brothers offered to pay, but the Greil Mercenaries and the Lycian Army declined), they rented a private room often used for merchant dealings.

The Reed brothers had yet to fully believe in the idea of morphs created by Nergal. Lloyd had yet to add to anything, remaining patient and listening to the story presented by Ike, Legault, and the Lycian lords.

"That's the gist of it..." Ike muttered while scratching his head. "Ephidel, a man you probably saw associating with Sonia, was of the same type. Golden eyes, pitch black hair, red lips. Those are the common features alongside them turning to dust upon death. That, and the dead being manipulated..."

It would be difficult to convince the pair and their father of what Sonia's true identity without them witnessing Ephidel's end back in Valor. Furthermore, to them, Ephidel and Sonia sharing the same traits could be a coincidence or a matter of being related. That, along with convincing them of Uhai's possible fate as a walking corpse.

"While I would love to drive my knife through that... thing... to prove to you both the veracity of our claims..." Legault turned to face his trusted friends as he trailed off. "If my worst fears are correct... the next time you ever see Uhai again, it won't be him anymore."

The idea of Uhai's body being transformed into a morph construct made Legault and some others uneasy. At any rate, the pair knew Uhai was slain based on reports. Whether they believe it was by Ephidel's hand that killed him and not the Lycian army or Greil Mercenaries was another story.

"You have to believe us!" Lyn put her hand to her heart as she spoke. "Uhai let go of me at Valor, refusing to take a hostage. Upon his defeat, he even pointed the way to the Dragon's Gate! Most of all, he wanted your commander and you two to live on..."

Eliwood and Hector nodded with her, hoping to convince the Reed brothers of the events. Ike looked at the pair who were scrutinizing the group along with Legault.

The brothers remained silent, deliberating on whether to believe them. Finally, Lloyd stood up after remaining patient the entire time.

"That sure does sound like Uhai..." Lloyd added while his eyes remained closed. He opened his eyes the next moment to finish his conclusion to everyone. "Putting aside the matter of non-humans... we will keep take your information in mind until we receive further proof. We'll reserve our own judgment for the time being. Moreover..." Lloyd turned his head to face the lords and Ike as he continued. "We'll believe that Uhai was killed by Ephidel and Sonia is not Nino's real mother. And that the brother and sister from before have been accosted by some of our members over the past year. For that, we apologize." To which even Linus gave a remorseful look.

He was mentioning Nils and Ninian, the two siblings who could open the Dragon's Gate. Mostly pursued by their father for that reason alone. The fact that the Black Fang have continuously chased after them have traumatized the pair.

For now, everyone was content with the Reed brothers partially believing in them. It was hard to convince, let alone believe such events as incredulous as their stepmother being an artificial human and a crazed sorcerer trying to bring forth the second Scouring.

At the very least, Sonia's lies have come to light. With that, the Reed family's suspicions against Sonia have been justified and will be used against her eventually. Their father already met the woman who once served Nino's family and received something precious from her.

"Then how will you convince your little sister?" Ike inquired to the pair. Linus gritted his teeth while Lloyd closed his eyes. "It won't be easy to drive a wedge between Sonia and Nino. If Nino's been deceived, it's a matter of revealing to her without drawing too much attention to yourselves and potentially putting her in harm's way."

Indeed, Nino was far too attached to Sonia for the Reed family's liking. Despite Sonia's treatment of Nino, she was far too dedicated to her "mother" to potentially heed the advice of her stepfamily. Not only that, even if Nino had the truth revealed to her, she would confront Sonia on the matter regardless if her life was at risk. They couldn't count on their stepmother to not hurt or retaliate against the girl or themselves. At any rate, it was a gamble to attempt to prematurely discuss the matter with Nino.

"We'll attempt to ease her into accepting the matter. You still have her uncle-in-law in your company, correct?" To which Ike nodded at Lloyd's inquiry. "Good. Once the time is right, we'll have to reveal to her of everything all at once. My father is too busy avoiding as many eyes on himself. We must return soon. Once we're all together in a meeting, we'll inform her with father present. You remember the valley where you cleared some bandits near the town we met you? The one with a fort in the North while two villages were in the East and South of it?"

Ike nodded at Lloyd's description. The South village was cut off from the Northern village by a river running ahead of it. The one where they received an Earth Seal from the grateful villagers and gave it to Lucius.

"Count on it, we'll meet you there in Bern. Also..." Ike brought out two scrolls and presented them to the brothers. Eliwood, Hector, and Lyn widened their eyes slightly while Legault held a curious gaze. "Read them. I feel like you might need it."

The Reed brothers looked at one another with a eyebrows raised. Taking one scroll each and reading the contents, their expressions became one of an epiphany reaching them. In the next, they looked at one another's scroll to be dumbfounded at what was occurring.

"How did the contents of our scroll disappear...?" Linus asked. Lloyd also added to his brother's inquiry: "And why do I have this new knowledge of a technique?"

"Occultic scrolls, mystical skill records that teach a skill that suits you. They're native to my home continent." Ike explained. "Also, Lloyd is more of the nimble swordfighter while Linus is an adept hero with a sword and axe?" Ike questioned the pair with the same qualities that Legault described. The two nodded in response. "Then you must have learnt Astra and Sol respectively."

Astra, the skill that effectively has the swordfighter achieve five consecutive attacks in a single breath. Certainly achievable through one's efforts, as Lyn already achieved the skill on her own while Guy was getting there. While the swordsmasters Ike has seen in Elibe were certainly a cut above what he's seen his entire life, there was no harm in ensuring Lloyd gained the skill through a scroll.

"Heh... well, I've certainly feel like I've polished my swordplay. Thank you." Lloyd appreciated the kind gesture along with Linus who grinned.

"Thanks, Ike! Can't wait to be in action!" Linus said with an excited expression.

Ike trusted the brothers enough to not misuse their newfound skills. And there was one more person.

"Also, take this last scroll to your father." Ike handed one more scroll to Lloyd, who obliged and put it inside his coat. "I trust him if he went this far to trust my group. I'm thankful for him reaching out to me through Legault."

Legault smiled upon Ike's words, he certainly was a good commander. A generous one at that.

Lloyd and Linus seemed to share the same sentiments. As they were witness to Ike's deeds in Bern.

"By the way..." Linus suddenly spoke with everyone's attention towards him. "You mentioned how these scrolls are from your home continent, what did you mean by that? I know these would be as important as promotion seals."

Ike stood for moment before nodding to answer. "Elibe isn't my home, I come from the continent of Tellius. Long story short, something must have brought me here, and I'm trying to earn my way back home. As for how I get them, it's more merchant secret."

Legault did hear that Ike was not a native while he remained hiding in the carriage convoy. It was more of something for Ike to share on his own. Plus, those occultic scrolls are restricted to Ike's exclusive access that most Anna merchants wouldn't have for most customers. Linus and Lloyd held a curious gaze towards the young mercenary commander.

"Found him in the plains of Sacae." Lyn added while smiling. "My journey that ended with me becoming the heir to Caelin started with him."

The brothers obviously knew of the succession issue involving Lundgren, Hausen's younger brother, and Lyndis, the granddaughter whose parents eloped to Sacae. They were well-informed after the skirmish that occurred between the Lyn and Ike's group with some of the Black Fang under Ursula's command from a year ago. Apparently, the same motive from the ones from last year and the ones who attacked Badon were the same.

"Personally, I think the cursed spirit of chaos sent him away from his home." Hector remarked, to which it garnered weird looks towards him along with a seething child goddess. "His expeditions and missions so far involving us have been way beyond anyone's expectations!"

This time, Eliwood and Lyn looked at him with differing gazes. One was of skepticism while the other was of a glare. Ike raised an eyebrow at the Ostian lord.

"Weren't we the ones who hired him, Hector? I doubt he's been involved in trying to make things difficult." Eliwood added.

"Yeah, Hector! What do you mean by that!?" Lyn asked with a slightly offended tone.

This conversation seems to have taken a weird turn.

"I'm just saying, we've been subjected to the most incredible things alot of people haven't seen in a thousand years. Not only that, him and his group have the most weirdest connections and coincidences I've seen thus far that even involved my retainers. I can't tell whether it's a blessing or a curse by that little spirit in your head..."

Beyond the last comment uttered by Hector, he was referring to Oswin, Renault, Lucius, and the Cornwell siblings. Anyone privy to the details would think it was a strange guidance of fate or something else. Hell, Canas ended up joining the group only to have a connection to Nino's real family. Not to mention, Florina's sister, Fiora, who managed to stumble onto the Davros ship. Certainly a weird coincidence for Ike to constantly encounter various things that had a connection one way or another...

In any event, Legault and the Reed brothers looked at Ike strangely. Legault had some info about Canas being related to Nino, but looking at it in retrospect, it is strange that Ike managed to stumble onto the man along with the bishop who resided in Valor to conveniently meet the son of a man he killed. Not to mention the heir of the now-defunct House Cornwell reuniting with his little sister of which the Reed brothers were also privy to. Strange how such events and people seem to all be intertwined in some way.

Whatever Hector spoke of oddly resonated with Ike. How did he manage to come across so many people with so many complex relations with one another? Whatever cosmic hand of fate was guiding him had some relation to his own group, his men.

"I... I can't argue with that... how did I ever come across these kinds of odds in the first place?" Ike seemed to become exasperated over such circumstances to constantly have him discover them.

He didn't consider himself a miracle worker, all he considered himself to be was a mercenary. How on earth did he ever get involved in such complicated matters?

"Strange coincidences aside..." Lloyd voiced out hoping to shift the conversation elsewhere. "We've also received an influx of Bern wyvern riders as you noticed."

Everyone's attention went to Lloyd. Heath recognized the flight patterns and maneuvers done by Bern's military. It was unlikely for droves of dissidents or discharged wyvern riders to suddenly come to the Black Fang. Unless someone very higher up on the ladder brokered a deal with the criminal organization to let them use some of their soldiers for missions. Under most circumstances, Bern's nobles wouldn't associate themselves with the Fang who have been killing their own often due to corruption.

"Have any clues to how you've procured so many wyvern riders?" Ike inquired. "It has to be higher up on Bern's military."

Indeed, that was the puzzling point of the matter. Who could hold that much power to allow that many wyvern riders into the ranks of the Fang?

"It's a hunch..." Linus this time spoke without his brother speaking for him. "But it may have been Bern's monarch, King Desmond."

Everyone became alert at the revelations. Desmond, the king of Bern, whose son was Zephiel, the crown prince of Bern. Ike heard mentions of the exceptional son whose talents were not being utilized from the man who gave the Earth Seal to Ike. Apparently, he was Zephiel's former history teacher.

Ike didn't have a very good impression of the man if he mistreated his own family. But that was a different matter to be addressed.

"Surprised? I couldn't believe it either until I came back and heard the news." Legault added but with his whimsical expression not reaching his eyes. "Next thing you know, we have wyvern riders from the military being led by us in the Fang. I mean... we're all criminals, yet even some of our operations in Bern have become conspicuous at times but with no military to stop us. As if they look the other way..."

That meant Sonia made a deal with Desmond to allow Black Fang operations. But for what?

"Our father grew anxious with these sort of events. As you know, we knew what we were getting into when we became outlaws bringing punishment to the corrupt and help the needy. Even if we were wanted by the law. But now things have changed... for a worse I assume." Lloyd explained with a slightly severe expression. "If worse comes to worst, when you arrive in Bern, you will likely face the might of the Black Fang led by Sonia and Bern's military. Be prepared. We'll do our best to fight back with you when the time is right."

Ike nodded at Lloyd's warning. Even if his operations in Bern garnered a good reputation, he wouldn't be surprised if he received an official wanted notice by the king. Fortunately, Sonia's faction efforts to paint the Greil Mercenaries in a bad light were fought back by Brendan and his sons. But such luck wouldn't last forever.

"Is there anyone in the ranks of the Black Fang from Bern's military that we should be aware of?" Ike asked the pair to which they obliged.

"Vaida." Ike's eyes flickered at the mention of the name by Linus. "Former commander of Bern that led her own troop that she named after herself. Once we took her in, she goes strutting about as if she owned the place." Linus put his hands on his head as he sighed at the mention of her but Lloyd held a reserved expression. "I think she joined at a chance to rejoin the military after she was marked as a traitor for slaughtering innocents... the nerve. And I thought Pascal was a nut when we soon found out his true identity after his stint and imprisoned him. Just wish we could have killed him instead of leaving him to rot in prison."

"Man, do you not have proper screening for your men?" Hector remarked to which Legault shrugged.

Quite frankly, it would have been better to execute the Crazed Beast. The man was a former noble of Bern as Count Landskron. He invited civilians to his castle and slaughtered them to which it stripped him of his title. He joined the Fang soon under a different identity and even became one of the Four Fangs... until he massacred an entire village to kill one person. That earned him imprisonment by Brendan once he found out the man's true identity. The irony of the Fang's purpose to hunt after the corrupt and they employed one of the most corrupt people. If only they had better employment screening for their members, which has gotten even worse over the past year.

"She didn't do it..." Everyone's attention went to Ike upon his statement.

"Ike?" Lyn called out to the mercenary commander who voiced his objection. Eliwood and Hector joined in on her surprise.

"Do you know of this former wyvern commander?" Eliwood asked to which he earned a nod from Ike.

"Vaida and the people under her command didn't do it. It was the general that framed her for something he did trying to elevate his own career. They even tried to stop innocents from getting harmed by that dastard. One of the men under my command, Heath, was formerly under her command and he testified against the false charges. And I trust him." Ike spoke with conviction, defending Vaida.

Linus raised an eyebrow, while Legault snorted at the mention of Heath. He interacted (teased) with the wyvern rider a couple times. He knew the man's eyes held pride to never harm the innocent. All the while Lloyd smiled at Ike's declaration.

"We were right about you." Lloyd remarked.

"Lloyd? You know something?" Linus looked to his brother who nodded.

"Don't underestimate our information network. We found survivors of the incident who testified that Vaida and her men fought off their fellows in the military to defend them. Unfortunately, that may not clear their name fully just yet, but it did vouch for their character. The Black Fang did promise her back her position if she joined us, and that required finding ways to get her reemployed into Bern." Lloyd explained with a smile to Ike. "You could have remained silent, but you wanted speak on behalf of your supposed enemy. For that, you did well based on sincerity."

Linus apparently didn't read the entire dossier of the reports, something Lloyd or Legault was more suited to. He scratched his head and felt slightly remorseful over having talked bad about Vaida.

Everyone smiled at Lloyd's trust in Ike. It good that the Reed family could believe in Ike, even though they reserved themselves from fully believing the matter with Nergal and Sonia being an artificial human.

Lloyd then stood and went out the door to exit the meeting room. Linus shrugged and followed suit smile.

"Until next time, we'll meet you all in Bern. Legault should remain with you for the time being." Linus voiced out with a gesture of a wave.

Legault would act as the informant and info-gatherer while remaining with the Greil Mercenaries and Lycian army. At any rate, they could employ Legault and ask for his assistance in battle or looting the enemy.

The meeting turned out well, all things considered.

After the meeting and getting a meal, Ike went to meet with Eliwood. Apparently, Isadora would join them at the behest of Eliwood's mother, Eleanora. In the next moment, he was stopped by a certain bishop.

"Ike." Renault called out. Ike's attention went to the acolyte.

"Renault, need something?"

Renault nodded and responded: "I wish to inform you everything I know about Nergal... how I've come to know of the man."

Ike's full attention went to Renault. This was a pressing matter regarding Nergal and Renault's relations with the sorcerer. How exactly did he know so much about Nergal and his morphs?

"As you and many others may have suspected, I associated with him at one point. In fact, I was his assistant." Renault revealed to Ike, who remained composed at the reveal. "Why I chose to do so... was to bring back an old friend. That's why I described the second type of morphs that are just mere empty shells. Soulless, empty vessels. A cursed existence."

"I assume your friend ended up being brought back by Nergal as a puppet?" Renault closed his eyes and nodded with a pained expression. "No wonder..."

"It is as you say. To that end, I stopped at nothing to bring back my friend. And that included trespassing against many for their lives. Or rather, their quintessence to be exact." Renault responded while opening his eyes.

Lucius's father was included amongst his victims. A famous mercenary who was likely targeted by Nergal and Renault for his quintessence.

"So you effectively helped in the construction of Nergal's morphs as a whole?" Ike asked to which Renault nodded.

"Yes. Canas also inquired whether morphs had souls to which I have no definitive answer. I know he had created them for awhile long before I came to assist him. I helped 'complete' them. The only fact of the matter is that Nergal creates them to serve him out of self-interest. Including the image of the people that once were. Morphs like that Ephidel emulate emotions that were constructed by Nergal, not genuine... No, wait..." Renault's mind flickered to a certain red-cloaked figure back in Valor. "There were some that had their own emotions if I had to describe it. Those...things...that he discards... They lose their way... and wander. And he cares not. Morphs...are the mere fact of existence...once meaning has been stripped away. You've seen the Magic Seal, Kishuna, that was its name. That was one of them."

Ike remembered the Magic Seal. He would have ended up being sent back to Tellius midway into his mission had Jake not saved him. So that one had the capacity to hold genuine emotions despite being a manufactured being?

"Another thing, so Nergal wanted to raise morphs, why not just stop at just morphs like Sonia or Ephidel? Why try to make more of the second type despite your request?" To which Renault shook his head.

"I know not. I know he can still create the second type, albeit, corpses saves Nergal time to remake them for with the appearance and abilities they had when they were alive. Having their original quintessence strengthens the result." Renault responded.

If Nergal wanted just power, he could have just absorbed all the quintessence for just himself. If morphs came in two forms, what exactly was the purpose beyond just having servants or to raise the dead? Unless, the latter reason is why he found it important. It couldn't have originally been for merely serving himself. Like Nils and Ninian, there had to have been an underlying reason. Something that Nergal forgot. Ike pondered on this until he turned to Renault.

"So then, what's next for you?" Ike asked of Renault.

"Why do you ask? Renault remained staring at the young commander. "What does my end have to do with you?"

Ike knew that whatever Renault was planning, he was planning to fall into obscurity or die out of penance for his sins. Why else would he approach him with all these revelations? Maybe he was planning to go alone to finish the job of hunting down Nergal. Something that won't be achieved alone.

"I know you're starting on your path to rectify your mistakes. Becoming a bishop and praying does nothing in my opinion. Praying for forgiveness does nothing when all it does is share grief that should only belong to you for your own actions. Dying holds nothing of value when you should remain alive." With Ike's barrage of Renault's actions over the years, Renault only felt more guilt. In the next moment, Ike looked into Renault's gray eyes with his cerulean eyes. "So what do you want to leave behind, or how do you want to be remembered? Renault, the Impervious."

Upon the mention of Renault's name and title, the man in question snorted. So he was the man Wallace mentioned back in Caelin.

"It's been a long time... since I've been called that." He then turned to Ike and continued: "Back in Valor, you seemed to have known about my past to some extent. So, you've known that I was a former mercenary?"

Ike nodded at Renault's question. "Someone you once taught, Wallace, became a proud general of Caelin. He wanted to let you know he fulfilled his promise of fighting for the sake of the people, that he would use the skills you taught him for only good, and that he kept his promise."

Renault smiled at the nostalgia of having met a squire during his glory days of being a mercenary. When he also worked in Caelin and spotted the young boy who was teased. The one he inspired and taught how to fight. If only he himself remained to follow such an example.

"So he did... that's good." Renault voiced out. "He should know the man from decades ago is long gone. Dead, along with his friend."

In the next moment, however, Ike gritted his teeth and glared at the bishop.

"Unfortunately for you, you're right about the man being a huge disappointment..." Renault became stunned upon Ike's angry tone and words. Seeing Ike's snarl, he stood silent. "I still haven't seen a man whose resolve was great as Wallace mentioned. Seeing what you've become, really gets on my nerves. What you've done was unforgivable. I don't care what you've gone through. I don't care how much you've suffered. In my opinion, Lucius shouldn't have forgiven you. But that was his choice, not mine." Ike turned his back on the bishop with his cape fluttering in the air. "If death is what you really want, then I'm not going to let it happen on my watch. To really make amends, you're coming with us whether you like it or not."

To truly repent is the act of continuing onwards and face the consequences of your actions. Not to die or wallow in self-pity. Nor to become an acolyte. To find true peace is to see things through to the very end. Something Renault had yet to fully comprehend.

With that, Ike went off to meet with the Pheraen lord and his retainers. Leaving Renault to ponder upon the young mercenary commander's words.

"Hahaha..." Renault chuckled to himself. Looking in the direction where Ike left, he held a smile that he hasn't made in over two decades. "With such a resolve, you'll be able to go farther than I, Ike of the Greil Mercenaries. May you and your group continue onward with St. Elimine's blessings."

"So our destination is Ostia?" Ike questioned to Eliwood, to which the lord nodded.

Marcus and Isadora were present. At any rate, despite Pherae being short on manpower, Eliwood's mother insisted Isadora accompany her son.

As a result, they decided to reach Ostia and meet with Hector's brother, Uther, to help ensure Pherae remains well-defended alongside informing him of recent events.

"It's good to see you again." Isadora greeted Ike with a smile. She then saluted the next moment. "I will also be under your command. Please instruct me, commander Ike."

Ike nodded at Isadora's salute. To have another paladin would be immensely helpful. Not only that, he had much to make up for the failure of his mission.

"I will do my best to protect your lord as well as his retainers. You can count on it. You'll live to see your homeland with Eliwood return with victory." Ike announced.

Everyone smiled at Ike's declaration. With that, Marcus and Isadora left to conduct their duties.

"Ike."

Eliwood's voice called out to Ike. Ike turned at the Pheraen lord with hope evident in his eyes.

"I apologize for all of the trouble. I'm fine now. I have my friends to lean on. Hector, Lyndis, and you, Ike…" Eliwood spoke with passion to Ike, and continued with a smile: "Thanks to all of you, I'm getting stronger. I am coming to believe that together, we can overcome anything!"

Ike smiled at Eliwood's resolve. He won't fail his comrades again. Not like before. He will do his best to achieve.

"No problem, glad to have you back Eliwood. I know I'll be able to count on you." Ike spoke while patting Eliwood's shoulder.

"Hahaha... shouldn't it be the other way around as your employer?" Eliwood responded with humorous tone.

With that, laughter filled the vicinity between the mercenary and the noble. They were granted this reprieve and swore to fight to protect one another and their followers.