This is the revised version of this chapter. For those of you who read the first chapter before this update, a lot of things have changed. The beginning of this chapter was initially pretty cut and dry, so I made sure to have less of a cold opening for you all. In fact, most of this chapter is going to see some level of change. More detailed explanations, more consistent character interactions, and a more developed protagonist!
I have to thank my beta-reader and fellow fanfic author, Shadow0Fire, for his insight. His greater experience in this field has been a massive help. Please check out his profile. He has fantastic pacing, character development, and action scenes across all of his stories!
And with that, let's give this another shot. Time to see what new developments await us!
He was staring out a window, tides of sand stretching beyond the horizon. His vision went in and out of focus, unable to find any landmark to speak of. Blinking, he caught his blue eyes staring back at him. His skin was sheet white, not a hint of a sunburn despite being directly under the desert sun. His brown hair felt slick, but there couldn't be water on his head in the desert, right?
"What're you looking at, Issac? Turn around, silly!"
Issac turned, fighting a sudden wave of fatigue sweeping across his body. His vision lost focus as he tried to see the person speaking to him. He couldn't make out many details; a woman with purple eyes and long hair was swaying back and forth on her feet. She was much shorter than him, barely five feet tall, but that hardly mattered when Issac fell to a knee.
Why am I so tired? Issac put a hand to his head, pausing when the liquid on his head felt thicker than water. When he looked at his hand, he froze at the blood coating his palm.
Issac's other leg gave out, and he fell on his back. His throat tightened as panic set in. His arms and legs began prickling. He needed to stand, to get up, but the ground beneath him was so warm, and the sunlight above made this a perfect place to nap…
"Wake up, sleepyhead. You aren't totally gone yet. There is work to be done."
The woman put her hand on Issac's forehead, the chill driving away the exhaustion that threatened to overwhelm him. He gasped, shooting upright to a sitting position. The girl vanished, the landscape leaving with her. Now there was only darkness.
Issac felt his head again, jaw dropping when he couldn't feel any blood trailing down his head. He started walking, hoping to find something, anything, that wasn't pitch black. Footsteps echoed around him, his stride much steadier than they should have been considering the life-threatening wound he had up until a moment ago.
Issac's path forward was interrupted, however, by a bright red screen. Black letters filled the screen, as if someone were texting him.
Hello there!
…Was that a joke? Because that wasn't funny. Obi-Wan Kenobi references aren't appreciated.
You wound me, Issac. I had thought someone from your world would appreciate my accommodations!
Issac's brow furrowed. "Accommodations? What the hell are you talking about? And can you hear my thoughts?"
You aren't dead, for one. Not completely, anyway. I even started this whole thing off using a human form! Tell me if that isn't the definition of generosity!
And yes, I can hear your thoughts. It's one of the benefits of someone in my line of work.
"D-dead?" Issac's breath caught in his throat, his fists clenching hard enough to turn his hands a ghostly white. What did he mean by not completely dead? Was this Heaven? Hell? Some sort of Limbo?
That last one is the closest to the truth. I snagged your soul before you could slip through my fingers.
"You have my soul? What made you choose me out of the billions of people on Earth?"
Not every soul has the qualities I seek. Your… interests align with mine.
Now Issac was totally lost. "Interests? What exactly do I have in common with a box of texts?"
Your hobbies, human. Fantasies of men slaying gods through the power of friendship is a bit cliche, but I never claimed to be original. It's thanks to that hobby of yours that I decided to meet you in the first place!
"Hobbies? You don't mean‒" Memories rushed back through Issac's mind.
He was standing in line outside of a Gamestop. The overcast day was a blessing. Waiting outside for three hours in the blazing sun would have been excruciatingly painful. Even if that were to be the case, the pain would have been more than worth it.
After all, today was a special day. The ten-year anniversary of Fire Emblem: Awakening was going on sale! Updated graphics, more voice lines, new attack animations, and new items to boot! There was no way he was missing out on this.
An argument was happening behind Issac, but he paid that no mind. He was thinking about whether to buy a second copy for ‒‒‒. It wouldn't be out of his budget, but she still owed him for the original game he purchased for her. ‒‒‒ put in almost four hundred hours into that game, but conveniently forgot who spent their birthday money to get it.
(Who was she? He knew she was important to him, but everything else was a giant blur.)
Voices started rising behind Issac, pulling him out of his thoughts. He turned, only to see a shoving match had started between half a dozen people. Their words jumbled together into something incomprehensible. He started to back away, not wanting to get caught in the impromptu mosh pit behind him.
"That's it, outta my way!" one of the men shouted. Issac caught a flash of metal before he recognized a gun in the man's hands. A cold sweat broke across Issac's back when the barrel pointed directly at him. He tried to run away, but only made it one step before molten lead pierced his skull.
Issac's body dropped to the ground. The screams of the people around him were already fading, his thoughts going to his family.
"I'm sorry Mom. Sorry Dad. Sorry‒‒‒"
Do you remember now? I swear, the amount of effort I put into rescuing you almost isn't worth it now.
Issac blinked, feeling tears streaking down his cheeks. He really died? This wasn't the answer he was looking for. He wasn't even thirty yet!
Issac's tears stopped flowing. That made no sense; he should be falling apart right now. Confused, he tried shoving the screen out of the way, only to see his hand phase through it. He jumped back, the screen maintaining the same distance.
"What's going on? Why am I not depressed at the fact that I'm dead?!"
This time, the text box blinked for a handful of seconds before responding.
Your soul isn't attached to your old world anymore. You're going through the grieving process much faster now, since you don't have a body slowing everything down.
And were you listening to what I said? You aren't dead yet. Some thanks would be greatly appreciated.
As much as Issac hated to admit it, his mystery friend may be right. He could already feel his negative emotions flowing away from himself. His breathing began to even out. While a lingering fragment of melancholy remained, the majority of his gloom was filtering out.
Issac sighed, looking back to the red screen. "Who are you, anyway? What's your name?"
My name? I suppose I never gave you one to use. Just call me God, little human. It's easier that way.
Issac's eye twitched. God? He's really pushing the failed comedian bit, isn't he? He ignored the string of words rapidly filling the box in front of him to sort out his thoughts. He was almost dead. This 'God' kept him alive. It even showed him his last moments from his life. But why? What sort of game was it playing?
TOOK YOU LONG ENOUGH TO ASK!
Issac jumped. Clearly, his… benefactor didn't like being ignored. "Sorry, but I think coming to terms with my near-death should be worth at least a few minutes of misery." He cocked his head in confusion at an intrusive thought: "What exactly can I do to help you with your entertainment, 'God'?"
I acknowledge that you're being sarcastic with my title. For the sake of moving on, I've decided to graciously overlook your attitude.
"How generous of you."
Quite! To answer your question, I have run out of entertainment with my last candidate. She wanted to live in the world of Animal Crossing, which was so boring! Do you know how many times I watched her catch the same fish in the same river day after day? Seventy-eight thousand five-hundred and fifty times! I tore my hair out of sheer frustration!
Issac grimaced, feeling a flash of sympathy for the person on the other end of the screen. ‒‒‒ made him sit and watch her do all of her baking in Cooking Mama. He was bored out of his mind after the fifth time watching her make a meal. Seventy-eight thousand times? He would go crazy if he‒
"Wait. Candidate? You put someone else in another world?" Issac fell to the ground, the implications of that realization striking him immediately. "Do you want to send me somewhere?"
By Me, he finally gets it! Congratulations on coming to that conclusion without being spoon-fed the answer!
The pieces were finally falling into place for Issac. He was waiting outside a Gamestop for the re-release of his favorite game. He was so singularly focused on it that it took a threat on his life to get out of his own head. And that devotion is what started the connection with this 'God.' A 'God' who sent someone else to the Animal Crossing world.
I'm an idiot. "You want to send me to the Fire Emblem world?"
Correct on both accounts! A world of violence should be much more entertaining than the dreaded Fishing Saga.
Issac grit his teeth. As much as it incensed him to have his second chance be a source of entertainment, he was equally curious as to what this Being had planned for him.
Since you asked so nicely, I'll give you a sneak peek! I can send you to any continent you want. You'll have a little bit of time to acclimate to your new world before the events of the actual game begin. You're allowed to do anything you want. Just try to be amusing, would you?
Issac snorted. There wasn't much on this guy's mind besides his own leisure. All the same, I need to think about what I want to do from here.
Regna Ferox was too cold. Issac didn't like snow in his first life, and he would be damned if he had to be exposed to it more than necessary.
Valm and Chon'sin were non-starters. As much as he enjoyed the challenge from the second act of the game, Cherche, Say'ri and Virion were the only Shepherds who were from the country. Finding the children spread out across the continent would be like looking for a needle in a small number of allies available left Issac feeling too exposed on a continent that massive.
And the further away I can be from Excellus, the better. Issac shivered. That toad never failed to make him shudder, no matter how many times he had Chrom and Robin cut him down.
Plegia… even with the Grimleal pulling the strings from behind the scenes, Validar and Aversa would be held back by Gangrel for at least a decade and a half. If Issac could use that time to grow stronger and gather allies, he might be able to save General Mustafa from his undeserved death after Emmeryn's sacrifice.
Issac swallowed. The former Exalt of Ylisse was still the most heartbreaking character of the game. Despite the double-edged sword that was her pacifism, she didn't deserve to rot in the sands of an enemy country. He wanted to be able to save the empathetic royal from Gangrel's machinations.
Have you made up your mind, boy? I don't have all day.
Issac nodded. "I have. Take me to Ylisse. You already know why I want to go."
Very well. I'll make sure you get there. Eventually.
"What?"
Your time here has ended. Time for you to go!
"Wait," Issac said. "You told me I could choose where to go!" A pinprick of light appeared above Issac. It pushed back the darkness with enough force that he had to shield his eyes from the growing brightness.
I told you that I can send you wherever you want, not that I would actually do it. Ylisse is too peaceful for my tastes.
The ground disappeared from under Issac's feet. He screamed as he started falling, unable to see where he was going.
Good luck, Issac! Try to have fun for me, will you? It's so much more fun when my subject is enjoying themselves as much as I am.
"You're such an asshole. I'll get you back for this! Fuck‒"
"‒You!"
Issac gasped, bolting upright as he came out of that bizarre dream. He forced himself to take deep breaths: panic and rage wouldn't do anything to help him. For the time being, he needed to swallow his rage and figure out where he was.
A crunching sound from below grabbed his attention. Looking down, Issac saw that he was laying on a straw bed. It had multiple cracks in the wooden frame, which cracked with his every move. A paper thin blanket covered him, which he immediately threw off. Unfortunately, that did little to cool him down. A wooden rattling drew his eyes to the cracked window facing the outside.
Issac walked to the window, confused at how tall it looked compared to the last one he looked out of. He reached out to open it, pausing when he noticed how small his hand was. His skin was still pale, but there was a smoothness that he hadn't seen in almost twenty years. It was almost as if he was de-aged.
Wait a minute, Issac thought. I'm a child? I'm a CHILD?! What the fuck, 'God'?
Welcome to Plegia! Your age has been pre-selected by me, your Godly sponsor. Appreciate My generosity and choose your starting class.
Issac's face turned red. This damn screen was getting on his last nerves. Asshole! Why'd you make me so young?
Would you like to be older than the other characters by the time the game 'starts'?
Issac paused. He didn't like the way that question was phrased. "How long was that adjustment period you mentioned earlier?"
Four years! You'll be sixteen by the time the Prologue starts. That should be plenty of time to get yourself the friends you were thinking about earlier. And even if you can't, I'll enjoy watching you scurry around like a desert rat.
Issac sighed. He should have figured that there'd be a catch to getting a second life. As much as he wanted to stay angry at The Being, he knew that wouldn't help him. Pragmatism would be the key to his survival, especially since he was in the country that could turn him into a religious sycophant or a 'bandit' raiding the Ylissean border towns. He needed to avoid either possibility until he could protect himself.
Villager class selected. Stats generated. Background selected.
ALERT: Gamer character created. Luck (LK) stat has been altered. It now affects more than hit/crit rates.
Tier 1, Level 1 Villager
Age: 14
HP: 4
Strength (STR): 1
Magic (MAG): 0
Skill (SKL): 1
Speed (SPD): 2
Luck (LK): 4
Defense (DEF): 1
Resistance (RES): 0
Ability Points: 0
EXP: 0/400
Perk Points: 3
Perks: Unique abilities chosen at character creation. Some abilities have prerequisites, such as level, master class, or stat minimums. Most abilities are directly from the game, but have been altered due to your unique status. Some perks are only available to The Gamer. Any unused Perks are lost forever.
As a Villager, the [Aptitude] perk has been selected for free. [Aptitude] grants you a 20% boost to Growth Rates upon level up.
Finally, something was working in his favor. Having three perks on top of (in his opinion) the strongest skill in the game meant that he stood a solid chance of surviving his new childhood.
Choose your remaining perks:
Photographic Memory
Magically Minded
Martially Minded
Light Magic Specialty
Dark Magic Specialty
Heavy Armor Specialist
Extraordinary Luck
Draconic Ancestry
Taguel Ancestry
Locktouch
Inspiring Leader
Photographic Memory would allow Issac to recall most, if not all of his memories as if they had just happened. Given the fact that this was to be his new life, he would want to remember it.
Magically Minded and Martially Minded eliminates class restrictions on tome and weapon specializations, respectively. The flexibility provided by one of these perks would be a godsend (Nagasend? Definitely not a Grimasend), but both? If Issac had a mouth, he would be drooling.
Light Magic Speciality and Dark Magic Speciality gave double healing/damage, based on the school of magic chosen. Becoming a healer stronger than Lissa, or a more terrifying sorcerer than Tharja, would be a dream come true for Issac. He certainly wouldn't be lacking support in the beginning, at least.
Heavy Armor Specialist could prepare him for the path of a knight, as it heavily reduced the speed penalties for wearing full suits of armor. Kellam and Frederick would meet their match if they ever met in the sparring ring.
Extraordinary Luck raised the Luck cap to 100! That was literally double the cap of the game, ignoring the Limit Breakers.
Draconic Ancestry and Taguel Ancestry would give Issac a Manakete or Taguel bloodline. Both would be incredibly useful, even if it meant being on the run from poachers and the general scum and villainy across the world.
Locktouch was the strangest skill on this list, admittedly. Being able to more easily open chests and doors was definitely not in line for a villager. Still, being able to pilfer gold and rare weapons was never a bad option.
Inspiring Leader allowed Issac to project his will to those around him. Friends would be reassured, foes would be unsettled, and all would be forced to acknowledge him. He wasn't sure how those effects would play out on the battlefield, but it would have to be noticeable enough to be a perk, right?
Like a bucket of ice water, common sense chilled Issac to his core. If he did choose to go down an obviously powerful path, he would be at the mercy of Validar. Without Robin's bloodline, he wouldn't survive the 'blessings' of the Grimleal. He needed to be cautious with how he chose his abilities. Slow is steady, and steady is fast.
Several minutes later, Issac made his choices.
Perks
Aptitude: Grants a 20% boost to Growth Rates upon level up.
Photographic Memory: How many fingers was your mom holding when you were a baby? One? Three? It was four, obviously! You won't forget anything you set your mind to.
Locktouch: Unlocks chests and doors without needing keys. With a bit of wire, anything is possible!
Martially-Minded: Ignore weapon restrictions based on class type.
Photographic Memory was a must. If this was Issac's last chance at living a fulfilling life, he didn't want to forget anything. Locktouch was his second favorite skill, since he would be able to go nearly anywhere and take anything he wanted with it.
Martially-Minded should have, in his opinion, been a mandatory perk. With all of the fighting that would take place, he knew getting a grasp on any weapon he picked up was required if he wanted to survive.
Character creation complete. Temporary World Pause ending.
Try not to die too early, shrimp!
Before Issac could even contemplate the meaning of a World Pause, the red screen in front of him blinked out of existence. The boy shook his head; he needed to get his bearings before he put himself in danger and risked dying. Again.
Stubbornly ignoring the fact that he was half the age he used to be, Issac took in the rest of the room. Besides the unkempt bed and splintered window, there were holes on the ceiling where the sunlight could pierce through. Issac opened the window, wincing as the midday sun seared his eyes. Small clumps of dust had gathered in the corners of the room. He certainly wasn't in a well-off portion of Plegia. A small storage box was opposite the bed, and a dirty mirror was affixed to the wall above it.
Issac rushed to the mirror. He was relieved that his appearance had stayed the same: blue eyes, brown hair, and far too pale to be a native desert-dweller. If nothing else, he was grateful The Being had let his looks stay the same. Then again, perhaps watching a 'Gamer' who wasn't comfortable in their own skin made for a less entertaining watch.
Once more, the familiar red screen popped up in front of his face.
Quest Received!
Objective: Discover where you are in Plegia.
Reward: 100 EXP, 1 Attribute Point
Failure: Impossible
Accept? Yes/No.
Now this guy is giving out quests? And he's giving out attribute points? What the hell?! The implications of this were incredibly alarming. If he finished too many quests too quickly, he wouldn't be able to conceal himself for long. Hopefully, whoever his benefactor was would pace himself for the sake of his own amusement.
Accepting the quest, Issac finally looked out the window. He squinted under the harsh sunlight, looking down at the ground to lessen the stinging sensation. As he did, Issac saw a group of disheveled villagers shuffling through the main street. Their clothes were riddled with holes, their skin vacuumed against their bones.
Issac gasped when one of the villagers locked eyes with him. The half-starved man delivered a hollow gaze, making the boy's neck hair shoot straight up. Issac's legs shook, struggling to hold him up as the man below seemingly couldn't register his presence.
Frightened, Issac ran from the room. He was in a long hallway, with six doors leading the way to a set of stairs going down. The boy opened the doors, crestfallen when they were all nearly exact replicas of the room he woke up in: worn beds and blankets, storage boxes‒all of which were empty‒and cracked mirrors nailed to the walls. Was he in a halfway house or something? Where was everybody?
Issac made his way downstairs. The silence made him start shaking again, but a sudden groan from his stomach pushed that aside. He found a kitchen area, with a dozen chairs sitting at a table far too large for a single family to use. A fireplace with a large hanging pot was huddled in the corner of the room. There were a handful of cupboards across from the table. Pulling a chair to compensate for his reduced stature, Issac was dismayed as each door was completely empty.
Am I going to starve to death?
"Oh, thank the gods you're awake!"
Issac did not yelp as he turned to face the speaker behind him. Two people were coming through the front door. The first was an older woman. Her soft brown eyes were at odds with the harsh lines pressed into her thin frame. She wore a slightly mottled brown gown, and held up her graying blonde hair in a messy bun. A relieved, if tired smile adorned her, and Issac found himself naturally calming as he locked eyes with her.
The second person, however, immediately shot his heart rate into the stratosphere. A tall man was walking behind the woman, his red hair slightly dulled with age. Wrinkles were on full display, though Issac saw they were from a combination of age and laughter. He wore a tan shirt and olive pants, with a dull green pauldron resting atop his shoulder. A blade was attached to his hip, which Issac tried not thinking about as he tried to figure out what the hell was going on.
Observe [MAX] discovered! Allows you to have a greater insight into objects and people. Say or think 'observe' to activate this ability. I would recommend not speaking out loud if you want to avoid getting attention.
Thanks, asshole. 'Observe.'
Gregor, The Wandering Mercenary
Tier 3, Level 6
Stats: ?
That was much less helpful than Issac had hoped. He couldn't see any of Gregor's stats? There must be a limit to this skill that he wasn't aware of. One other thing stood out to him, and he had no answers coming off the top of his head.
Mysterious Benefactor? What does 'Tier' mean, exactly?
Tiers are this world's representation of power. There are 5 tiers in total: Tier 1 is for civilians, Tier 2 is for regular military-strength soldiers, Tier 3 is where the 'special forces' usually stay, and Tier 4 exists for the pinnacle of what mankind can accomplish. Even the monsters of humanity can't break through this Tier.
Issac gulped. Then… who's on the final Tier?
Grima and Naga, of course!
Of course. He only had to get to Tier 4 to stand a chance against this world's God of Destruction. Without putting a target on his back. 'God'?
Yes?
Fuck you.
A soft hand pressed against his forehead shocked Issac out of his thoughts. The woman had a tight frown, concern practically pouring out from her. She lifted him down from the chair and hugged him with surprising strength.
"I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you when you woke up! Gregor and I were just out getting some food. I'll get some lunch prepared, okay? You must be starving!"
The woman dashed to Gregor, swiping the bags the mercenary was holding (how did he miss that detail?) and made her way to the cooking pot. While she was humming a tune to herself, Issac stood locking eyes with Gregor. The mercenary smiled, but Issac could see curiosity bubbling behind his eyes.
"Gregor is glad you survived," the warrior said. "Gregor saw you buried under many corpses. Nasty bandits are nasty, yes?"
Issac furrowed his brow. "Umm… bandits? I don't… I'm sorry, but I don't remember how I got here."
Gregor nodded. "Is scary, yes. Sometimes wee ones forget." He knelt down, putting a calloused hand on Issac's shoulder. "Gregor fought off bandits looking for survivors. Carried you to Verona's house. You be safer here than with caravan."
Issac turned to the now‒identified Verona. The middle aged woman pressed a hand against the wall near the fireplace, surprised when he saw it turn and revealed a small hidden room. When she came out, his jaw dropped when he saw her carrying a large clay vase with a wooden ladle. She set it down in front of the cooking pot, pouring surprisingly clear water into the container.
Like a machine, Verona went to the kitchen table and started chopping the potatoes, tomatoes, and multicolored peppers with speed that bordered on baffling. Issac watched in wonder as the woman cut her way through the majority of the food in barely a minute, dropping the minced pieces into the boiling water and closing the lid.
Satisfied with her work, Verona spun around to face Issac once again. "Welcome to Graycott village, dear. I'm so glad to see you weren't hurt by the bandits. Gregor made sure to carry you here as fast as he could."
Gregor laughed, a hand on his stomach in genuine joy. "Is nothing. Gregor is happy to help little one be safe. Especially if Gregor could see beautiful lady smile!"
Verona's hand covered her face, unable to hide the blush igniting your cheeks. "Oh, stop it, you silver-tongued devil."
"Gregor has been called that many times before, yes."
Issac paled, already wishing he could bleach his ears. "Umm… not to interrupt your… whatever you're doing, but where exactly am I?" Both adults blinked, confusion evident on their faces. Verona spoke first.
"You don't know where we are?"
Issac shuffled uncomfortably. "I mean, I know you said we're in Graycott village, but I don't know where in Plegia that is."
Gregor put a hand to his chin, seemingly lost in thought. "Graycott is in northeast part of Plegia. General Mustafa protects his people well. Better than bandit-captains pretending they official military, at least."
Quest Completed!
You are in Graycott Village, a small community on the north-eastern portion of Plegia.
Reward: 100 EXP, 1 Attribute Point
Quest Received!
Objective: Survive until your sixteenth birthday.
Bonus Objective 1: ?
Bonus Objective 2: ?
Reward: 20,000 EXP, ?, ?
Failure: Conscription into the Plegian army, certain death at the hands of the Shepherds.
Accept? Yes/No.
Issac practically leapt from where he stood. The alert couldn't have come at a worse time. The Being just had to choose this exact moment to send that damned screen. Verona and Gregor would have questions, questions that he wouldn't be able to give any reasonable answers for.
Verona knelt down in front of Issac, wrapping him in another hug. "Oh my. You must feel so confused. Don't worry, dear; I'll make sure you'll always have a bed here."
Issac paused for two reasons. First, Verona's hug was very, very nice. He found himself relaxing into her embrace almost immediately. When was the last time someone hugged him? Not knowing the answer made him more uncomfortable than he liked to admit.
The second, more pressing reason was the fact that Verona was in the middle of the screen. She didn't seem to be reacting to The Being's projection. Could people not feel Its presence in this world?
And that second quest? There was no way Issac wouldn't accept it. He had no idea why living until sixteen was so important, but he could hazard a guess; conscription would likely begin at that age, so he might be able to choose where he went if he proved himself. Mentally accepting the quest, Issac decided he needed to train as soon and as intensely as possible.
A high pitched hissing sound broke the two out from their hug. Verona gave a soft smile, wiping the beginnings of tears from her eyes. "I'll get the food ready. Why don't you and Gregor sit at the table?"
Nodding, Issac moved on autopilot to the table. The large redhead sat across from him, giving him a soft look that made him feel way more uncomfortable than he would've felt if he were his original age. Curse my childhood nerves coming back with a vengeance!
"Verona is nice woman, yes?" Gregor said. The mercenary's eyes followed the woman with a fondness Issac didn't know he could possess. "You be good to her, wee one. She helps many like you."
Issac looked away, barely registering the bowl Verona placed in front of him. "Like me?"
"Lost. Alone. Scared." Issac flinched at Gregor's words. "Why are you scared, little one?"
"My name is Issac," the Gamer said. "Please don't call me 'wee one' or 'little one'. It makes me feel small."
Gregor laughed. "Issac is small one. Still, Gregor listens to wee one's request. Gregor try to remember not using Issac's nickname."
Issac gave a flat smile, which just made the two adults chuckle. Content, despite himself, he joined the adults as they dug into their meal. The soup was far more delicious than he thought it would be, considering the run-down appearance of Verona's home. In a scant few minutes, Issac drained his first cup and went to fill up for seconds.
When he returned to the table, he stared at the steaming food.
"I am scared," Issac admitted. When he looked up, he saw Gregor and Verona watching him with patient eyes. "I'm scared of being as hungry as the people here all seem to be. I'm scared of what's going to happen between us and Ylisse. I don't want to die for Mad King Gangrel and his revenge fantasies."
Surprisingly, neither of the adults looked affronted by his words. Gregor was more understandable; he was just a mercenary until the Shepherds recruited him. Politics weren't something that concerned the large man. Verona, with her deeply tanned skin, was likely a Plegian native. She would be just as likely to be in support of Gangrel as opposed to him. Knowing that she wasn't consumed by hatred was a great relief.
"As much as I agree with you, Issac," Verona said. "I don't think it's wise to say that thought out loud. We don't know who's listening these days. Be very careful with who you talk about this with, okay?" At Issac's affirmative shake, Verona smiled again, fondly ruffling his hair.
The trio returned to their meal, eating in comfortable silence. Gregor, Issac noticed, seemed to be lost in thought. Seeing the jolly mercenary screwing his face in concentration was a mildly disturbing sight for the boy to witness. When Gregor caught his eye, his gaze intensified.
"Issac not wanting to be hungry, yes?"
Issac nodded. The hot meal was only just able to stave off a wave of chills when the image of the gaunt man flashed into his mind again. He never wanted to feel as hopeless or lost as that man.
"Gregor train wee one. Make Issac strong enough to never go hungry." Issac's brain froze at the older man's offer.
"Wh-what? You want to train me?" This was a blessing. So much so that Issac was forced to be suspicious. What kind of fucked up shit are you going to throw my way, 'God'? Surprisingly, there wasn't a response to his question, which just made his suspicions grow.
Verona glared at Gregor, obviously not pleased with the direction this conversation was going. "Issac is just a boy, Gregor. He looks barely ten years old!"
Issac blushed, cursing his younger appearance once again. "I'm actually fourteen, Verona."
Issac flinched when he became the target of her glare. "Because that makes things so much better. You aren't going to be fighting until you get drafted, and that's still two years from now."
Gregor shook his head, a frown sitting on his face. "Wee one might not have choice. Garrick and other bandits want more fighters. Issac not strong enough to protect himself. Gregor help him grow strong."
Verona locked eyes with Gregor, both daring the other to refute their own points. Verona's fists were clenched hard enough to tremor, but Gregor stayed cool under her death stare. Verona was the first to blink, turning to glare at the table instead.
"Fine. You win. I probably can't keep him safe any better than he can right now."
Gregor squeezed Verona's shoulder. Despite herself, the older woman relaxed under the weathered touch. When she looked up, she was met with a grin softer than someone of his profession should have.
"Gregor stay for month. New contract not starting yet. When Gregor leave, Issac protect himself and you, guaranteed!"
Issac swallowed at the implications. Getting trained by one of the strongest people in the world would prepare him for the chaos that would engulf it over the next decade. On the other hand, it meant that The Being was already getting ready to throw him into the deep end.
Still, I do need to get strong. I won't even make it to the game's prologue if I don't become strong enough.
Quest Received!
Objective: Train with Gregor for the next month.
Bonus Objective: Reach 'D' rank with at least one weapon type.
Reward: 1000 EXP, increased relationship with Gregor, ?
Failure: Forced conscription by Garrick, inevitable death to the Shepherds.
Accept? Yes/No.
"Okay," Issac said, mentally accepting the quest. "I'm ready. I'll do whatever I can to keep us safe. I promise."
Gregor beamed, bright teeth nearly blinding Issac. "Is good hearing! Gregor take you to secret training spot. Pack one day of food and drink. We travel small distance for privacy."
Issac sighed, already dreading how much he'll be aching by the end of the day. He was going to be in for a hellish month. In a rush, Issac gathered up the now-empty bowls and scrubbed them down in the kitchen. His face reddened as the two adults laughed at his exuberance. At the moment, he needed to collect his thoughts.
It's better than being conscripted, Issac thought. Being forced to raze the Ylissean countryside and getting killed by the Shepherds was not how he wanted to die in this world. With a little luck, maybe he would be able to join Chrom and Robin on their path to defeating Gangrel.
Come on, you piece of metal. Budge!
A pair of metal shards, shavings from one of Gregor's old iron swords, were jammed into a locked chest. Uncovered in a pile of refuse on the edge of town, Issac was determined to take advantage of his Locktouch ability to see what was inside. Unlike the game version of this skill, however, it wasn't an automatic success. He needed practice to become a master locksmith. While annoying in the beginning, Issac knew the reward would be worth the effort.
With a twist of his hand, Issac felt something click. Holding his breath, he opened the chest. A bronze lance was inside. Lifting it from the case, the Plegian boy planted the weapon on the ground. At six feet tall, it was nearly two feet taller than Issac. A lance of this size would be awkward for now, but it would be a fantastic weapon when he reached his full height.
Quest Completed!
Unlock your first chest. Now that you know how to unlock a chest without a key, the next will be even easier.
P.S. This is your 'starting equipment'. Make the most of it, because I'm not going to be this generous again!
Reward: 100 EXP, The item held within the chest.
Generous isn't the word I'd use to describe it. Observe.
Bronze Lance: E-Rank weapon. The most common, yet weakest variety of lances. Usually used by farmers and new recruits as a basic weapon.
Damage: 3+STR(1) = 4
Durability: 50/50
Well, that's certainly interesting. Now that he was halfway to level 2, he needed to figure out how to start training his skills with weapons. He was too young to fight bandits, considering his current stats, but he needed somewhere to practice.
"Wee one find weapon? You have great luck!"
Issac's face twitched. Gregor still hadn't dropped that nickname; maybe kicking his ass in a spar would get him to stop?
"I'm just glad I got it open before my skin started going red." Wiping the grease off his hands, Issac stretched the kinks out of his muscles. Crouching over a chest for an hour was exhausting. Standing up, he pulled his too-large tan cloak over his face. Being so pale was a pain in the ass. It wouldn't have been too much to pre-tan himself before being dropped in the worst climate for him, would it?
"Is a good point," Gregor said. "We need to go to cave be only short distance away. Gregor private training needs stone ground to begin."
"What do we have here, Crowley? A baby chick and a papa chick! I bet it'll be fun to watch them bleed!"
Issac froze. Turning, he saw a boy a few years older than him. His white hair fell to his shoulders, with bright pink eyes peering down at him. A too-wide smile stretched across his face, a small raven perched on his shoulder. Issac swallowed his fear; He had a feeling he knew who this was.
Observe.
Henry, The Dark Magus
Tier 1, Level 4
Age: 16
HP: 18
STR: 6
MAG: 8
SKL: 9
SPD: 6
LK: 8
DEF: 6
RES: 3
"You just used some peculiar magic, little man! You look like you'd be fun to fight."
Gregor's hand clasped Issac's shoulder, allowing to stop his hands from shaking. "I don't think it would be a fair fight." Henry frowned, urging Issac to speak faster. "I'm only fourteen. I barely know what I'm doing."
"Wee one speaks truth, stranger," Gregor said. He leveled an impassive gaze at Henry. "Gregor is much stronger than you, little one. If white-haired wishes to be living, he should leave us alone."
Henry snickered, almost doubling over himself. "But that would be so much fun! Much more than fighting the bandits, at least."
"Bandits?" Issac shivered at Gregor's tone. It was the first time the mercenary spoke without his usual cheer. Issac was very glad to be on his good side, and vowed to make sure it stayed that way.
Henry bounced in glee. "Uh-huh! Mustafa said there were bandits in a cave nearby. He wanted me to stay away from them for my safety, but that wouldn't be as fun as tearing them to shreds!"
Quest Received!
Objective: Kill the bandits with Henry and Gregor.
Bonus Objective 1: ?
Bonus Objective 2: ?
Bonus Objective 3: ?
Reward: 500 EXP, Friendship with Henry, Improved relationship with Gregor, ?, ?
Failure: Friendship with Henry locked, Train with Gregor Quest automatically failed, Graycott Village looted.
Accept? Yes/No.
Looks like I don't have much choice, do I? The lack of commentary didn't settle his nerves at all, but he knew what he had to do. Issac sighed, pressing the yes button as he held out a hand for Henry.
"Why don't we work together?" Issac asked, pulling away from Gregor's grip. "You want to kill people, and those bandits are in our way. Right, Gregor?"
Gregor frowned. "Gregor not comfortable with Issac fighting bandits without training. Wee one should wait outside cave for all bandits to being dead."
"Isn't that why you want me to keep this?" Issac thrust his newly acquired lance towards the taller man, still holding an arm towards Henry. "I need to get stronger. The bandits in the cave are in the way of that, and they're too close to the village to leave alone."
"Wee one is right," Gregor grudgingly admitted. "Bandits must be dying before they make Graycott be dying ones."
Henry stared at Issac's hand, a swirl of identifiable emotions clashing across his face. "You want to kill people with me?" Issac nearly flinched at the sheer wonder in his tone. "You aren't afraid of having me make your blood go flying?"
"What can I say?" Issac said, "You look like you could use a friend. I want someone my age to help me get stronger. I can work with that."
Issac nearly sagged with relief when Henry shook his hand, a curious, softer smile on his face. "You have yourself a deal, 'wee one'!"
"Not you too!" Issac groaned when he heard Gregor's laughter behind him. "Call me Issac. Please. I can't handle two people calling me that."
"I don't know, Issac. You're pretty small, even for a kid." The dark mage cackled at the glower the shorter boy gave him. "Still, you got a good point there. I'm Henry! Let's have a good bloody time together."
Issac grinned at the one person in Plegia who was paler than himself. "I'm sure there'll be enough blood to pass around." He turned towards Gregor, watching him finally gather himself from his latest bout of laughter.
"Lead the way, Gregor. This is your cave, right?"
"Aye," the mercenary said. "Follow Gregor. Stay close."
With that, the newly formed trio made their way through the sands. Issac knew this would be a significant turning point; with The Being giving him allies who would eclipse their peers in power within a decade, he had no idea what to expect.
Still, it can't go to shit this early, right?
Thank you, everyone, for your patience while this update happened. Getting fired from my job put a massive spanner on my writing plans. I might have something lined up in the near future, but it's not a guarantee.
And there we have it! The new chapter one is here. I decided I needed to add an experienced veteran to help give Issac a bit of a head start. On top of that, I felt that I had missed out on filling in details that would flesh out the story. Issac now takes his situation a bit more seriously, and is asking questions that I believe most people would when suddenly becoming an Isekai protagonist. There'll be more questions as he continues living in the new world.
Chapter 2 will be uploaded in the very near future. I have a few things I need to touch up before I'm totally comfortable putting it online. Let me know what you guys think. See you all next time!