Fire Emblem : The Holy War

by RyanMk2

Follow Ray, sent into the world of his favorite game and the trials he will have to face in order to survive. However, this is not simply a story about his survival, but also about his desire to help and protect the bonds he made in this new world. Will he be able to save everybody ? Or will he succomb, yet again to forces greater than him ? Rated M just in case.

10. Chapter 8

Hello Everyone !

Happy New Year and welcome for the newest chapter of The Holy War ! I hope the year started well enough for all of you and those close to you too.

As for me, things started well thankfully. So much in fact that I was delayed in releasing this chapter by around two weeks ! Nevertheless, it is finally here. So, enjoy.

Review

Kamaitachi Iiza : Well, I will use some of the more Canon pairings, like Claude and Lewyn. But for some it might be a bit unorthodox.

Friendly reminder :

Ishtar is the best ! = Text from the System

"Ishtar is the best !" = Talking

'Ishtar is the best !' = Thoughts

*Ishtar is the best !* = Sound effect

Copyright Disclaimer : I don't own anything about this fanfic, except for its OCs. Everything else belongs to their respective creators, and they're the ones that deserve praise.

---

Chapter 8 : A perfect plan demands a perfect execution.

Oifey and I hurriedly followed the soldier down the hallway toward the room Sigurd had designated as the war room. It was a fair distance from the library, which gave me ample time to notice two things: the nervousness practically radiating off Oifey and the persistent absence of the System window. Unfortunately, both would have to wait as the soldier opened the door to our destination.

Inside, the room was spacious, dominated by a large table at its center. Seated close to each other were two familiar figures. Sigurd immediately looked up at the sound of the door opening, his expression warm despite the gravity of the situation. The second figure, Quan, remained focused on the pile of papers stacked neatly on his side of the table, his attention unwavering.

"Thank you for bringing them so quickly. You're dismissed," Sigurd said, nodding toward the soldier. The man bowed and left without a word. I watched him leave, trying to puzzle out the reason I'd been summoned here.

When I turned back, Oifey had already taken his place beside Sigurd, his eyes scanning the documents on the table with a quiet intensity. The resemblance to Quan was striking, almost uncanny, though I doubted either of them realized it.

I made my way to the remaining chair, which was beside Quan. As I settled into my seat, he finally acknowledged my presence with a brief glance before returning to his work.

"I believe this is everyone now, Sigurd?" Quan asked without looking up, his voice calm and steady.

"Indeed," Sigurd replied, chuckling softly at his friend's relentless focus. For a moment, I wondered what the two had been discussing before Oifey and I arrived.

Sigurd finally decided to break the silence.

"First of all, let me make something clear: the situation is not as dire as it seems."

I blinked, my mind grinding to a halt at the unexpected statement. Surely, he wasn't being serious? My confusion must have been obvious because Sigurd quickly elaborated.

"I'm not saying we shouldn't move swiftly to rescue Edain—far from it. But charging in without a plan or proper preparation would be disastrous."

Ah. That made sense. Although, I couldn't help but be surprised that the usually impulsive Sigurd was the one suggesting caution—

"Actually, I was the one who told him that," Quan interjected, his deep voice drawing the room's attention. He still hadn't lifted his eyes from his work, though the faintest hint of a smirk tugged at the corners of his lips.

When I looked back at Sigurd, he was smiling awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck as he coughed into his hand. Subtle.

"Regardless," he said, clearing his throat to regain the room's attention, "we need to take action soon. The reports we've received—" he gestured toward the pile of papers on the table "—have been... 'informative,' to say the least. We now know that Edain was last seen at Evans Castle, where she was being held by Prince Munnir along with the rest of the forces he brought with him."

"Apparently, Munnir was smart enough to raise the drawbridge, leaving us stranded on this side while he scampered back to his castle," Quan said, sliding a piece of paper toward Oifey. The boy quickly scribbled something on it, his concentration unwavering. "If they had fully committed to that move, we'd have been stuck here for quite some time."

"Even with the bridge inaccessible, we would have found a way," Sigurd interjected hastily, his voice brimming with conviction. "It would have just taken us a bit more time to figure it out."

Quan waved off the comment dismissively. "Yes, yes. Fortunately for us, the man Munnir left behind wasn't smart enough to fully commit to his orders. Either that, or he thought reclaiming Yngvi from us would be easy. Whatever the case, he made a fatal mistake."

The pieces began to fall into place in my mind. "So, the drawbridge has been lowered?" I asked, though I already suspected the answer.

Sigurd grinned at me. "Exactly."

That was good news. Everything seemed to be progressing smoothly, and the overarching plot hadn't deviated much. Still, there was something I couldn't quite piece together.

"Then why did you call for me? Was it just to inform me of this so I can prepare?" Surely, there were more critical people to brief first—or perhaps Sigurd had a specific task in mind?

Sigurd hesitated, the twist of his lips suggesting he was unsure how to answer. Thankfully, Quan didn't share his reluctance.

"The truth is, I heard about what you did back in Chalphy before the battle began." His voice was calm but carried an undertone of curiosity. "Naturally, I was skeptical at first, but when Sigurd's most trusted aides all confirmed the story, I couldn't just dismiss it."

Ah, so he was referring to when I'd used the wind to gather intelligence on the enemy troops and Yngvi's general situation.

"I won't beat around the bush," Quan continued, finally lifting his gaze from his work to meet mine. The intensity of his expression left no room for doubt. "Can you do it again? Any additional information we can get would be invaluable."

His seriousness was palpable, and I had no reason to refuse him. Still, there was just one small complication...

[ERROR]

[ERROR]

[ERROR]

[THE SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY FACING AN UNKNOWN ERROR AND HAS TO UNDERGO MAINTENANCE]

I hesitated, knowing the explanation wouldn't be convincing, but it was all I had. "Well, actually, I can't really use that right now…" Sigurd tilted his head slightly, his confusion evident, while Quan's gaze remained sharp and unreadable. "…The truth is, my magic has been a bit erratic for the past few days, and I can't use most of my spells safely."

That was partially true. My situation wasn't something I could explain without sounding insane, so I stuck with the simplest version of events.

"I see," Quan replied curtly, his eyes narrowing slightly as if evaluating the honesty of my words.

Sigurd, on the other hand, was far less restrained. "Wait, are you okay? Have you seen a healer about this? You did see one, didn't you?"

His concern was genuine, and I couldn't help but feel a small pang of guilt. "Yes, I have, but they couldn't find anything wrong." It was as true as it was frustrating.

Of course, no healer in this world could fix what was happening to me. I was waiting for something entirely outside of their comprehension—something known as a "system maintenance". If this System functioned like the video games I'd known from my past life, it wouldn't take more than a day. At least, that's what I hoped for.

Sigurd frowned, his worry unabated. "If it gets worse, let us know immediately. We can't afford to lose anyone right now—especially not to something preventable."

Quan finally spoke, his voice calm yet cutting. "If you can't perform the task, we'll adjust. But if there's any chance you recover in time, we'll need every resource we can muster."

I nodded, grateful they weren't pressing the matter further. "I'll let you know if anything changes. For now, I can still fight."

Quan leaned back slightly, his posture as measured as ever. "Good. Then let's move on to planning. We still have a war to win."

Sigurd gave me one last worried glance, still looking unconvinced despite his past words. "Did you check with Ethlyn ?" he asked almost instantaneously, his tone sharp enough to make me flinch. His eyes narrowed slightly, leaving me wondering if he had already been expecting this all along, his expression unreadable yet piercing.

"Well, no, it was someone else." The lie slipped out with surprising ease, my mind racing to justify it. I could just claim that whoever I was referring to had already left, or was otherwise unavailable. Or maybe I'd come up with something else if pressed. Either way, I kept my face neutral, hoping he wouldn't notice the slight hitch in my voice.

"Do you mind checking up with her, please?" he asked, his tone softening slightly. "I'm not disregarding the person you saw before; it's just to be safe. Especially since you don't know the reason for that. It's better to have a second opinion." His logic was sound, and his concern for me was obvious. I couldn't really say no—not when he phrased it like that.

"Fine. I will," I replied, sighing in defeat. As the words left my mouth, I caught the faintest flicker of a smile curling at the corner of his lips, like he knew he had won.

"Oh, right. Since you're going there right now, would you be so kind as to give her this?" He reached into his pocket and handed me a folded piece of paper, its surface still faintly smudged with ink. Whatever it was, he must have written it just moments ago. The temptation to unfold it and see what it said flared briefly in my mind, but I pushed it aside. It wasn't my place to pry.

"Sure, I'll do that," I said, taking the paper carefully, as though it carried more weight than it looked. I turned toward the door, my thoughts already spinning, but his voice stopped me mid-step.

"Oifey, do you mind going with him? You never know what can happen on the way."

"Not at all." The response came so quickly I barely had time to process it. Before I could even turn around, the boy was already at my side, his presence so sudden it made my pulse quicken.

"Please, allow me," he said with an almost formal politeness, his hand gesturing toward the door like he was escorting royalty. His expression was calm, but there was a quiet intensity in his gaze that made me wonder if he knew something I didn't.

"Okaayyy…" He quickly opened the door,standing before it to allow me to pass. Before I was completely out, I managed to catch Sigurd's expression as he was looking at us. The smile on his face was unnerving to say the least.

Oifey promptly closed the door behind him and proceeded to walk beside me. Our route was uneventful, our strides relaxed, but I couldn't continue to pretend not to notice when he was fidgeting so much at my side. So I decided to take the first step.

"If there's anything you want to say, you can just tell me, you know. I don't bite." My voice cut through the silence, startling him. He blinked rapidly, clearly pulled out of some deep thought, his expression a mixture of surprise and confusion.

He placed a hand over his chest and exhaled deeply, the tension visibly leaving his shoulders. "Is it true? That you're sick, I mean." His voice carried a hesitancy, like he wasn't sure if he should ask.

This kid…

"Well, there is something wrong with my magic, but I wouldn't say that I'm sick, no," I replied, trying to keep my tone even, though the subject was a sore one.

"Something wrong with your magic?" He tilted his head to the side, his brows furrowed as he tried to piece together what I'd just said. He looked like a curious bird studying a puzzle it couldn't quite crack.

"I don't know how to explain it myself," I admitted with a small shrug. "Just know that I can't use it for the time being." My frustration with the situation bubbled just beneath the surface. Losing access to my magic wasn't just inconvenient—it was crippling.

"Hmm." He leaned forward slightly, studying me with the intensity of someone trying to solve a riddle. "You do look fine. Maybe it's only temporary then! Like being unable to cast spells because of mana exhaustion?" His tone brightened, the worry in his eyes replaced by curiosity. It was so like him—ever the bookworm, always theorizing.

"Something like that, I guess." I didn't have the heart to dive into the full complexity of it.

"Although," he continued, his finger tapping thoughtfully against his chin, "the timing is a bit bad." His words hung in the air, the gravity of our current situation sinking in. "We'll most likely be going into battle tomorrow morning. Being unable to use any magic means you won't be participating?"

His concern brought a small smile to my face. "Don't worry about me," I assured him, leaning back slightly. "I'm quite good with a sword too." A faint memory of my training days flashed in my mind—sparring tirelessly with the finest knight of Agustria. That time hadn't been wasted.

"Oh! That's right!" He clapped his hands together, his enthusiasm infectious. "I've only ever heard of elites from magical houses like Friege and Fala being able to do that. Does that mean you're as good as them?"

Me? As good as someone like Reinhardt? The thought nearly made me laugh out loud. Maybe someday, but right now, I'd be lucky to last a few seconds against someone of his caliber. Still, I couldn't bring myself to deflate his excitement. "Not quite," I replied, smirking faintly, "but close enough."

"Hmm?" He tilted his head again, clearly intrigued.

"Let's just say I had a knack for it, and I got lucky," I said, keeping my tone light. It wasn't entirely false. This body, while deprived of the ability to cast magic, had an undeniable gift with the blade. As for me, I'd somehow gain a talent for magic despite having no prior experience. Luck? Fate? Whatever it was, I'd learned to accept it.

Oifey opened his mouth to speak again, but before he could, my gaze snapped toward the open window. Something outside had caught my attention—a faint sound, barely audible over the quiet hum of the room.

"What's wrong, mister?" he asked, concern flickering across his face.

I didn't respond. My focus was entirely on the scene unfolding in the distance. A flash of orange light illuminated the horizon, brief but unmistakable. My heart sank. I didn't just hear it—I saw it too.

An explosion.

I turned back toward the boy at my side, my mind racing as I quickly decided on my next move. Dropping to one knee, I grasped his shoulders firmly, meeting his gaze with a determined intensity. "Oifey, I'm going to ask you for a favor."

He blinked, startled, and then swallowed hard. The nervousness creeping across his face was unmistakable, but it was good—he understood the gravity of the situation. "Y–yes?"

"Take this paper and deliver it to Lady Ethlyn. After that, go to Lord Sigurd and tell him that a guest will be arriving soon. A very important one at that."

"A guest?" His brow furrowed as his curiosity momentarily outweighed his apprehension. "Is he the reason you're acting like this?"

Despite the tension in the air, I couldn't help but smile at him. His ability to ask questions, even now, was admirable. "Yes," I admitted, my tone softening just slightly. "He's someone we need to be careful around. We must keep our cards close to our chest and avoid revealing too much. You understand what I'm saying, right?"

His confusion gave way to realization, his eyes widening as the pieces clicked into place. I nodded, satisfied that he'd caught on.

Standing, I glanced back out the window, my focus sharpening on the direction of the orange flash. It wouldn't be long now. From behind me, Oifey's voice rang out, his words steady despite his earlier unease. "I'll deliver your message perfectly. You can count on me!"

I didn't turn to watch him go. His footsteps fading down the corridor were all the confirmation I needed. Taking a deep breath, I stepped up to the windowsill and swung a leg over. The castle was at ground level, so the drop wasn't far, but the fresh chill of the air outside hit me like a jolt.

Without hesitation, I leapt down, landing lightly on my feet. Straightening, I set off toward the area where the flash of light had originated. Each step brought me closer, my mind replaying the vivid memory of that fiery glow. Whoever or whatever caused it was bound to bring trouble, and I needed to be ready.

---

"When His Majesty asked me to observe the battle, I hardly expected to see Chalphy struggle against simple barbarians. Sigurd... So this is all you've amounted to…"

When I heard these words somehow coming from who knows where and through the window, I was shocked for more than one reason.

Firstly, the fact that I heard him when he was such a distance away even with a horse must've meant that my skills were back. However, that wasn't the case.

[ERROR]

[THE SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY FACING AN UNKNOWN ERROR AND HAS TO UNDERGO MAINTENANCE]

Secondly, to be perfectly honest, I had forgotten that he was going to make an appearance… For my defense, I have been swept up in so many things lately that I barely had enough time to think by myself.

'I had to deal with Quan, Ethlyn, Midir, Oifey then Sigurd and Quan one after the other. Ugh.'

Lastly… Have I mentioned before how much I hate this guy ?

"If I had known the wind would carry the stench of this man right to my face I would have made sure to close all the windows in the castle." I grumbled in as low a voice as possible so as not to be overheard.

Unfortunately, either because I was not quiet enough or due to some exceptional hearing, the redhead was still able to catch what I said, or part of it at the very least. "Hmm ? Did you say something ?" He asked with chilling politeness in an effort to hide the fact that he heard me, so I couldn't reply otherwise.

"That it was such an honor for me to escort the Duke of Velthomer himself to our base." Of course, that was a lie. Thankfully, he didn't seem to notice. Or he didn't care enough to offer any sort of rebuttal.

As such, I was left to think in silence about the events that led to this particular situation.

As soon as I jumped through the window, I got ready to move towards his location on foot before being reminded that I couldn't move quite as fast as I did before. As such, I was forced to acquire a horse from the stable. Thankfully, the whole process didn't take very long as the person in charge at that moment was Alec. He simply waved his hand at my words, barely listening to what I was saying while pointing towards one of the mares closest to the door before adding "She is obedient and quick. I am sure she'll do well enough."

I thanked the man quickly before picking up my mount and riding at full speed towards the 'guest'. I wasn't in any particular haste to find him, but he was surely coming here at full throttle. Quickly meeting up with him and offering to escort him to the castle would give me a certain amount of control over the speed at which he'll reach the castle, hopefully giving Oifey enough time to get everything ready. Or so I thought.

"Shouldn't we go faster than this ? Last I've heard the princess of Yngvi still hasn't been saved. Are you sure you can loaf around here ?" Why would you be concerned with that you stuck-up son of a b- "And I need to complete the king's order quickly so that I can go back to his side." Eh. Fair enough. I also didn't want him near us anyway and disagreeing with his wishes without any valid reason will be bad.

"As you will. Giddy-up !" The horses neighed at the sudden command before promptly picking up speed.

Moving as fast as we did, it didn't take long for us to see the castle at the horizon. It was only a question of time before we reached the gates. Of course, I made sure to use the back gate, and I was thankful when Arvis did not ask me why. Whether it is because he knew why or did not care enough to ask, it was to my advantage, since I did not want his arrival to be known unnecessarily.

Passing through the gates, I was surprised to find Sigurd already waiting there for us near the entrance. Oifey was a small distance away, looking at me with a nervous smile. I nodded towards him with a smile of my own, hoping that it was enough to convey my appreciation for a job well done. The shy smile he was harboring broadened almost immediately at that, and he practically jumped towards me and took the reins of my horse from me, leading it towards the stable.

On the other side, Sigurd and Arvis finally began speaking.

"Duke Arvis!" Sigurd's voice carried a note of astonishment. It was clear that when Oifey warned him of an important guest, he hadn't envisioned coming face-to-face with the Duke of Velthomer himself.

"It has been too long, Lord Sigurd." Arvis's greeting was short and formal, yet it wasn't cold. It carried just enough warmth to make his presence feel less intimidating, though Sigurd still seemed to be struggling to mask his surprise.

"I heard from our reports that you were caught in a skirmish in the forest to the north," Sigurd continued, his voice steady but laced with curiosity.

The memory was still fresh in my mind. The acrid stench of burnt flesh had lingered in the air when I found Arvis, and judging by the distance he'd traveled before I intercepted him, the skirmish must've been sizable.

"Indeed," Arvis replied smoothly, his tone betraying no emotion. "I encountered a group of Verdane soldiers on my way here. It appeared they were heading toward this castle... but you need not worry about them any longer."

He didn't elaborate, but I knew the truth: Arvis had reduced the entire group to ash with his flames.

"That is good to know… How fares the campaign against Isaach?" Sigurd asked, his concern faint but detectable to those who knew him well.

"The outcome has already been decided," Arvis stated confidently. "Your father will likely be among the first to return triumphant."

A flicker of relief crossed Sigurd's face. His shoulders seemed to relax slightly, the tension melting away at the news that his father was alive and well. Even Arvis appeared genuinely convinced by his own words, though his expression remained composed.

"Then, if I may ask... what brings you all the way here?" Sigurd's curiosity had returned, though his tone remained respectful.

"His Majesty is concerned," Arvis replied. "He has asked me to observe the situation here and has entrusted me with this—a gift for you." He gestured to the bundle of cloth strapped to his horse and handed it to Sigurd.

Sigurd accepted it eagerly, unwrapping the cloth to reveal a gleaming silver blade. The sword caught the sunlight, its metallic surface shimmering brilliantly. "This is... a silver sword!" Sigurd exclaimed, the awe in his voice unmistakable. "A gift from His Majesty, you say?"

Arvis nodded. "His Majesty extends his gratitude for your swift action in taking to the front lines. He asked me to present this to you personally."

"Oh, what an honor!" Sigurd said, his excitement evident. "Lord Arvis, please convey my deepest thanks to the king for this incredible gift!"

"Very well," Arvis replied, his tone as composed as ever. Then, with a slight shift in his expression, he added, "Incidentally, Sigurd, rumor has it that my brother, Azelle, is among your forces. I presume this is true?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a telltale flicker of movement—a red and blue strand of hair poking out from behind a distant wall. I chuckled inwardly, imagining Azelle and Lex trying—and failing—to eavesdrop discreetly.

Sigurd hesitated, looking almost apologetic. "Mm, sorry about that," he said. "It seems he joined us without consulting you, but I couldn't turn him away. If possible, would you allow him to stay with us for a little while longer? His desire to help is genuine, and with a mage of Velthomer among us, we're much stronger."

That last part was certainly true. The descendants of Fala were unmatched when it came to raw magical power.

"I see…" Arvis's lips pressed into a thin line, as though he wanted to object. After a pause, however, he merely sighed and shook his head. "So long as you keep him safe, then. He and I may have different mothers, but Azelle is still my only brother. I'd prefer for him to remain by my side, but perhaps this is how it must be…" His voice softened slightly as he continued, his tone tinged with the reluctant resignation of a parent letting their child take their first steps into the world. "I'll entrust Azelle to you, Sigurd. See that he learns from this experience."

Extending his hand, Arvis waited for Sigurd, who quickly grasped it in a firm handshake.

"You can leave it to me, Lord Arvis," Sigurd promised. "Once the situation here is under control, I'll do my best to convince him to return home."

Though I knew that events wouldn't unfold as Sigurd envisioned, there was nothing I could do to change them—at least, not now.

Seemingly satisfied with Sigurd's response, Arvis withdrew his hand and turned toward his horse. "Good to hear. Now, I must return to His Majesty's side in the capital. I leave this crisis in your hands, Sigurd."

"I will handle it as swiftly as I can," Sigurd vowed, his voice steady. "Safe travels, Lord Arvis!"

With that, Arvis mounted his horse, his crimson cape billowing in the breeze as he prepared to depart. The weight of his words lingered in the air, a reminder of the challenges that lay ahead.

As Arvis started leading his horse towards the gate, my eyes met those of Sigurd who was strangely looking at me. He then pointed at Arvis with his head and I somehow knew what he was trying to say. I involuntarily groaned as I thought about staying with the man any longer.

'I should've left with Oifey.'

Sigurd simply chuckled, as though he could hear what I was thinking, which really couldn't have been possible but whatever.

I walked behind the red-haired man as he led his horse outside once more, somehow lost in thought as I stared at the back of his head.

'All things considered, isn't it a bit overkill to send the captain of the royal knights just to deliver a message and a big-ass sword.'

He sent-will send an official letter to communicate his orders, so why didn't he do that now ? Or was it the Silver sword ?

'I suppose in this era that they ARE kind of rare, but still…'

"You know," Arvis began, his tone sharp but curious, "I wasn't certain when I first saw you approaching, but now, I find myself intrigued."

I looked up, noticing that his gaze was fixed on me as he walked. The tension in the air was growing heavier with every step he took.

I didn't say a word. Not yet, at least. It felt like he was deliberately setting the stage for something dramatic, so I let him finish.

"Why is a mercenary from Isaach out here in Grannvale, involving themselves in its petty squabbles, when your homeland is at war against us?" His words were laced with a quiet hostility, his eyes piercing as if daring me to challenge him.

For a moment, I wondered if I had somehow angered him without realizing it. "...What do you mean?" I asked after a brief pause, my hesitation betraying my confusion.

He stopped and turned fully to face me, pointing a gloved finger toward Yngvi in the distance. "What I mean is this: the vice-commandant of the Grannvalean forces invading your country is the father of the man you now serve. And, as an added bonus, his best friend is the father of the lady you're so desperately trying to save."

He smiled, but it was far from kind. There was something unnerving in his expression, and I instinctively knew this was no ordinary conversation. "Why," he pressed, "are you risking your life for these people?"

I blinked. It wasn't an unfair question, even if it was barbed with hostility. I took a moment to consider his words, mulling over how much I could—or should—say to him.

His unyielding gaze never faltered, his scrutiny cold and unrelenting.

Finally, I sighed, letting my arms fall to my sides. "It's a long story, but the short of it is this: I've got amnesia. I don't remember anything from over a year ago. By all accounts, I've been wandering for far longer than that. The people I've met and befriended in this time are more important to me than some so-called country I have no memory of."

As I spoke, I thought of their faces—those who had welcomed me, trusted me, and made me feel like I belonged. For a fleeting moment, I wondered if the original owner of this body would agree with my words. This might have been his homeland, but the fact remains that it wasn't mine. Still, I had resolved to protect the life I'd been given and the people who mattered to me right now.

Arvis's expression shifted subtly as I spoke, but the emotion behind it was hard to decipher. Was it confusion? Pity? Or perhaps something else entirely?

"I see… Fair enough," he said at last, his tone softer. "I apologize if my questions were uncalled for." He dipped his head slightly—not quite a bow, but more of a nod in acknowledgment.

"…If I may ask," he began again, though this time, there was a hint of hesitation.

"Hmm?" I tilted my head, curious about his sudden change in demeanor.

"You overheard my discussion with Sigurd earlier. You must be aware of the… situation I have with my brother."

Azelle. The boy's name flickered in my mind, along with the image of his earnest face. "Yes, I've met him a few times," I replied. "He's a good kid, though a bit shy." I refrained from mentioning how his reasons for being here—saving a crush and distancing himself from his brother—were both reckless and endearing. Still, I couldn't deny his courage.

Arvis nodded faintly. "I tried to keep him safe in Velthomer, yet he ran here behind my back. I should be grateful he made it this far unharmed, but…" He trailed off, his voice tinged with frustration. "The boy deserves a scolding for making me worry."

"Then why didn't you speak with him?" I asked, unable to hide my curiosity. "Surely you could've spared a few minutes to talk."

Arvis sighed, the faintest trace of a smile ghosting his lips. "If I see him now, I fear I'll fall back into my 'fatherly habits' and scold him yet again."

His response raised more questions than it answered, but I didn't press further. Instead, he mounted his horse with practiced ease.

"I know I have no right to ask this of you," he continued, "but could you... keep an eye on him for me?"

The request caught me off guard. For all his composure, there was a vulnerability in his voice—a quiet plea from a man who couldn't reconcile his duties with his personal feelings.

I felt a flash of anger at the irony of his words, knowing what his "protection" would eventually lead to. Without thinking, the words slipped from my mouth: "Yes. I'll keep him safe—even if it's from you."

The moment I realized what I'd said, I slapped a hand over my mouth, my heart pounding. This was Arvis, a man who could incinerate me in an instant if he so chose.

But instead of fury, he laughed—a warm, genuine laugh that caught me entirely off guard.

"Haha… I suppose, given my past actions, such a response is only natural." His tone held no malice, only amusement. "Thank you."

He turned his horse toward the path leading away from the castle, his crimson cape swaying in the wind. "I do hope you make it out as well," he said, glancing back briefly before riding off.

I stood there for a moment, bewildered. The entire encounter had been... strange, to say the least. His questions, his request, even his laughter—it all felt surreal.

But there was no time to dwell on it. The day had already been long, and an even longer one awaited us tomorrow. For now, the best I could do was return to the castle and rest.

And so I did.

---

*Knock Knock Knock*

My mind was fuzzy. My eyes blurry as I try to open them. The pounding in my head wouldn't stop even as I tried to get up as slowly as possible. The knocking on my door did not help one bit either.

*Knock Knock Knock*

Although, it wasn't so much of a pounding as it was just my being incredibly sensitive.

I got up from bed, groggily walking to the door as I lazily scratched my tired eyes to drive whatever sleep was left in it. If someone thought it wise to knock on my door, then it means that I was specifically needed for something.

Opening the door, I was momentarily shocked by my reflection. For a moment, I thought I was looking through a mirror. It was then that I noticed the reddish colour all around, and the fact that what I was looking at was no mirror, but armor polished so much that I could see my reflection on it.

It only took a moment to connect the red armor to its owner, and my suspicions were confirmed when my eyes met his.

"Good morning, Sir." Naoise's crisp voice was enough to shake off the last remnants of sleep. I quickly found my bearings and replied.

"Good morning, Sir Naoise. How can I help you this morning?"

He placed an armored hand over his chest in a gesture that was both formal and natural, his posture stiff but practiced, as though he'd spent years perfecting it.

"Lord Sigurd wishes to know if you would kindly join him in the war room."

"Hmm? Do you know why he wants to see me?" I couldn't think of a reason. He already had Quan and Oifey in there, didn't he? Surely my presence wouldn't be needed.

"I do not," Naoise replied, his tone neutral. "I am merely a messenger."

I suppressed a sigh. "Very well. I'll head there shortly."

Naoise nodded and turned to leave, no doubt to report back to Sigurd.

With him gone, I got myself ready for the day. There wasn't much to it—cleaning up, changing out of my new pajamas, and donning my usual attire. It was all done in less than forty-five minutes, and soon enough, I was making my way to the war room.

As I stepped through the doors, I was greeted by a familiar scene. It was almost identical to yesterday, save for one notable difference.

"Good morning, Ray. Nice of you to finally wake up and join us."

Sigurd's tone was light, but the twitch at the corners of his lips betrayed his amusement—or perhaps mild irritation.

"For my defense," I began, "I didn't think I needed to wake up earlier than deployment time. Why am I even here?"

Sigurd and Quan exchanged a glance, silently debating who would explain. After a moment, Sigurd took the lead.

"As you're aware," he started, his expression turning serious, "Verdane destroyed the bridge yesterday and has been preparing for an offensive. The latest report—"

"This morning, to be precise," Quan interjected helpfully.

"—confirms that they're ready to attack us. Fortunately, we're prepared for them as well."

"The soldiers and knights have completed their preparations," Quan added, his voice steady. "Those with knowledge of first aid or medicine have been stationed here in the castle."

"If you're gravely injured," Sigurd emphasized, "return here immediately. Ethlyn will also be accompanying us, but she'll remain close to Quan for her safety. If you need urgent healing and can't make it back to the castle, find them."

I nodded, understanding their logic. Ethlyn would have a guard—likely Quan himself—rather than pulling soldiers away from the already limited forces. It was practical and efficient.

Quan handed me two sheets of paper. "This details our current forces," he said, "and this," he added, passing the second page, "is a report on the enemy's composition and likely movements."

I studied the reports intently, comparing them side by side. It took about fifteen minutes to process the information and piece together a coherent picture.

"It seems Munnir left about twenty-five percent more troops in Evans compared to Yngvi," I finally said. "But even then, with our current manpower, victory shouldn't be an issue."

The others nodded in agreement, but a lingering question gnawed at me.

"Oifey…" I hesitated, glancing at the boy in question. He'd been silent the entire time, his expression unnervingly stony. It was unlike the eager, determined boy I'd come to know. "I didn't see his name on the list. Will he not be participating in the battle?"

"No," Sigurd said sharply, his tone brooking no argument.

The firmness of his response caught me off guard. Had Oifey done something wrong?

Sensing my confusion, Sigurd sighed and offered a weary smile. "Oifey is still a child. I will not place a child on the battlefield. Not anymore."

I considered his words. Oifey was fourteen—young, yes, but not much younger than I'd been when I first found myself in a battle. If Dave's words are to be trusted that is. Still, he isn't much younger than Ethlyn, was he?

I glanced at Oifey again. He looked like he was barely restraining himself from speaking out, his frustration palpable.

"But he fought with you when you reclaimed this castle," I pointed out. "Why not allow him to do the same now? Surely he'd be safe behind you or Lord Quan."

Sigurd shook his head, his expression grim. "Yes, he was with me then, and he used the same reasoning to convince me. I regret allowing it." He lowered his voice, almost to a whisper. "That was a one-time exception. Oifey will not become a permanent fixture in my forces."

Oifey's jaw tightened, but he didn't argue. His restraint was admirable, though I could see how much it pained him to be sidelined.

For a moment, the room fell into silence, the tension thick. Then Sigurd straightened, his voice regaining its usual authority.

"Ray, focus on the reports. We need to finalize our strategy before the sun is fully up."

With a nod, I returned to the papers in my hands, the weight of the upcoming battle settling over me like a heavy cloak.

"Well, I can agree with Sigurd to some extent," Quan finally said, his calm voice breaking the tension that had unknowingly thickened the air. "Children should not be subjected to the horrors of war. Frankly, if it were up to me, I would have left him in Chalphy from the start. That would have avoided this situation entirely."

I turned to Quan, staring at him as though he'd grown a second head. This was the same man who brought Ethlyn and Finn here, wasn't it? There was no way I could let that slide without at least a little pushback.

"What about Finn?" I asked, my pointed glare emphasizing the question.

"He's my squire and personal retainer," Quan replied casually, almost flippantly, as though that answered everything.

I raised an eyebrow. "And isn't Oifey technically Sigurd's squire?" I turned to the blue-haired lord for confirmation. He gave a hesitant nod, clearly unsure where this was heading.

Silence.

A long, awkward silence.

No one seemed inclined to address the glaring inconsistency—until Quan finally broke the stillness.

"Finn can handle himself in a fight. He's also an excellent horseman."

"...Fine. Whatever." There wasn't any point arguing further anyway. Everything was set. Finn would fight, Oifey wouldn't. That was that.

There was the nothing I could do.

"…"

Nothing I could do—

"..."

Absolutely nothing—

"..."

Oh, for Naga's sake. Oifey's silent pleading was practically deafening.

*Sigh*

"Sigurd," I began, rubbing my temples in frustration, "you're the one responsible for Oifey's training, right?"

"Yes," he answered cautiously, clearly wary of where this line of questioning might lead.

"And he doesn't have any practical fighting experience, does he?"

"Well, no. I taught him how to use a sword, but his only 'opponents' have been wooden dummies. I thought it wiser to focus on administrative and academic training, given his age and natural aptitude for it." Sigurd sighed, running a hand through his hair. "But now, with the war against Verdane looming, I simply don't have the time to train him myself."

I nodded, already suspecting as much. "Then you won't mind if I take over his training, will you?"

Sigurd blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Huh… No, I guess not. Are you sure, though? He's my responsibility, and I wouldn't want to impose more on you."

I waved off his concern. "It's fine. Although, I'll be recruiting Sir Alec and Sir Naoise to help. I'm not familiar with your knights' style of swordsmanship, so their guidance will be invaluable—at least at the start."

"Why not just leave the training entirely to them then?" Sigurd asked, his brow furrowed. "Wouldn't that be more efficient?"

"In theory, yes," I admitted. "But Alec and Naoise have their own responsibilities—maintaining their equipment, protecting you, training new recruits, and so on. Besides, while they both use your house's style, their forms have evolved over the years into distinct variations. Alec is unpredictable and swift, while Naoise is steadfast and precise. I'll need their help in the beginning, but after that, I'll handle it myself."

Sigurd hesitated for a moment, his expression conflicted. "As long as they don't neglect their other duties, I don't see why not." He paused, then added with a small smile, "Thank you. For taking this on."

I glanced at Oifey, whose face lit up with unrestrained excitement. If the situation weren't so serious, he'd probably be jumping for joy.

"If we're done," Quan interjected, his voice commanding attention, "we still need to focus on the battle."

"Huh?" I blinked, caught off guard. "Don't you already have a plan prepared?"

Sigurd looked sheepish, running a hand through his hair. "Well… we were waiting for you to start."

I stared at him, dumbfounded. "You're telling me the enemy could attack at any moment, and we don't have a battle-plan yet?"

Quan stepped in, attempting to defuse my growing frustration. "To be fair, we agreed your input would be invaluable. Sigurd isn't exactly cut out for strategy, as you've likely noticed."

"Gee, thanks," Sigurd muttered, crossing his arms.

Quan ignored him and continued. "Oifey can't leave the castle, and even if he could, he's too inexperienced to lead. As for me… I'll be occupied with fighting and protecting Ethlyn. Both will demand my full attention. And frankly, I'm not much better than Sigurd when it comes to diverse strategies as I'm more used to fight against wyvern in mountainous environments." So forests were kind of his antipodes.

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "So you're leaving it to me. Great."

"Exactly," Quan replied, a faint smile playing on his lips.

That was…a lot, to take it. And it all made sense, more or less, I suppose.

And, as a matter of fact, there was indeed a plan that has been slowly piecing itself together in the back of my mind ever since I'd finished reading through the reports.

I glanced between them, realizing I didn't have much of a choice. "Fine. Let's get started then." The smile that appeared on each of their faces unnerved me a little, as though they already knew beforehand that this was how things would end.

"Oh, right!" Oifey suddenly exclaimed, as if struck by a bolt of realization. His expression shifted, and I immediately disliked the worrying glint in his eyes. "You never did see Lady Ethlyn for your check-up, did you? Are you sure you're going to be okay?"

I froze. Oifey's words might have sounded innocent enough, but the effect they had on the room was immediate.

Both Sigurd and Quan, who had just begun to refocus on the map, snapped their heads toward me. Their eyes burned with unspoken questions, and they looked like they were seconds away from raising their voices.

I raised a hand quickly to cut them off before they could start. "I'm fine. There's no need for you to worry now."

Oifey's concern didn't fade in the slightest, but it was Quan who spoke next, his tone sharp and probing. "Does that mean your magic is back?"

I hesitated, feeling their gazes weigh heavily on me. "…No."

My answer was met with silence, but it was clear that neither of them was pleased.

"It's not like I want to be in this position, okay?" I added defensively. "I don't understand why it's not working either. Trust me, it's as frustrating for me as it is for you."

"The reason you were able to keep up with the cavalry last time was because of your magic, wasn't it?" Sigurd asked, his voice calmer but still laced with concern. "If that's the case, how are you planning to navigate the battlefield now?"

He wasn't wrong to be concerned. My speed was indeed thanks to my abilities. Without them, I was just as vulnerable as anyone else. But I wasn't about to let that shake their confidence in me.

I crossed my arms, meeting Sigurd's worried gaze head-on. "…I have my ways."

Quan raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with my cryptic response, but he chose not to press further.

Sigurd, however, leaned forward, his brows furrowed. "Look, we're not questioning your determination, but if something happens out there—"

"Nothing will," I interrupted, my tone firm. "I'm not reckless. If things get bad, I'll find a way to keep up—or fall back if I have to. But I won't be a liability."

The room fell into an uneasy silence. Finally, Quan leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "We'll hold you to that. Just don't push yourself too far, or you'll only make things worse for all of us."

I nodded, appreciating the sentiment even if it came off as cold. "Understood."

Sigurd sighed, his worry still evident but his voice softer. "If you're sure, then we'll leave it at that for now. But promise me you'll at least check in with Ethlyn when you have the chance."

I gave him a small smile, hoping to ease his nerves. "I will. I promise."

With that, the tension in the room began to dissipate, and the discussion shifted back to the matter of planning the battle. But in the back of my mind, the gnawing unease about my missing magic and the system's absence lingered.

---

So, let me get this straight ; In a situation where there is only one bridge connecting Chalpy's lands and Verdane, and when said bridge can be blocked off from the other side, rather than leaving the access blocked off to prevent our fores to cross the Jun River, they just voluntarily let go of their ONLY advantage by lowering the bridge and allowing our forces to cross it.

Yeah, these guys definitely aren't on the smart side of the intelligence spectrum.

"Are we going to be fine?" Midir asked as we continued to follow behind Sigurd, both of which were mounted.

"Yes. Don't worry." The plan we'd decided on was simple, though it might seem overkill considering the current force of our enemy.

The army was divided into two : Quan took the bulk of our forces and went northwards in order to lure Verdane's soldiers to his side and deal with them. In the meantime, Sigurd will be leading a considerably smaller squad of soldiers, of barely ten in fact, and rush directly towards the bridge in order to seize it for themselves.

Stupid as they are, there was little to no chance of those guys bringing up the bridge even if the promise of destruction stared them in the face. However, I won't have the success of this mission get derailed by a possibility, small as it may be.

Sigurd, on his white stallion, moved as slowly as he could. Midir followed quietly behind, and the rest of our soldiers were keeping up with our speed thanks to our slow pace.

As for me, I'd asked Midir if it'll be possible for me to ride with him. Since I couldn't use Gale Stride at the moment, this was the next best option if I didn't want my mobility to suffer even more. And because Ethlyn asked me to keep an eye on him if he wanted to participate in this fight, he had no reason to object either.Plus, he was still affected by his wounds. I would rather stay by his side and keep him safe than allow him to die somewhere in this huge battlefield.

"Sir !" One of the soldiers approached Midir, Sigurd and I, saluting his commandant before standing at attention. With a nod from Sigurd, the soldier went on to report on the reason for his sudden arrival. "We've spotted most of the enemy forces moving towards Lord Quan's location. At their current speed, the two forces will clash with each other in a matter of minutes."

Which is to say, the first part of the plan was more or less a success. By effectively drawing the enemy soldiers towards him, Quan allows our forces to effectively capture the bridge.

"Relay this order to the other soldiers : We will move to seize control of the bridge ten minutes after Quan starts fighting." The soldier bowed at Sigurd, acknowledging his words as a formal dismissal and silently left to carry out his orders.

I turned around to take a look and check the state of the soldiers. After a few minutes of inspection, I nodded to myself in satisfaction. Good. They didn't look tired. In fact, some of them actually looked energized as they were made aware of their order.

"Are your wounds all right Midir ?" Sigurd's question brought my attention back to both of them, and I too looked at the archer expectantly.

"Yes, thank you for asking." His reply was curt, if not outright disrespectful. Was he worried that Sigurd will ask him to retreat if he shows that he's in pain?

"Do not hesitate to fall back if you feel like you can't take it anymore, all right ?" Ugh…

"Yes milord." The archer turned his head towards the bridge, or rather, towards the castle. I didn't utter a single word after that, nor did Sigurd.

It was only a few minutes later that Sigurd roused the other soldiers according to the plan.

"Men ! Get ready to charge. That bridge will be ours!" He brandished his new Silver sword in the air, sunlight gleaming on the surface of the blade. The soldiers, motivated by his speech, also pointed their weapons towards the sky before charging behind their commander.

And so, with Sigurd at the front, the soldiers ran excitedly towards the bridge.

The enemy's troops were, as expected, small in number. Which is to say, Quan performed his task perfectly well. As a matter of fact, there were even fewer soldiers than I thought they'd be, and with Sigurd opening the way, they were soon going to face their demise.

*Thwack*

"HARGH!"

The first enemy soldier fell, courtesy of an arrow launched by Midir. The others immediately took notice of our presence and didn't hesitate to rush us. Of course, they had to face the might of a very angry Sigurd and his Silver sword.

*Shiing*

His sword was so fast that I barely saw it moved as it cleanly cut off the dominant arm of one Verdanite soldier. The poor guy fell, clutching his shoulder as he cried out in pain before being quickly finished by one of our regular soldiers.

The rest of the fight went on in a similar manner ; Sigurd quickly and cleanly disabling any enemy on his path, with our soldiers finishing off those that were still alive.

Midir and I didn't even have to intervene, seeing how they were being cut down. Although, one of them did try to ambush the lordling, only to find his death by an arrow through his head.

One-third of the enemy forces had been decimated, and not even one minute has gone by. Seeing this, I thought that there was no need to delay any longer. I signaled as much to Midir, who promptly moved his horse towards the same soldier that reported earlier, just as he was about to finish off another enemy.

"Take the other soldiers and go meet Quan on the other side of the bridge." With what was left of the enemy, their presence or absence here wouldn't matter that much. However, they could be of use elsewhere. "Once you reach Quan and the situation has been stabilized, tell him to rendezvous at the castle as soon as he can." The soldier gave me a stiff salute before running off.

This was the third part of our plan. After Quan had attracted the bulk of their forces with the main army, Sigurd dealt with the forces near the bridge. The fact that Quan managed to attract 80% of their forces made things easier on our side, which was why I decided to send him our regular soldiers. They might not be enough to make a difference, but the threat of a possible pincer attack from the rear will be enough to cause harm to our enemy. Or serve as a distraction at the very least.

That, and the fact that a Sigurd equipped with a Silver sword was absolutely crushing it. I wasn't kidding. He dealt with five soldiers on his own in the span of a few minutes. I was confident that he'll be able to deal with the remaining ones.

I signalled to Midir that it was time and he immediately sent his horse into a gallop. "SIGURD!" The young lord took a second to look at me as he ordered his horse to maul one of the enemies with his hooves. Ouch. That was going to hurt. If he made it out alive that is. "We'll be going to the castle! Join us there when you're finished with this side." I'm pretty sure I saw him nod at me, which was good enough of a confirmation given the current situation.

Midir's horse was moving at top speed. The castle was already in view when we were at the bridge so it didn't take us that long to reach. However, contrary to what I thought, there were still enemy troops around.

'Hunters, huh?'

They could be easily dealt with if Midir and I went at it together, but I can't be overly reliant on him either. I have to check how things go when I'm by myself, even if this isn't a fair fight by any means.

"Midir !" I shouted from behind due to the wind blowing at us, the archer's only response was a quick jerk of his head in my direction. "I want you to continue running towards the castle!"

"But what about those two? They won't just allow us to pass!" He had a point of course, but I already knew that.

"Don't worry, I will deal with it. Just focus on dodging their attacks and reaching the castle." He didn't respond. He didn't have to anyway, and it was clear how much he wanted to. As crazy as it may have sounded to him, he knew better than to go against my directives this time.

'Thank Ethlyn for that.'

As instructed. He continued riding towards the castle. The two hunters soon noticed our arrival, getting their bows and arrows ready.

They launched several of them at us, but Midir skillfully directed his horse and dodged each of them, which then prompted the Hunters to fire more quickly. A very bad decision, seeing as their accuracy was getting poorer with each shot.

As soon as we got close enough to them, I got up and stood on the back of the horse. Barely keeping myself balanced with my left hand, I unsheath my sword with my right hand…and jumped.

Not the kind of short, haphazard jump you make when you want to exit a car either. A jump so high and so perfect that it could even make the king of overhead slash, Chrom, proud.

The enemy Hunter barely had enough time to bring up his bow and defend himself.

"Argh!"

The bow, obviously, isn't the best weapon to use when you're trying to block a bladed attack. My sword went through his, and managed to cut through his hand through the middle.

He let go immediately of his now useless weapon and jumped back to make some distance between us. He was clutching his bloody hand and grinding his teeth in pain and anger.

"Who the hell jumps off of a stampeding horse just to launch an attack !?" The indignation, among other things, was clear in his voice. So was the anger. But his reaction only made me chuckle.

"It worked, didn't it ?" I myself wasn't so sure about this at the time, but hey, If Chrom could do it, why can't I either ?

…

…

…

Yeah, no. That was completely reckless. My legs were still shaking from the shock when I had to land. I just had to hope they couldn't notice it.

"Don't worry, he won't be laughing for long." The second Hunter said as he placed an arrow on his bow and got ready to fire.

'Nuh-uh.'

Not giving him the time to do that, I completely disregarded the injured enemy in front of me and rushed the other a few meters to the left. The fault was theirs for getting so close to each other to begin with.

I could see him carefully aim as I ran towards me, and despite firmly believing that I could make it, surprise and dread coloured my features for a moment when he fired his arrow faster than I expected him to.

'He wasn't this fast earlier!'

Was he managing himself before ? Or was he pushing himself now? I couldn't know. Instead, what I knew for sure was that an arrow was flying towards me and I myself was running towards it.

"Ugh!" Slowing greatly, I moved my sword upwards in order to deflect the arrow at the very last second as it neared my chest. The move was swift and precise, almost instinctual, and I thank whatever gods, probably Naga, that were up there watching out for me.

The arrow now out of the equation, I resumed my run towards the hunter. His shock over my earlier performance wasn't enough to deter him as he still managed to launch a second arrow at me.

This time, I couldn't block it. Thankfully, I didn't have to.

*Woosh*

With a light jerk of my head to the right, the arrow simply flew past my face, barely grazing my cheek. At that point, I was already close to him. The surprise on his face quickly turned to fear and pain as I plunged my sword deep into his chest, killing him right then and there.

I removed my sword from his body, which promptly fell back on the ground, before shaking the blood away with one swift motion.

"One down, another to go." I turned around to look at the other Hunter who was still around. Since none of them was carrying any ranged weaponry, and that his bow was not broken, he had no way to resist as I cut him down seconds after his friends. Not that he could do anything with his hand in that state anyway.

I sheath my sword and looked towards the direction Midir had run off to. The castle was strangely silent. I would've thought that Midir might've already started fighting, but seeing as I can't hear nor see any sudden movement from here.

'Then again, I might be a bit too far for either… Anyway, let's just go and catch up with him.'

And thankfully, it didn't take me that long to find him.

"Midir!" I whispered sharply enough to catch his attention. He had dismounted and was crouching beside his horse, observing the castle gates from a safe distance. It also seemed like its occupant hadn't noticed his-our presence either. "I thought you would have already attacked him. You were more cautious than I gave you credit for." Especially since he was armed with a bow. He could've just attacked him from a safe distance… But then again, the mechanics must not be the same. I should really stop linking everything back to the game now…

"I learned my lesson from the last fight." Does he mean the one with Munnir? "If I'm not able to end him with one arrow, then he might use this chance to approach and engage at a distance that won't allow me enough liberty to draw my bow. In which case I'll be finished." Well, that's not wrong. The opponent right now isn't at the level of the Verdanite prince, but he's still an axe wielder. If he gets close, Midir is done for, even if he's on horseback. Plus, he's still feeling his wounds right now.

Looking back at the man at the gates, I quickly noticed that he was more wary than usual. He must've noticed that the two guys nearby were dealt with, seeing as he's more sensitive.

'I didn't expect the idiot who lowered the bridge himself to be this cautious.'

"If only I had a chance…" Midir subconsciously strengthened his grip on his bow, still looking towards the enemy leader. This guy is still the same.

Sighing at his reaction, I unsheath my sword and walked towards the castle. At least I was, until a hand grabbed my arm backwards. I took a glance and took a peek at Midir who looked worried.

"What are you doing ?" I was a little shocked to be honest. What? He didn't think I'll be able to take care of one guy?

I gently extracted my arm out of his hold before speaking up. "I'll distract him. Use this opportunity to land a clean hit."

How hard could it be anyway ? It's not like I would be actively trying to kill him, just distracted enough that Midir will be able to end him with one strike.

The man was soon in sight and I placed a hand to my mouth in order to shout. "Oi idiot. How come you're alone?"

He looked at me as though I'd just insulted his entire family. "Are you looking for death, boy? Get the hell outta her before I gut you!" He looked like he was barely restraining himself from jumping at me right then and there, but I could see him glance at my sword for a moment. So I just needed a final push.

"That's funny coming from the dumb-ass who led his men to death by lowering the bridge. What, was Munnir so lacking in capable subordinates that he placed a failure like you here ?"

"Go to hell, you Grannvale dog!" He shouted, running at me and swinging his Iron axe towards me in a large arc.

"Too bad, I'm not from Grannvale." I parried his strike with my blade, sensing the vibration towards my arm from the collision. He was stronger than expected. " But I guess expecting intelligence from a fool like you will be too much."

"AARRGH!" He seemed to have lost it. All of his swings were wild and unruly, he was so blinded by rage that he wasn't even paying much attention to his aim.

As for me, I was busy dodging or deflecting his blows with precision. The aim was not to let him touch me even once ; I tried to block one of his strikes and nearly let go of my sword. His strength really was no joke.

During our little exchange, I managed to lure him away from the castle. It wasn't that difficult of a task as he was hellbent on cutting me down. In any case, he was now in a prime position for an ambush. A quick glance towards Midir's location told me that he was thinking the same thing, as an arrow was already flying towards the enemy as soon as I turned my head.

Surprisingly, he noticed it too. Unhooking the other axe he was carrying, he turned around and threw it swiftly towards the incoming arrow, breaking it on the spot before digging itself unto the ground.

"Oi, wait a sec! No bows, you coward! That ain't a fair fight!" He barked towards Midir, whose only response was to scowl at him and draw his bow once more.

"Oh, shut up! Let Lady Edain go! NOW!"

Seeing him distracted, I launched towards the enemy in an attempt to deal him a fatal blow. But he parried my attack, albeit with difficulty, as well as the three other attempts that followed it.

"I thought you knights were an honorable lot. I didn't peg you for cheaters." He was breathing unevenly, and his swings had grown noticeably weaker. More important than those was that he was speaking now, and not the incomprehensible gibberish of before. Unfortunately for him, his jeers wouldn't work on me. After all…

"I'm no knight, just your average mercenary." I used the momentum of one of his downward strikes to deflect his axe towards the ground firmly, hoping that it got stuck in it somehow. I then brought my sword up in an overhead strike…that he somehow managed to block at the last possible second with the blade of his axe.

Thankfully, that too was part of the plan.

"Midir, NOW!"Hearing my voice, the bowknight popped up from the foliage some distance away from us. His bow was already drawn to its maximum capacity and the arrow firmly put in place. The only thing he had left to do was to fire at his target.

And fire he did.

"To atone for my failure!" Needless to say, Midir's shot was beautiful and its timing perfect. As the enemy leader's weapon was still locked in an intense push and pull game with my sword, there was no way he'd have enough leeway to prevent what was going to happen to him.

*Thwump*

The enemy leader released a guttural cry in unison with the solid impact of an arrow piercing flesh.

"Ahahaha... Too bad for you... Killing me ain't gonna free your dame... Prince Munnir's already... Urgh…"

His axe slipped through his hands as his forces were slowly leaving his body. He coughed a good amount of blood, and his chest where the arrow was embedded was dyed red too. Despite his best attempts, he fell to the ground, neither moving nor breathing.

"Huff, huff, huff…" I didn't realise I was out of breath until the battle ended. Thankfully, it didn't impede me when I was fighting, so I can't really complain.

The sound of horse hooves getting closer made me look up at Midir who was approaching me.

"Is he dead ?" He looked at the body on the ground with something resembling…apprehension ? Why would he be this anxious of the person he just shot through the heart?

"Yes. He won't be terrorizing any more innocent people now." Te was one of the two direct subordinates of Munnir during this chapter. And now that he is dead, and we'll be occupying the checkpoint that is Evans castle, Grannvale should more or less be free of any danger brought by Verdane.

"That's good." He puffed out a sigh of relief before letting his eyes wander towards the castle. It didn't take me long for me to guess what was going through his mind, but I couldn't bring myself to let him hope when it will all be for nothing.

"Midir…" He looked back at me quizzically. "She's not here. According to this idiot, Munnir already brought her back to his own castle in Verdane."

"Is that so…" he looked like someone just tore a hole through his heart, and that someone happens to be me. "But still, I have to go check. Forgive me." He turned his horse around before speeding towards the castle gate.

Congratulations ! You managed to become a little bit closer to Midir.

I was left waving off the dust he'd kicked up in his haste to search through the castle. That guy…he didn't even ask me if I needed a ride.

Having nothing left to do, I followed after him. Of course, I made sure to pocket any piece of equipment that was on the now dead Gerrard, which was not as insignificant as I thought.

"So we've got a Steel axe, the Hand axe he threw before, and a pouch containing some Gold." Since my Inventory was still unavailable, I had to haul back both weapons by myself on my way to the castle.

'I guess this somehow marks the end of chapter 1?'

---

"Sire, we've completed our search of the castle. Lady Edain is nowhere to be found." Oifey read through the report he'd been giving a short while ago to his liege, although Quan and I were seated beside Sigurd in the office.

It was a nice room. Large enough to accommodate a work-desk and maybe five people comfortably, but that was it. It was smaller compared to the one in Chalphy and Yngvi, and it made sense, since both castles were the homes of the Ducal household.

"So I guess those reports we got yesterday were true after all? She's already in Verdane?" I told him earlier that the chances of finding Edain here would be very very low, but I guess like Midir he was still hoping to find her nevertheless.

"The leader of the enemy soldiers here said as much, so that's where she's most likely going to be." My remark was met by uneasy glances from everyone present. It was natural of course, since nobody knew what could happen to her once those guys felt comfortable enough.

"...I hope she's alright." It was Oifey that said aloud what everyone was thinking deep inside.

"We just have to forge ahead keeping that hope in our hearts." Quan didn't look as unfazed as Sigurd, but I knew that he was worried too.

"Gah... I won't let them get away with this... They can run, but until they surrender Edain, they won't escape me!"

Sigurd's comment was met with a round of agreeing nods from all those present.

Quan spoke once again, looking at Sigurd. "We first need to deal with our current situation before thinking of launching a rescue operation though. Oifey, what did you want to tell us about the castle?" He looked at the boy who was still rearranging documents on the table. He fumbled through a couple of them before finally picking a single one from the pile and clearing his throat with a fake cough.

"We managed to find the people that were taking care of this place, miraculously alive and all of them accounted for. They had been locked in the cells and starved by the Verdane soldiers, but thankfully they weren't harmed too much. It seemed like they were made to work by the soldiers who couldn't even be bothered to do basic chores. Even their food was being cooked by the staff."

";I suppose they weren't wary of poisoning since they could just kill the whole bunch if they were just a bit suspicious." Quan's comment may have been blunt, but it was true. Especially for non-combatant, the kind of trauma they must've gone through should have been enough to dissuade them from attempting anything.

Sigurd didn't look comfortable with that information though and immediately tried to change topics. "Anything else we need to know Oifey?"

"Yes…" The boy rummaged through the pile a bit more before finally stopping on a piece of paper. The writings on this one were relatively shorter than on the others, so I wondered what it was for, but I should've noticed that something was off from his now-somber expression. "…This is the casualty report from the last battle."

Quan seemed to have noticed Oifey's sudden mood change too. "Is it that bad?"

With a light shake of his head, Oifey proceeded to read what was written on the paper. "Although five people from the main forces died, the rest only had light to medium size injuries, nothing grave."

"We still have to bury our dead, and do what we can for their families." Well, Sigurd's idea wasn't wrong, but I fail to see how giving them some money will help alleviate the pain they'll likely go through when they hear the news of their child's death.

"I'll deal with this." Quan got up from his seat and took the piece of paper from Oifey's hand, giving it a once-over before heading towards the door. "They were under my command, so it's only natural that this task falls to me."

"Quan…" Sigurd looked like he was ready to protest vehemently with his friend's decision, but Quan was already halfway through the door.

"Don't worry, I'm already used to this kind of thing." Seeing as Leonster has been embroiled in a war with Thracia for a while now that wouldn't be very difficult to believe. Although one would think that Quan's station as the crown prince will prevent him from dealing with such matters, knowing his personality now I wouldn't disregard the possibility that he may have asked for it himself, possibly as a way to acknowledge and carry the weight of their deaths.

The room was silent ever since he left, except for the occasional filtering of paper from Oifey who was still busy rearranging everything. It was weird for Sigurd to be silent, and even weirder for him to just quietly sip on his tea, especially since said tea was most likely already luke-warm.

'Hmm, definitely not hot nor warm.'

Putting the cup back on its plate, I looked up to find Sigurd staring at me with his deep blue eyes.

"Hmm?" I tilted my head to the side with a puzzled look, silently prompting him to just talk if he needed to. He seemed to have noticed my intention because he picked the tea-cup once more and drank everything in one fell swoop.

"Aaaargh…" How can he drink that ? The taste must be horrible, especially since this particular blend is said to be taken hot in most cases. Warm at the very least. Maybe he's just feeling jittery, but for what reason, I couldn't say.

"First of all, I want to thank you." His first sentence left me even more clueless than his initial fidgeting. Why would he be thanking me, of all people, and right now. "It was thanks to you that the battle yesterday went by so smoothly."

"Not at all milord," My reply was so quick that I didn't even notice myself going back into my old habits of addressing him by his title, and I could say judging from his wincing that he had noticed too. "It was Lord Quan that led the main forces, you that dealt with the forces at the bridge, and Midir that eliminated the enemy leader. I barely did anything." And that was the truth. SO why was he looking at me so wistfully?

"Perhaps," He joined his hands together and his eyes…they looked like they were eyeing something, and I couldn't figure out what. "But it was you who came up with the plan to divide our forces as such. It was you that thought about sending soldiers to help out Quan with a flanking maneuver," I was just putting them to use… "you helped with the forces at the bridge," I only killed one of them myself… "And I heard for Midir your help was instrumental in his victory." Yes, as a distraction. "As such, why you could say that we would've still been able to claim this castle as ours, it went this smoothly thanks to your help."

Despite all his praises, there was still one thing he left out though.

"...You say that, but five people still died in that battle."

His expression, that had somehow taken up a few more colours, goes a bit more somber now. "That may be true… But if not for your help, who knows how many we would've lost? If only for that, you have my thanks…. Which is why I have to ask this of you…"

Sigurd's voice got a bit more uncertain. It was like he couldn't figure out the correct way to ask me for a favor and I couldn't help but wonder what it was that he wanted to ask me that made him like that.

Unfortunately, I wouldn't have my answer at that moment as a knock on the door interrupted our conversation.

Oifey, who was seated not far from us, got off almost immediately. With a quick glance at Sigurd, who nodded towards him, Oifey went to open the door with hurried steps, thinking that it was perhaps Quan. Or maybe that envoy from Belhalla that was bound to arrive anytime now…

"It's been a while, huh, Lord Sigurd?" I, however, didn't expect to find this specific blue-hair to walk through the door.

"Lex ! I heard you'd join us with Azelle a few days ago, but I couldn't find the time to meet with you. I take it you're here to help as well?" Sigurd got up from his chair to greet the new arrival with a handshake before directing him to sit on the sofa Quan was using just a few minutes ago.

"Yeah, Azelle basically dragged me out here as soon as he heard the news that the princess might be in danger. I swear, I can't say no to that twerp!" It looked like he was venting out his pent up frustrations, but the smile that was plastered on his face was anything but. "I just couldn't let him come all the way here alone."

"Hahaha... You haven't changed a bit, have you, Lex? But what about your father, Lord Lombard? Does he know you've come here?"

At that, Lex looked like he'd just swallowed a bunch of fresh lemons with pepper as extra toppings.

"Oh, hell no! You know as well as I how much my father loathes yours. There's no way he'd ever let me help House Chalphy, even if his life depended on it. I had to slip out behind his back." His expression then suddenly got more clear, more serious, more sharp. "Just so we're clear, Sigurd, I'm not here for you. Azelle is my best friend, and he really wanted to help. That's all."

"Heh. A bit harsh, but thanks for coming all the same. Any help is greatly appreciated." Despite his words, Sigurd looked like he was enjoying the situation. Whether it be from knowing that there are others who would help him in his reckless, but still justified endeavor, or because he was picturing Lombard discovering that his youngest son had come to help the son of the man he hates the most, I couldn't say.

"Well, I'll do what I can. Those Verdane dogs have had their run of our land for long enough!" Lex got up midway, thrusting his right hand towards Sigurd, who took it in his for a hearty handshake.

He then looked around, somehow meeting my eyes and stopping mid-sentence as he tried to remember something. Or at least it looked like he tried.

"You…"

Sigurd looked at me, then back to Lex, then at me before asking at the both of us. "Do you two know each perhaps?"

"Not personally, no." My answer left Sigurd even more puzzled than before, but it seemed like Lex was more than happy to explain.

"When Azelle and I arrived near Yngvi, he was the one who told us of the situation and told us what to do."

"Did he now…" For some reason, I was not reassured by the proud smile Sigurd was harboring after hearing Lex words. Why would he be proud anyway?

"Admittedly, we didn't even have the time to introduce each other." He moved towards me and offered a handshake, which I took without hesitation. "As you've heard, I'm Lex, of House Dozel. Just call me Lex."

"And I'm Ray. Nice to meet you, Lex." He smiled at me when he heard me easily call his name. It's not like I was going to fumble anyway, since I'm more used to doing things this way than the other.

"Well, I can see that you two have some things to sort out, so I'll be going. It was good finally talking to you Sigurd." He nodded towards the blue-haired before turning his head to look at me. "And you too." Lex didn't stay for long. Having said his piece, he left almost immediately after that.

"He's a good lad. A bit headstrong and reckless maybe, but he has his friends best interests to heart." He spoke longingly while looking at the door Lex just walked through to leave, possibly referring to him in his musing.

Although, I couldn't just let slide what he just said.

"That's rather shameless of you to say that about someone else, don't you think?" He at least had the decency to look embarrassed.

With Lex now out of the room, I was left once more wondering what it is that he wanted to ask of me. And I couldn't just ask him about it either since he looked uncomfortable just talking about it.

So I decided to leave.

"I need to check up on Midir. Ethlyn told me to stop by the infirmary as soon as I'm done here for a post-battle check-up." I didn't even notice that I was wounded until she pointed at the red line running across my cheek.

"Alright. We'll talk later." It seemed like he was still thinking about that talk. Meaning, it was something important enough for him to talk about it despite his uneasiness. At that point, I had half a mind to simply get it done with, but once more decided against it.

"...Right."

The prologue chapter was now more or less done, which means that our next step will be into Verdane territory. With a bit of luck, I'll find Dave with Edain when they'll be escaping. That will be the optimum scenario.

But before that, I'll have to find a way to deal with Ayra and Shannan. We'll have to fight her since she's being blackmailed right now and I don't want to h-

*Bam*

"Ugmph!"

Seems like my spacing out made me run into the wall face-first. Thankfully, the door of the room that serves as the infirmary was just beside me, so I at least didn't get lost while wandering around.

"Are you okay? That must've hurt a lot…" A soft voice rang out from beside me as I tried to touch the place of collision.

"Ouchh." Yep. This was totally going to leave a bruise. "Who leaves a wall in the middle of the hall…"

"It's not the wall that was in the middle of the way, but you that went out of it." I was slowly guided into the room by Ethlyn's hands. She placed me on a chair beside a desk, before bringing another one for herself to sit right in front of me. "You know, I called you here to treat your injuries. Not to have you make new ones."

"Well, tell that to the wall-AOUCH!" I winced, jerking away from her touch as she pressed something cool against my forehead.

"Yes, of course. It is his fault for standing on your way, isn't it?"

"Ouch, is the sarcasm really-ouch-necessary?" Not that I could blame her really. I would've been laughing at the situation myself if I wasn't so distracted by the pain.

"You do know that I can't treat you if you keep moving away?" She scolded me, pressing more strongly the cloth she'd been using to clean my injury.

Despite my lack of cooperation, she still somehow managed to get the job done, looking over me with a satisfied expression.

"It was just a light bump. The ointment I've just applied should be enough to prevent any complication." She fished out her staff and pointed it towards me, a light glow emanating from its top as she closed her eyes in a focused trance. She opened them a few seconds later, nodding at herself. "Your overall condition is good. And yesterday's injury was really just a scratch. You managed to get out of that battle relatively unscathed." She picked up a notebook before proceeding to write something down. Probably notes concerning my condition if I had to guess.

My eyes wandered around the room, once more surprised by its pristine condition. It has only been a day or so since we took control of this castle and she'd already gotten her work station clean. I didn't get the chance to take a look at where the long-term patients were resting, but if this place was any indication, it should be in more or less the same condition.

"You've managed to clean this place very nicely."

"Hmm?" She looked up from her note, taking a glance around her before huffing, somewhat proudly. "Of course! Hygiene and cleanliness are vital components in keeping a patient healthy. We wouldn't want them to get infected or sick where they were supposed to get treated. Which is why I acquired the help of some of the soldiers and staff we brought from Yngvi. Finn, Oifey, Alec and Arden were also more than happy to help."

I could easily picture those four doing just that. Alec more because a lady asked him for a favor, but I think he will have helped anyway. That made me wonder why Naoise wasn't included in the list. Maybe he was occupied.

"That makes me feel left out somehow." Maybe she didn't feel comfortable calling me in to help since I was technically a mercenary employed by her brother to fight. But still…

"Oh?" She looked puzzled, as though she just found out that I was unaware of something I ought to have known. "I actually wanted to ask for your help too, and even sent Oifey to call for you." Oifey didn't call for me. "He came back a few minutes later saying that you were busy with Sigurd and Quan. And this morning when he left to check on you you were sleeping soundly and didn't wish to disturb you."

Well, it was true that I somehow slept more than usual today...Way more actually. It was close to noon by the time I finally woke up and I was half-scared, half-surprised that something may have happened since nobody thought of waking me up.

But as a mercenary, and as a former college student, I was used to waking up early or in the middle of the night to work(study). Then again, I couldn't really blame Oifey for simply letting me sleep in.

"I see…"

"If you want, you're free to volunteer your help here anytime." She seemed to have sensed my uneasiness, and I was reminded once more that she was, have always been somehow, a mother.

"I'll take you up on that offer someday…" Maybe even today, if time allows it. But first, I had to check up on my friend. "Can I go now?"

"Yes." She looked through her notes once more before nodding at me. "I'm not sure how long you're planning to stay there but you know the drills by now. Also, tell him that I'll stop by in a few hours."

"Will do." I got up from my seat, thanking her once more for her help before walking towards the hall that was used to keep the patients, bedridden one mostly.

Midir was there, of course, and easier to find than before, maybe because this time he was closer to the door. Right next to it in fact.

He was awake, tending to his bow even though he was supposed to rest. There was a couple of fruits on a plate at his bedside. He said they were gifts from the people of his castle. They were originally part of Yngvi castle staff, sent to Evans on a regular basis to keep it in working order. It was their way of saying thanks to the person who rescued them, even though they themselves were in bad shape.

I picked up the plate and took a seat beside his bed, carefully peeling the fruits with the knife that was with it before giving them off to Midir. Conversation was easy between us, mostly banter and teasing about our everyday life, with the occasional discussion about our respective tasks.

I didn't even notice the hours fly by until Ethlyn appeared some time later to drive me away for her regular check-up.

---

The castle was currently in a state of quiet…trepidation? Anxiousness? No. None of those words were adequate. After all, it wasn't everyday that an official envoy from the capital of Grannvale came with direct orders from the king.

Well, if we discount Arvis' unofficial arrival and prompt departure that is.

"How many of them are there ?" I asked the servant that brought the news to me and is now leading me to where they will be received by Sigurd.

"Three, Sir." So, either Belhalla's king is not a fan of the pompous ceremony or they believe that a small delegation will be more than enough for this.

'Arvis did come alone, but his position as the captain of the royal knights is important enough to balance that out.'

Another question that was on my mind was the reason why Sigurd allowed their meeting to be public. I had thought that this kind of thing would be better done discreetly, as was the case with their last envoy.

"It's this way." I was in front of the room Sigurd had started to use as an office these past few days, the same one we'd use to analyze the battle reports. The only difference was that it was more crowded than yesterday. Way more crowded.

"Mister Ray!" Oifey called out, waving his arm upward to signal me to come closer. I did so, taking care to greet everybody I met on the way. Which was…almost everybody of importance truth be told. "I'm glad to see you could make it."

"Likewise. Have to admit, I didn't expect such a crowd though." I casted a glance around and counted everyone in attendance, with the exception of Ethlyn and Midir.

"It was an official request made by the envoy." Weirder and weirder.

However, I wouldn't have the time to think too much about it as the double doors were opened once more and three men entered through them in a triangle formation.

"The envoys from His Majesty are seeking an audience with Lord Sigurd of Chalphy."

The older of the three moved forward while the other two stayed behind. The leader, an old man who was almost completely bald, approached Sigurd before greeting him with a handshake.

I could see the surprise on Sigurd's face at the unexpected friendliness from this 'official envoy', but he quickly found his lost footing, shaking his hand vigorously.

It was the old man that spoke first. "Lord Sigurd, I am Filat, a retired paladin of His Majesty now serving as a diplomat and an advisor in military matters."

"It is a pleasure to meet you Lord Filat, although I wish the circumstances were better." He somehow managed to look ashamed, even though the current situation had nothing to do with him to begin with.

"Hohoho! Do not worry about it. After all, it is the very thing which led to this meeting."

"That is true."

"Your performance in this battle was outstanding. His Majesty is highly pleased, and has thus proclaimed your ordination as a paladin of the realm." This was when I remembered this particular part from the game, about Filat's initial request, and everything clicked together.

'He was just trying to make it a bit more official huh.'

While none of those present in this room would've ever doubted Sigurd's words had he just said so, but he had no way of knowing that obviously. Plus, there's a certain flair to assisting the whole thing personally rather than just hearing it from someone.

"I hardly deserve such an honor, sir! I pledge my undying fealty to His Majesty."

Filat nodded along, seemingly satisfied with Sigurd's act of loyalty towards their king. "Good lad." …He wasn't even trying to hide it anymore, was he? "From here, it is imperative that you hold Evans. We can ill afford to lose such a valuable defensive point to the enemy. You and your men shall be handsomely paid for your service. Provided, of course, that our territory survives unscathed. Best of luck, Lord Sigurd. Grannvale expects every man to do his duty."

He then offered a bow to Sigurd, which was a little surprising since I thought that as a direct subordinate of the king of Grannvale, he was supposed to bow only to him.

Then again, ii might have been wrong, seeing as Sigurd returned his bow with own and without much of a fuss.

The envoys were thus escorted out of the room, accompanied by Alec and Naoise. The room then descended into a terse silence since no one wanted to speak first. It was a bit overwhelming, to say the least, so I was grateful when Quan directed everyone out of the room too, with a bit of help from Oifey.

They didn't tell me to move out however and I was left with a Sigurd that just sank into one of the sofas in the room accompanied by a very winded sigh.

"That was somewhat nerve-wracking, for all the wrong reasons."

I wondered why he would've been nervous. After all, he didn't do anything bad, per se, so there was nothing for him to fear. I asked him as such and was surprised to hear a well thought-out reasoning from him.

"I mean, we may be doing all this to get back Edain and drive out Verdane, but this is still an unsanctioned use of military force from Chalphy with no decisive justification to do so."

"One could argue that the risk of an invasion will be enough of an incentive to take up your weapons." After all, if Verdane had occupied Evans and Yngvi, what would've stopped them from attacking Chalphy next ? I mean, that was literally their plan.

"Yes. I know that as well, but I couldn't help but be nervous you see? Plus, with my father currently in Isaach, his political enemies in court were probably doing their best to undermine him however they can." Classic Raptor and Lombard. The world could be sinking into the ocean but they'll still only worry about their personal power and safety. "Which led me to think about my favor once more…"

"A favor ?" Is he bringing that up again? I guess now would be a good time. It certainly explains why everyone was driven out of the room except for me. "What can I help you with Sigurd?"

"I want you to serve as my tactician."

My brain had a lag as soon as I finished processing what he said.

'I beg your pardon?'

"I beg your pardon?"

"I said ; I want you to wo-"

"I heard you well enough the first time!" I groaned, passing my hand through my hair before rubbing down my face in one go. "Are you sure about this ? I can think of a thousand reasons why this would be a very, very, bad idea."

"And I could think of a thousand and one why it wouldn't be." I drew a blank at that, more at the sheer incredulity of the situation than at his statement. Well, maybe it was a bit of both.

"You do know that I am just a simple mercenary, right ?" I tried my best to dissuade him from his decision…

"You were the one who devised our last two battle plans. Plus, I've heard from Oifey that you helped him the other day." …But he countered my argument quite easily.

"I'm a newcomer here. Basically a nobody." I didn't want to do this. There was a difference between fighting to save people, and sending hundreds or thousands to their possible deaths...

"And yet, you've managed to befriend all those of importance." …But he just wouldn't have it.

"You do know I'm Isaachian right?" Why would a Grannvalean soldier listen to a random mercenary from an enemy country ?

"And we're a mismatched group of people from multiple allegiances. You'll be just fine." I couldn't quite refute his points any longer. I was still shocked that SIGURD of all people managed to beat me in a contest using LOGIC.

"..." It's not like this situation was completely unexpected either. I had studied tactics and strategy since coming to this world because I felt that I would need every tool possible if I wanted to reach the correct ending while keeping myself, as well as those I care for, safe. I expected to work with Oifey and Quan like before to devise battle plans. Not be in charge of the whole shebang dammit!

"... We will of course think about everything with Quand and Oifey when in our base… But on the field, I'll need someone that can efficiently devise plans to adapt to unexpected situations and get the upper hand… Unless, of course, you do not want to do it?" I looked at Sigurd's conflicted expression, sensing the last of my resistance crumbling slowly when faced with his downtrodden look.

'Shit.'

"Fine. Fine. I accept. Now stop making those damn puppy eyes." His expression suddenly made a 180 degree turn. His smile alone was enough to light this room, and I was not exaggerating.

"That's great! Thank you… I am grateful, truly." He got up from his chair seat with all the excitement of a five year old, taking my hand into his and shaking it quite vigorously.

I thought for a second that maybe, just maybe, things were always meant to happen this way.

SYSTEM UPDATE

'Huh?'

THE MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN CONCLUDED

"FINALLY!"

---

{ Preview }

Next time in Fire Emblem : As long as my blood still runs ; Blood is thicker than water.

As the sun began its slow descent, casting long shadows across the training grounds, Ray found himself standing before a wide-eyed Oifey. The young squire was clutching his practice sword with both hands, his determined expression more suited to someone about to storm a castle than someone about to receive training advice.

"So, you want to get stronger, huh?" I asked, crossing my arms and looking Oifey up and down as if I was sizing up a fresh recruit.

"Yes! I want to become strong enough to protect Lord Sigurd and everyone else!" Oifey declared, his youthful enthusiasm radiating from him like the sun.

"Alright, kid," I said with a smirk. "I'll tell you the ultimate secret to getting stronger."

Oifey leaned forward, hanging on my every word.

"It's a method passed down for generations... a training regimen so intense, so effective, that it's guaranteed to make you unbeatable in no time."

"Really?! What is it?!"

I took a deep breath, my tone growing solemn. "Listen closely. Every day, without fail, you must do one hundred squats, one hundred push-ups, and one hundred sit-ups. And then…"

"And then?!" Oifey was practically bouncing with anticipation.

"Run 10 kilometers. Every. Single. Day." My voice was filled with a dramatic gravitas that made it sound like I was revealing the secrets of the universe. Which I was probably doing.

"That's it?" Oifey blinked, his excitement faltering slightly.

"That's it," Ray confirmed with a sage nod. "But here's the catch—you can't take a single day off. No matter how tired you are, no matter how much your body aches. Rain, snow, sickness... you must persevere."

"Wow…" Oifey's eyes sparkled as if he'd just been handed the Holy Grail. "And if I do this, I'll become as strong as you?"

I gave him a lopsided grin. "Stronger, probably. Just don't forget to eat three meals a day. Bananas are fine, but you'll need meat too."

"What about rest?"

"Rest is for the weak," I replied, waving a hand dismissively.

By this point, Sigurd and Alec had wandered over, curious about the commotion.

"What's going on here?" Sigurd asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Oifey's about to embark on the path to ultimate strength," I said proudly.

"Ray's teaching me a secret training regimen!" Oifey explained, his voice brimming with excitement.

Alec snorted, his arms crossed. "What is it, sparring with ghosts or wrestling with bears?"

"Nothing so mundane," I said, shaking his head. "It's the pinnacle of simplicity, really : one hundred squats, one hundred push-ups, one hundred sit-ups, and a 10-kilometer run every day."

Alec burst out laughing, nearly doubling over. Even Sigurd couldn't suppress a chuckle.

"Ray, are you trying to turn him into a storybook hero?" Alec teased.

"Hey, it worked for me," I said with a shrug.

"Did it really?" Sigurd asked, his tone dripping with skepticism.

"Of course," I replied, deadpan. "And look at me now. Perfectly normal hairline and all."

"...What does your hairline have to do with strength?" Oifey asked, confused.

I ruffled Oifey's hair with a grin. "You'll find out in a few years, kid. Now, get to it! One hundred squats, right now!"

As Oifey dropped to the ground with a determined look, Sigurd sighed, shaking his head. "He's going to regret this, isn't he?"

"Absolutely," Alec said, smirking. "But at least it'll keep him out of trouble for a while."

And so, as the sun set over the training grounds, Oifey began his quest for ultimate strength, blissfully unaware of the sheer madness of what he'd just signed up for.

{ End Point }

---

This marks the end of the Prologue of the Fire Emblem game !

To be honest, I thought at first there was gonna be a lot more fighting in this chapter. Then I remembered the actual scene in the game and how easy, and fun to try at least once, it would've been to just steamroll everyone with Sigurd and his Silver sword.

On a side note, I also thought at one time when writing this something along the lines of "Hey! Why hasn't there been any quest for a while now?", and proceeded to write one, before being reminded at some point that the system was still unavailable, and thus, I had to delete everything. I won't lie, it was both funny and frustrating. Mostly funny.

Also meet Arvis ! One of the most self-entitled asshole in the entire series, who thinks that he alone can right all the wrongs of the world, and the guy responsible for all the tragedy that occurred for at least 15 years in Jugdral. If one of your favorite character was killed, then it's probably his fault (even though canonically the only one he killed personally was Sigurd).

See you for the next chapter ! Hopefully very soon.