51I'M HOME!
I spent 2.5 years in Orlando, FL. Did I like it? No. What happened for the last 1/2 year? I was broke. "Macaroni and Cheese" broke. "Rolling pennies for gas" broke. So broke that I was struggling to pay rent.
Now that I've moved back home, I've got another chance, steady employment, and most importantly, time! I'll be writing quite a bit for the stories currently in rotation, so keep an eye out for those updates. This doesn't mean that it will be for every week, or every other week, but it will be a lot more frequent.
And as a side note, I've opened up auditions for my Dragon Quest IX Let's Play. I plan on casting people to do voice acting for characters throughout the story, so I'll need all the help I can get. Head on over to the "Behind The Voice Actors" website and add the parenthetical segment onto the end of the page. (/members/Rcaffey1/casting-call/Dragon-Quest-IX-A-Casted-Lets-Play/) It should take you to the auditions section.
Anyways, enough blabbering about. It's story time!
Another morning without any major events came, so Sinon spent her morning honing archery again. It wasn't just training for her, but it didn't hurt to make this a habit. For Sinon, it helped her to relax, giving her time to reminisce about the past, her old home, and her adventures in GGO, ALO, and Ylisse. It served as a reminder to who she was, where she came from, and what she contributed to her team.
This morning, however, her thoughts were elsewhere. She was thinking about the turnwheel Yuzu gave them, the one she used to call in six people to Fort Dragonia. It wasn't anything life-changing, due to her time with the Shepherds in the Outrealm Gate, but it was different, to say the least. It called in heroes from legends that were much more realistic than the Einherjar, but what Corrin and Azura failed to mention to her was who it summoned. She may have called in Kirito or Chrom and not even known it. Sinon sent the last arrow in her quiver flying down the range, splitting her prior bullseye directly down the shaft of the arrow.
"Impressive shot," she heard someone say from behind her.
Sinon turned to see Lord Corrin walking up towards her, the Yato not present with him. "It amazes me how precise you can be when it comes to archery."
Sinon frowned. "It all makes sense when you remember that nickname I was given."
Corrin nodded. "It suits you quite well, even though you don't enjoy it."
Sinon set down Galesbane on the nearby rack. "It's not that it doesn't suit me, or that I don't like the name itself. I never really enjoyed being praised for my accuracy."
Corrin shrugged. "I guess some things will constantly follow you wherever you go." He noticed Sinon's distracted look. "Hey, Sinon. Is something bothering you?"
Sinon shook her head. "It's nothing."
Corrin stood his ground. "Not if you have that look in your eyes. Sinon, you can tell me."
The former GGO champion looked up to meet his eyes. "I was wondering about the turnwheel."
Corrin raised his eyebrow. "I think Yuzu would be better suited to answering any questions you may have."
Sinon sighed. "Not really. I get the basic function of it, but I'm curious about who it summoned."
Corrin thought back to that day. "I believe there were six people it summoned to the courtyard. Azura met with a couple before they took off, but the others were Prince Roy, Lady Lyndis, Prince Marth, and Commander Ike."
Sinon thought about those names. "I'm familiar with Marth and Ike's backstory, I've heard about Roy, but Lady Lyndis seems relatively unknown to me."
Corrin smiled. "She seems like a really nice woman. She grew up living on the plains, so she learned to be independent and how to live off of the land itself. She also had two different blades, one at her hip, the other on her back. I'm not entirely sure how she fights, but I can tell she means business."
Sinon crossed her arms. "In that case, I hope we don't have to face her in battle."
Corrin was reminded of why he walked over there in the first place. "Speaking of battle, or the army rather, we'll be marching shortly after breakfast."
Sinon nodded. "I figured you didn't want to waste any time. Have you picked where we're headed?"
Corrin frowned. "The Eternal Stairway. It's our fastest path to Izumo."
Sinon simply picked up a quiver and began strapping it to her belt. "It can't really be 'Endless', can it?"
Corrin turned back towards the mess hall. "Only one way to find out?"
In the throne room of Castle Windmire, Garon sat in his massive black throne, contemplating the movements that Corrin was making. He had sent Iago to cause as much mayhem as possible for the young prince, but Garon wasn't entirely satisfied by it, due to the raw force the young prince inflicted on Hans.
Garon laughed maniacally. "So, Corrin still lives, he lives and he knows. He knows a truth that he should not. He has allies that he should not. Still, they matter not. My plan to eradicate them all is already in motion. Once Corrin falls, his allies will follow. Once they are snuffed out, the war will eclipse the two kingdoms, decimating the landscape, weakening all human alliances, and plunging the world into ruin. It's far too late to stop me now! I have already won! THE WORLD IS MINE!"
As Garon began another fit of maniacal laughter, Elise, who was standing outside the throne room entrance, picked up on what he was saying. "Corrin's in trouble isn't he? And his allies must be Sinon, Aiko, and Yuuki! This doesn't sound good. I need to find Xander!"
"No, Elise," Camilla stated as she approached. "You shouldn't get involved."
Elise backed away from the door, turning towards the approaching sister. "Camilla?"
The doting older sister shook her head. "Father isn't himself lately, Elise. I don't feel as if he's all there anymore."
"In what way?" Elise pondered.
"Well," Camilla replied. "I sense there's something ethereal about him. It's almost as if he's not of his own mind or body."
Elise's eyes sparked with determination. "If Corrin's in trouble, I'm going to-"
Camilla cut her short. "No, Elise. We mustn't step out of line. One wrong move, and we could cause him even more suffering, or even bring about his end." She pulled her younger sister into a hug. "I know it hurts, but all we can do is wait and see what happens next."
Elise reluctantly returned the hug. "Okay. I don't like it, but I'll try to stay back for now."
About three-fourths up the Endless Stairway, which in hindsight is false advertising, Corrin's group began tiring out from the unrelenting climb. Azura showed no signs of fatigue yet, but she knew that this climb was breaking down her muscles. Sinon was holding up the best out of everyone, having managed to pace herself and minimize her energy output. Everyone else was either winded from the climb, or atop a steed to keep them from tiring out too fast. As for Corrin, he wondered whether the climb would be worth it in the end. He signaled for everyone to pause for a quick rest.
"By…the…gods," he panted, hands on his knees. "How many…steps are there?"
Sinon crossed her arms. "It's called the Endless Stairway, but I doubt it goes on forever."
Azura frowned at her. "It's named that way due to its reputation. Regardless, it's our fastest way to reach Izumo."
Yuuki smirked. "What was the other path we could've taken, Eternity Avenue?"
Sinon smacked her behind the head. "Get serious!" She sighed at Yuuki's jape. "In terms of why, Izumo is our best chance of avoiding conflict with Hoshido at the moment. It has declared neutrality and is a safe haven against any warfare that may be in progress at any time."
Azura nodded. "It would also allow us to meet with Izana, their leader, who may know something about our next move."
Corrin looked down at the golden blade in his hand. "In what way?"
Sakura had her eyes focused ahead. "Um, does anyone else notice the fog g-getting thicker?"
A quick flash of light caught them all by surprise, revealing a Faceless horde just higher up the stairway from them. "AH!" Sakura exclaimed in terror.
Kaze immediately stepped up and blocked the closest one's fist, which bounced off of his gauntlet. "Stay behind me, Lady Sakura."
Sinon heard an audible, metallic clang when the fist hit Kaze's gauntlet, arousing suspicion within her. While Corrin, Kaze, Gunter, and Jakob attempted to fend them off, Sinon started scanning the area ahead of them for irregularities. As she looked around, she saw him: Iago, the Dread Mage, Garon's personal tactician and one of the few Nohrian Illusion Sorcerers. Sinon readied an arrow, letting it fly towards Iago, narrowly missing him and nicking his cheek in the process. Instead of blood being drawn, Iago vanished in a puff of dust, proving that it was only a projection of himself. As Iago's projection vanished, the Faceless monsters began to disappear, leaving behind members of a Hoshidan-styled tribe.
Sinon called out to Corrin. "Hold back, Prince Corrin!"
As Sinon's call echoed out, Corrin noticed the illusion wearing off. "Kaze! Gunter! Jakob! Stand down!" Corrin dropped the Yato to the side. "The enemies we were fighting…they were humans."
It became painfully obvious what happened to Azura. "Illusions? Oh no… These are members of the Wind Tribe."
Corrin looked over the five fallen Wind Tribalists. "I don't understand. Who could've deceived us? How could they have done this?"
Sinon pointed to where Iago's projection was stationed prior to her sniping it. "Iago had been watching this via a projection from that large boulder. I think he may have planned the whole thing."
Yuuki grimaced. "Figures it would be him. His callousness knows no bounds."
Azura looked to Corrin with worry. "Corrin… What should we do?"
Corrin sighed with reluctance. "The Wind Tribe isn't too far from here, right? We'll head out to meet with them and try to explain what happened."
Sinon nodded. "That's all well and good in theory, but I expect they'll greet us with hostility."
Corrin motioned for everyone to being moving again. "It still doesn't mean we can't try."
Lady Lyndis had just finished her extended stay at the Wind Tribe's village. The open hospitality wasn't exactly five-star, but anything of that caliber would have been too much for Lyn's taste. Regardless, they welcomed her with somewhat open arms when they heard about her respect for the earth and the sky. The chieftain, Fuga, was willing to provide shelter for her, catch her up to speed on the war, and even provide her with tools for keeping her swords clean and sharpened. Lyn was feeling kind of spoiled, which was usually a sign to move elsewhere.
As it currently was mid-day, she had reached the southern end of Reppu Castle, noting that the wind had calmed considerably. She was surprised to find Chief Fuga at the entrance. Lyn was further surprised to see an upset expression adorned on his face.
"Chief Fuga," she addressed him, catching his attention.
Fuga turned towards her, his frown turning into a smile. "Ah, Lady Lyndis. What brings you out this way?"
Lyn gave a short bow. "I thank you for your hospitality, but I must be moving on."
Fuga looked a little confused by her statement. "Really? Was our hospitality not enough for you?"
Lyn's expression said otherwise. "The opposite. I'm not really used to being given such fine gifts, having others care for me, or even such a nice training environment. Honestly, I was feeling a little too pampered to stay."
Fuga nodded. "I understand. Just take care on your journey."
Lyn crossed her arms. "I saw you were kind of upset a moment ago. It may not be my place to ask, but would you care to tell me?"
Fuga shook his head. "It isn't something you should worry about, but we had a small military group attack some of my men at the Eternal Stairway."
Lyn sighed. "It's hard to believe people would openly attack your villagers like that."
Fuga looked back towards the south. "Speak of the devil."
Lyn followed his gaze towards the desert. What she saw surprised her beyond belief. Corrin, the Prince she met upon arriving in Hoshido, was marching with several units following him. They had a variety of classes including a Ninja, a Sky Knight, two swordswomen, and even a Songstress. Corrin himself seemed burdened by something in his eyes, not so much physically, but it may have been more of an emotional burden.
Lyn took a step back. "Prince Corrin?"
Chief Fuga crossed his arms. "You know this young man?"
"We've met before," Lyn confirmed. "He was the young man who first greeted me when I arrived in Hoshido."
Fuga frowned. "Hard to believe he was the first person you met."
Lyn sighed. "He's a caring person, once you get to know him."
"We'll see," Fuga replied.
Corrin handed Kaze the Yato before approaching. "Only pass me the Yato if I say to do so."
Azura and Sinon approached behind him, both with weapons stowed away. Corrin held his hands open as he walked forward. His open posture was calming, which let Lyn relax a little.
Fuga glared him down. "Prince Corrin, you wished to speak with me?"
Corrin nodded, halting his advance roughly three yards away. "Yes. You're the Chieftain of the Wind Tribe, I assume?"
"Correct," Fuga confirmed. "I am called Fuga. News of your arrival came before you. News of your plans came as well. You refused to side with Hoshido or Nohr in their war, yet you aim to destroy them both whilst they are at each other's throats. On top of that, you make your first move by destroying the Wind Tribe and attacking our brethren at the Eternal Stairway."
Corrin was flabbergasted by his claim. "Where are these ideas coming from? We aren't trying to destroy Hoshido and Nohr, and we aren't trying to make you our enemy. We're trying to save them from King-"
Azura placed a hand on his shoulder. "Corrin! Stop!"
Fuga caught wind, no pun intended, of what Corrin was trying to say. "What was that? What were you trying to say?"
Sinon frowned. "I'm sorry, Chief Fuga, but we aren't entirely at liberty to say. All we can disclose is that we've found an unknown force that's manipulating us into fighting each other and wiping ourselves out."
Fuga scowled at her. "An unknown force? Has fear of death driven you all mad? Do you think you can gain the upper hand by confusing me? Only a fool would believe what you're saying has any credit, and I am no fool." Turning to his men, he issued an order. "MEN! ELIMINATE THESE INVADERS AT ONCE!"
As he said this, someone off to the side called out to him. "Chieftain! Please wait!"
The owner of the voice rushed into view, standing in front of Corrin, her arms outstretched. The woman was dressed in Oni Savage attire, holding a club in hand. Her fiery red eyes, headdress, and war paint were trademarks of her physical appearance. There was no doubt it was Rinkah, daughter to the Fire Tribe's Chief.
Corrin recognized her immediately. "Rinkah, what are you doing here?"
Rinkah smirked at him over her shoulder. "Tracking you down. Honestly, your refusal to choose a side has thrown both kingdoms into chaos. Many say you plan on destroying both sides, while others say you were forced to invade smaller nations. I've gotten the chance to see your true personality in Nohr and I say it's all nonsense." She smiled at Sinon. "Plus, you've got three warriors who have reputations for loyalty and kindness." She returned her look towards the chieftain. "I believe in you, Prince Corrin."
Corrin smiled at her. "Rinkah… thank you. You don't know how much this means to me."
Fuga glared at Rinkah. "So, the Flame Tribe Chieftain's daughter sides with this destructive young boy. Why?"
Rinkah stood her club so the pommel stuck straight upward. "I owe Prince Corrin my life. While I lay battered and beaten, he chose to spare my life and let me escape from Nohrian imprisonment. You can't kill him for a simple misunderstanding, and false rumors aren't a good reason either. I've seen Corrin's kindness and his character for myself and I know he is not callous enough to attack someone without reason. If my father was here with us, he would at least hear what Corrin has to say. Only savages scream out for violence and death rather than justice!"
Lady Lyndis interjected into the conversation. "You've got quite a passion within your speech. So, you're saying we should believe him, despite the rumors? Think carefully before you answer, Miss Rinkah."
Rinkah nodded in Lyn's direction. "I have given it plenty of thought. On behalf of the Flame Tribe, I vouch for this man."
Fuga smirked at Rinkah's resolve. "Interesting… You really think that highly of him? Very well! I'll give you a chance to prove your worth in combat."
Lyn held up an arm. "If it's alright with you, Chief Fuga, might I propose a three on three fight? I'd be willing to join you in this test."
Fuga thought it over. "Testing out the strength of individual members?"
Lyn shook her head. "Not entirely. More like holding a match to see Corrin's resolve for yourself, without the risk of wounding too many on either side."
Fuga nodded. "That sounds like a brilliant idea." He returned his attention to Corrin. "Prince Corrin. Select two allies to accompany you in a three on three battle against myself, Lady Lyndis, and our tribe's best mage."
Rinkah slung her club over her shoulder. "I'll fight alongside you, Prince Corrin. You only need to pick one other fighter."
Corrin closed his eyes. "One more person…" He opened his eyes. "Sinon? I know I've been relying on you a lot lately, but would you mind joining us?"
The time had come, and now the six combatants were standing on opposing ends of Reppu Castle's main landing. The winds around them were blowing hard enough to carry airborne units across the structure. Corrin had his allies stationed a fair distance away, while Sinon and Rinkah remained by his side, weapons ready at their sides. Sinon held Galesbane in hands, all arrows in her quiver at her belt. Rinkah only had her club, but she swung it back and forth between her hands. Across from them, Fuga was brandishing his own club, preparing to test Corrin's willpower. To his left, Lyndis was doing a few stretches, extending her flexibility in preparation for the skirmish. To Fuga's right, a wind mage was holding a magic scroll, glaring at Rinkah with confidence and arrogance both in equal measures. It was clear to Corrin that his opponents were testing their character, rather than their strength, but expected him and his allies to go all out.
Suddenly, Fuga made the first move, rushing forward towards Corrin. As Fuga charged forward, Lyn broke off towards Corrin's right. Sinon rushed in the same direction, attempting to cut off the legendary swordswoman before she could get two close. Rinkah and the wind mage broke away as well, but Rinkah immediately found herself at the disadvantage, due to a range disadvantage. Corrin braced himself and brought the Yato up to block Fuga's first blow.
Fuga grunted. "I hope you can back up your intentions, boy."
Corrin grinned at the chieftain. "I'd rather people know and not believe than stay silent and complacent!"
Fuga returned the strained grin. "Then show me the strength of your will!"
A short distance away, Lyn had managed to close in on Sinon, not leaving any room for the former sniper to fire an arrow. Sinon was barely able to block the blows with her bow, adopting a defensive strategy that left her offense extremely lacking. In a desperate move, Sinon brought her gauntlet crashing forward onto Lyn's blades, holding them in place, but only barely able to hold her ground. The flat sides of both the Mani Katti and the Sol Katti were held back against the thin steel guards, something that wouldn't usually be able to block such strikes.
Sinon pushed forward slightly. "We don't have to fight like this, you know."
Lyn held her ground. "Would you rather have set an entire force against the best Wind Tribesmen?"
Sinon frowned. "All of this is needless violence."
Lyn smirked. "Think about why this is only a three-on-three. The actions of the few speak volumes more than the words of many."
Sinon recognized why the combat was limited in this fight. "Then don't hold back on my account."
Lyn took a single step closer. "Wouldn't dream of it."
Sinon gave one strong push against Lyn, sending the Blade Lord sliding backwards slightly. The brief lull in combat allowed Sinon to draw Galesbane back, unleashing a magic arrow at her opponent. Lyn brought Sol Katti upward to slash through the arrow, but was immediately met by a small volley from Sinon. Using her training on the plains, Lyn ducked in and around each arrow carefully, attempting to get closer to Sinon. However, Sinon grabbed a knife attached to her belt, bringing the small blade up into a defensive stance. Lyn lunged forward in a spinning motion, bringing both of her blades forward in turn. Sinon managed to block the first hit from the Mani Katti and dodge the initial slash from the Sol Katti, but the repeated assault from the two blades kept her from attacking again, forcing Sinon into a retreating motion. Across the field of battle, Rinkah noticed this and rushed towards her.
"Archer!" Rinkah shouted. "Switch out!"
Sinon took a roll backwards as Rinkah vaulted over the archer, landing directly behind the Blade Lord. Lyn barely had enough time to register the shift in opponent before taking a swift kick from the Oni Savage. Lyn was sent flying into the air, but using her instincts, she was able to recover in mid-air before Rinkah could capitalize on the loss of balance. Rinkah brought her club upward to block Lyn's attack at her, the twin blades locking onto the iron club. Rinkah knew she was still at a disadvantage, but it was something she could handle easier than a ranged magic user.
As for Sinon, she took two seconds to memorize her opponent's stance. He may have been a threat to her, but he adopted an open stance that had punishable weak points. The mage held a scroll spiraling out in front of him, similar to ones from Hoshido, which Sinon surmised was his Ox Spirit. As expected, the spirit contained within the pages burst forward, the summoned Ox rushing forward towards her. Sinon didn't hesitate, leaping clean over the rampaging spirit as it closed in. While airborne, she fired off an arrow at Hayato, sending it soaring towards him. In an effort to avoid taking damage, Hayato dodged to the right, rolling to the side and distancing himself from Sinon. The former champion followed up her first shot with a set of three magic arrows at Hayato, each intended for different points on her opponent's body. Hayato barely had enough time to bring his scroll upward before all three arrows sunk into their intended targets. The first one hit the scroll in his hand, knocking it upwards into the second just as the third arrow sunk into his short cape and pinned him to the floor.
Sinon lowered her bow as she turned away from him. "Stay down."
Hayato had to comply as the archer rushed off. Sinon took a physical arrow from her quiver, the second one used in the match, opting for the grappling shot. Focusing her aim back onto Lyndis, she fired the grappling arrow, sending it soaring towards the plains nomad. The three hooks on the arrowhead grappled onto Lyn's arm, allowing her to pull back on the rope and disarm the Blade Lord's main sword. Rinkah seized her chance and smacked the other sword from Lyn's remaining hand. With Lyn now disarmed, the Blade Lord withdrew from combat, leaving Corrin and Fuga as the last two fighting.
Speaking of the two, Corrin was having a bit of a struggle against the chieftain. If Fuga was nearing his limits, he wasn't showing it. Corrin knew he was about to reach his own soon, so he switched to a slightly more defensive stance. Fuga spotted this sudden shift, which prompted him to rush forward and bring his club forward in a wide arc. Corrin was caught off-guard by Fuga's heavier attack, but as Fuga's club passed by him, Corrin smacked the flat of the Yato against Fuga's side, knocking the Chieftain to the side. Fuga stumbled to regain his balance, but upon using his club as a support, he managed to steady himself.
"I…I yield," the tribe leader panted. "You three put up a fierce fight."
Corrin gasped in reply. "So did you. Honestly, I was a bit overwhelmed by your power."
Fuga nodded, standing up straight. "Perhaps, but your convictions rang true. No savage would fight as fairly and as honorably as you." He smiled. "I understand that you spoke the truth earlier. I will talk with our tribe about this. Don't you worry about anything."
Corrin stood up straight. "Thank you. I appreciate that you gave us this chance."
Fuga smiled at Corrin. "And I thank you for agreeing to our proposed 3 on 3. You remind me a lot of your father, King Sumeragi."
This caught Corrin's interest. "You knew my father?"
Fuga nodded. "I did. He and I were quite close before King Garon ended his reign. He also told me about the blade you carry, the Yato."
Corrin was curious about that. "I've been trying to figure out what's so special about it. Would you tell me what you know?"
Fuga's smile dropped slightly. "I don't know much about the Yato, but I do know that it is the key to unlocking the Seal of Flames, a legendary weapon that can only be wielded by those it deems worthy. Aside from that, the Yato chooses its wielder and may not be taken by another for combative purposes. If you're looking for more answers, Izana of Izumo should be able to provide more information regarding it."
Corrin nodded. "We were headed there through this area. It's reassuring to know we're on the right track."
Fuga's smile returned. "In the meantime, what do you say we have you and your allies stay the evening? We can hold a nice banquet and our relaxing hot springs are open to you."
Corrin agreed with that. "We'd like that very much. Thank you, Chief Fuga."
Later that night, Sinon found herself sitting alone outside Reppu Castle, thinking back on the events of the day. Sinon was more than a little curious as to how the events played out and why they escalated so quickly. As she pondered these things, someone approached her from behind.
"Enjoying the night sky?"
Sinon turned to see Lady Lyndis approaching, a smile upon her face as she drew near. "It's a beautiful place to reflect, I'll grant you that."
Lyn nodded. "Are you still wondering why Fuga wanted to test you three in battle?"
Sinon frowned. "Yes, but I'm a little curious as to your intentions behind it."
Lyn sat down next to her. "I grew up on the plains, living as a nomad who never stuck around too long in any place that I stopped. As such, I met all kinds of people, both with ill intentions and with more noble means. I was shocked to find out that your party attacked the Wind Tribesmen stationed at the Eternal Stairway, since I saw Corrin as a more noble person than I would've imagined. I had hoped that it was only an accident and the best way I knew how to prove it to myself and Fuga was to have a small spar. Fortunately, the three on three match was more than enough to test you."
Sinon nodded. "I see. Some things you only learn from someone during combat."
Lyn agreed. "Exactly." She paused. "I am curious how you learned to be such a good archer. Any skill I have with it is more unrefined and less graceful than my swordsmanship."
Sinon frowned, thinking back to her days in GGO, although she couldn't outright say that to the Blade Lord. "I picked up a crossbow early on, but it was in self defense at a young age. The event scarred me as a result, making me wary anytime I held one. It became a necessity to overcome this fear before too long, so I forced myself to learn the bow. In the end, I overcame my fears, but not until I had been shown the other side of the original event by a friend of mine. He helped me to let go of my fears by embracing the good that I did."
Lyn smiled at her. "I think I get it now. We never stop changing as time moves on and your story is proof enough of that."
Sinon nodded. "And here I am, years later, helping someone save the two families he knows from destroying each other in the process."
Lyn raised an eyebrow. "And you're choosing this life over a famous one in Nohr?"
Sinon shook her head. "I'm only famous in Nohr because of my life at his side. Being by his side has shown me some things that no one would believe back home, but it's also shown me that Corrin is a royal I can trust and rely on. There's no way that I'd leave his side at this point."
Lyn smiled in response to Sinon's conviction. "If that's how you feel about him, then I suppose I can trust him."
Sinon looked at Lyn with a confused expression. "What do you mean?"
Lyn simply stood up. "You'll see," she replied, heading back inside the castle.
The following morning, Corrin's and his allies were preparing to set out towards Izumo. Chief Fuga, Hayato, and Lyndis were meeting with them before sending Corrin on his way, all of them now standing on the outskirts of Reppu Castle. Corrin and Sinon were
"It's a shame that we have to go," Corrin said. "It was a pleasure to finally talk peacefully for a change."
Fuga nodded. "You're welcome back to our home anytime you please, Prince Corrin. I only wish that you could stay longer."
Corrin's smiled held a hint of sorrow, although he attempted to hide it. "I just wish we could do more for you to repay your kindness."
Lyn smirked at him. "I've got an idea."
Sinon raised her eyebrow at the Blade Lord. "Is this related to what we talked about last night?"
Lyn nodded. "Precisely." She turned towards Corrin. "The reason why we tested you and Sinon in combat yesterday was twofold. The first was to find out if your resolve rang true through your statements. The second, at least for me, was to learn more about your troops and their faith in your cause. After talking with Sinon, I can see that your allies trust you wholeheartedly, something most kings and queens would die for."
Corrin's cheeks flushed red from the complement. "Oh, uh, thanks. That was rather nice."
Lyn crossed her arms. "I think you're missing my point." Once Corrin had stopped blushing, she continued. "I'd like to join your cause."
This was news to both Sinon and Corrin. "Wait, really?" Corrin replied. "This is a strictly voluntary mission, Lady Lyndis. Are you sure about this?"
Lyn uncrossed her arms, nodding as she did so. "I've seen it in your eyes and in Sinon's devotion. You guys are going somewhere to do something big. There's no way that I'm missing out on such an opportunity."
Sinon smiled at the Blade Lord. "We'd be honored to have you with us."
Chief Fuga smirked. "I guess our tribe's offer was going to be something similar. Hayato wanted to travel with you on your journey."
Corrin was surprised by this. "You mean the same kid who battled with us yesterday?"
Hayato frowned. "I'm not a child. I'm a grown man."
Fuga laughed at Hayato's antics. "He's one of our best mages, Prince Corrin. He'd be more than capable of handling any battles ahead of you."
Corrin extended a hand out towards Hayato. "In that case, we'd be grateful to have you with us."
Hayato extended his own hand and shook Corrin's. "You can count on me."
Fuga crossed his arms. "I would ask to come along as well, but my people need me to guide them. Maybe our paths will cross along the way. I'm sure we'll see each other again."
Corrin felt a tinge of sorrow, but he pushed it aside. "Perhaps we will, Chief Fuga."
Miles away, just outside the border of Izumo's capital, a blue-armored lad with fiery red hair was making his way to the edge of the city. His sword was clipped to his back, hooked securely to his belt, but hidden from the back thanks to his violet cape. Considering what he had been through so far, the swordsman was hoping to catch up with a specific group of travelers along their journey. Indeed, his own journey was something different from what he was used to from back home, but it was a refreshing change of pace just travelling alone. Regardless of why he was there, the young man knew that something was wrong with the city just ahead of him. He didn't know what, but he had a gut feeling that it wasn't as it should be.
Just outside of the city walls, he found an old, black mage's hat, somewhat similar to a Nohrian Witch's costume you might see during the All Hallows Eve festival, and a large black cloak, torn at the corners and hems, but perfect for covering him and his armor in. He threw it on over his armor, making sure not to leave his sword or armor sticking out, and threw on the hat, hoping that he could find out what his gut was telling him before anyone knew who he was.
"I don't like trying to blend in, but it's the best chance I've got," he lamented, passing through the entrance to the capital of Izumo.
N-Sight: I'M FINALLY BACK!
Lyn: It's not like you to keep a lady waiting...
N-Sight: No, it's not. A lot has happened to take away my time this past half-year and I don't like the fact that it did.
Lyn: Any reasons why?
N-Sight: I've been trying to live on my own in Orlando Florida for a while, only to move back home over Christmas.
Lyn: Maybe you should keep up the nomad livestyle.
N-Sight: Nope. Not going to happen. Besides, I've got a few other things going on.
Lyn: Such as?
N-Sight: I've settled in for a little while regarding personal life, I'm rediscovering my childhood city, and I've got a little time each night to write these stories.
Lyn: Uh-huh. Next time you leave your readers hanging, leave them a note.
N-Sight: Will do.
