#i am so jealous of ephraim

[number-1-haxorus-fan]

WHY IS FOMORTIIS SO FUCKING *HOT*

I WOULD ABSOLUTELY SUBMIT TO THE DEMON KING IF HE LOOKED LIKE THIS

If he was fighting me, I would let him fucking annihilate me and I would thank him

[thenewdeadseascrolls]

Judges 12: 1-3. "The Top."

So now we know what Shavuot really is, and how to map the Course named in the Torah to the Days, Months, and Years. The Torah explains each commandment and plague in detail, and how to employ the Sacrifices, Festivals, Mishpatim, Tzav, Edoms, Temple Furnishings, and so forth in order to complete their ethical treatises, and as I have mentioned there are 82 ways to obey or disobey each depending on the Tribe or Clan one is contending with.

But Days are different. They are the precursors to intelligent study of anything. A violent man is no good, a selfish, corrupt man who fears for his survival he is so jealous no matter how wealthy or healthy he is, is no good. An intelligent man whose character is not well developed is worse- he is devious, cunning, capable of machinating great evil. Only a species of enlightened man should be allowed to populate this planet.

Has it completely dawned on us yet two hundred years ago, there were 10 million African slaves in chains in America. Not too long after that, hundreds of millions of persons were exterminated in concentration camps via a marvel of modern engineering and political effort. Today, we are following the same patterns.

None of these activities, their impetuses, or their means are allowed by God. About this the Torah is outspoken. Man is expected to be as learned and placid as possible at all times and reinvest his soul in learning, the land, and the object of the desires of his heart. When we fail to follow this agenda and inflict harm instead, we give up far too much and always have.

The next frame discusses all the ways the Torah can help us achieve salvation from our unthinkable wastes of time and life.

Jephthah means "key to the words of Moses." Ephraim, "make up the face on the surface of the sea." All of this is tied to the Shema and the Siddhur. Take a look at yourselves and Report, "I am not a slave. I deserve to free. No one deserves to be a slave. Everyone deserves to be free."

The Shoftim speaks next of what is called a Kippah or Yarmulkah, the beanbag helmet many Jewish men wear. Kippah means "the fun brotherhood", Yarmulkah means "above the forest of power."

The Kippah is the "cover" on the Ark of the Covenant. Men who study the Torah and keep the Covenant are supposed to be protected by God and other men from the causes of oppression and violence. They are "covered" or "shielded" like a roof shields a house from the outside elements. The term Yarmulkah obviously refers to men who have attain to Ha Shem, the Burning Bush on Sinai and become smarter than most is also better than most.

This most fantastic point, which is made throughout the Shoftim is the subject of the next series of offices...how to struggle with traditional and non-traditional views of Jews and Judaism and find all the correct, which are the effective ways at engineering a mankind that does not fall prey to violence or corruption and waste his time or ruin the land:

Jephthah and Ephraim

12 The Ephraimite forces were called out, and they crossed over to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We’re going to burn down your house over your head.”

2 Jephthah answered, “I and my people were engaged in a great struggle with the Ammonites, and although I called, you didn’t save me out of their hands. 

3 When I saw that you wouldn’t help, I took my life in my hands and crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord gave me the victory over them. Now why have you come up today to fight me?”

The Calling is mentioned in Behaalotekha: God tells Moses the Israelites are to gather and those who actually understand Judaism (the Southern Tribes) are to lead those who are born into it (designated as Eastern Tribes, who are just waking up).

Silver trumpets are used for the purpose meaning, "a pure and ordinary voice, and pure and ordinary ears" are to be used for the Call.

While Royalty is a good thing for maintaining the absolute authority of the Law and the traditions, this is bunk until ordinary men, all around the planet are free to be as ordinary men. All the laws and traditions of man must emphasize the plight of the common man, a call to duty that began the day God gave Moses the Torah at the top of Sinai. The Kippah commemorates the call of Moses to the Thorn Bush, and the Silver Trumpet is its imminent vocal counterpart:

The Silver Trumpets

10 The Lord said to Moses: 2 “Make two trumpets of hammered silver, and use them for calling the community together and for having the camps set out.  3 When both are sounded, the whole community is to assemble before you at the entrance to the tent of meeting.  4 If only one is sounded, the leaders—the heads of the clans of Israel—are to assemble before you.  5 When a trumpet blast is sounded, the tribes camping on the east are to set out.  6 At the sounding of a second blast, the camps on the south are to set out. The blast will be the signal for setting out.  7 To gather the assembly, blow the trumpets, but not with the signal for setting out.

The Values in Gematria are:

v. 1: The Ephraimite forces were called out, and they crossed over to Zaphon. In the Shoftim, all Jews are called to the Zaphon, to the North, the unknown, as humanity has long since forgotten how to be civil, in particular towards the Jew. Real Jews are as unknown to themselves as they are to the rest of the human race.

The Shoftim was introduced by the Rab in order to solve this dilemma with style.

The Value in Gematria is 15846, י״החדו‎‎, y'hadoo, "God's two echoes."

There is nothing but the God of Israel and the People of Israel. Only they can properly represent each other in their reflections of each other. All the rest are savages and they will drown in the flood of their wickedness.

v. 2: I called but you didn't save me. The Value in Gematria is 8785, חז‎חה‎, haza, "learn this first."

Do not violate Eden is the first thing we learn. People need to grow up before they enter the world and their adult roles and responsibilities. Eve fell prey to her snatch because she wasn't grown up enough to handle her sexual feelings. Then came the expulsion, then came Cain and Abel...then Sodom and Gomorrah, then Noah, then Egypt...then came us.

We cannot trust the world to persons who are not grown up. They will only bring violence, war, oppression, and sorrow. The Mormons, who don't share a brain the size of a midge, are proof of this.

v. 3: Now why have you come today to fight me? The Fight has always been over how to be Jewish. This is what the Numbers are for. The Hebrew language is a squirrel as it is based on an alpha numeric format that creates combinations of words and noumena that must be properly understood or the Torah and Tanakh, all which were originally written in Hebrew will not make any sense at all.

So the Fight which will always be ongoing is how to implement the Covenant in the most ideal manner and finish mankind off in a global observance of Shabbos called Mashiach.

The Value in Gematria is 15853, י״החהג, the hahag, "the holiday festival feast."

The reason God told us to be in constant perennial preparation to rest and play and eat was to help us turn ourselves into a productive society. We are not doing any of the things God told us to do in order to be a mankind that celebrates what is a long and also a short time to revel on the surface of this world.

The burden of the Ammonites, the traditions is not in the rote observance of poorly practiced or understood rituals of religion, only in lessening the burdens of ignorance and violence.

It is the calling of the Jewish people to protect mankind from men that refuse to cooperate and remind the rest. This is all brought into alignment by the wearing of the Yarmulkah.

[sacred-stanning]

Chapter 18 Part 5: Facing the Demon King

After Ephraim's army clears out all of the monsters, the Demon King appears.

Ephraim: "Wait!"

"...before I defeat you, let me ask just one question.

Where is Lyon now?"

"If I defeat you, will Lyon return to normal?"

"Lyon is already not in this world.

I consumed every last morsel of his soul!"

"Don't resist. You can't even move now...

Ah, so you had Renais's Sacred Stone on you after all..."

"Very well, I will destroy it..."

Ephraim threatens to cut the Demon King down here, but I mostly am showing this just because I wanted to highlight the cool phrase he uses here, "Hitotachi Abiseteyaru".

I mostly think it's neat because, by coincidence, the characters for "one sword" here have the same reading as the word 人達 which means "people". Nifty.

It's around this point that Lyon's face changes, and his text goes back to black text on a white background.

"I'm Lyon, the prince of Grado, not the Demon King."

"I wasn't eaten up by the Demon King and killed..."

"Ephraim, I've always liked you.

I've always looked up to you. I wanted to become just like you!"

"But when I thought of you...I felt my consciousness slip.

I am the Demon King...the Demon King is me."

"Lyon...my friend, was a kind person...

He wouldn't do things like trick me. I can see through your lies!"

"In 10 days...during the night when the moon is eaten by the darkness...

I will perform a ceremony in the Dark Woods...

The ceremony will grant me untold power.

I may become the Demon King of old and destroy all of humanity."

"I want you to come to the Dark Woods. Promise me."

The Demon King (Lyon?) disappears and Eirika catches up to Ephraim.

She comments that he looks pale, and asks if he's ok. Ephraim tells her, "Lyon...is my best friend...he always will be..."

Eirika says the others are worrying and urges him to get out of this place.

Ephraim and Eirika tell the others that the Demon King has destroyed Renais's Sacred Stone and fled over the cliff.

L'Arachel tells them, "Beyond these mountains is the Dark Woods...We can get there by going through Rausten.

As long as we have at least one Sacred Stone, then we still haven't lost!"

So...there's a lot that happens in this scene. I actually went back and looked at the script again online:

I think it's actually really interesting how the story makes it unclear what is happening with Lyon.

Lyon himself tells us conflicting information, and even the reasons for him doing that are unclear.

Does Lyon's consciousness truly still exist within his body, and he and the Demon King are fighting for control? Does the Demon King have access to Lyon's memories and is just sometimes pretending to be Lyon in order to toy with Ephraim?

And another interesting thing to consider too. To what extent is it true that the Demon King got his power through Lyon's desires?

There's one line, which I'll just pull from the English script:

“Then I acquired the Dark Stone. The Demon King began to eat my soul and corrupt my flesh. I almost vanished beneath the Demon King’s mantle. The I remembered you… My mind blazed into wakefulness. All at once, my mind shouted out, “I will not be devoured!” Just as I was about to lose myself to the Demon King. I was able to drive him back. The Demon King’s desires are simple–foul, but uncomplicated. He wants nothing but the destruction, conquest, and subjugation of man. These shallow desires are nothing to the dreams of the human heart. And of the two roads I had seen, I chose the latter.”

(The "latter road" he refers to here is a future path where Lyon / humanity find the power to defeat the Demon King.)

In both routes, when Lyon talks to the main lord, he hints at either having romantic attraction to them (Eirika or Ephraim) or of being somewhat jealous of them (Ephraim). The story does kind of imply that this may have been the opening the Demon King used to gain control of Lyon.

What I like about this idea is, it's Lyon's normal, human weakness that allows the Demon King to take over, and this idea is repeated in this scene when either Ephraim or Eirika meet the Demon King. In Ephraim's case, he is only thinking about saving his friend and rushes forward with no plan except to attack, at which point he gets frozen in place and the Sacred Stone is stolen and destroyed.

In Eirika's case, she talks to the Demon King, and becomes convinced that he really is Lyon, or at least that Lyon is still fighting the Demon King inside, and she voluntarily hands over the Sacred Stone, believing she can save him.

Both Eirika and Ephraim play into the Demon King's hands because of their natural human weakness: their love for their friend.

(And just an aside, I've seen some people act like Eirika's actions are the height of stupidity while giving Ephraim a pass. I strongly disagree with this. Both of them reacted based on their kind, human desire to save their friend. Neither of them really acted as rationally as they should have, and they both fucked up. I feel like Eirika's actions are more feminine-coded though because she talks to the Demon King, while Ephraim attempts to charge in like an action-movie hero, and I feel like this is why many people don't judge Ephraim's actions as harshly as Eirika's. But really, Ephraim had NO more of a plan than Eirika did, and he loses Renais's stone in his route just like she does in hers!)

Of course, with all that said, it still isn't actually clear that Lyon actually still exists within the Demon King and is fighting against it. It may be that the Demon King just wants to draw Ephraim into a trap and is only pretending to be Lyon when it reveals its plans in the Dark Woods.

Next time: To Rausten!

[torahtantra]

"The Thinker." From the Book of Joshua, Chapter 17.

Chapter 16 was brief, leaving us with this:

-> "Between the north and the east what is hidden and revealed are two hollow spaces. One is in the mind the other is under the navel.

Crowns of Greatness are worn by men who take advantages of opportune moments to fill both with life experience."

For this, the Book says one needs a love apple who is not too jealous, just enough.

The reference, naturally is to Adam's fall to Evil in the Garden of Eden. Adam you see, was not much of a thinker and eve was such a stinker! And here begins Chapter 17.

17 This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh as Joseph’s firstborn, that is, for Makir "The thinker", Manasseh’s firstborn. Makir was the ancestor of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead "the wheel of stones" and Bashan "desire, covetousness" because the Makirites were great soldiers. 

="The products of government and reform are "thinkers" who study the Noble Skills named in the Torah and conquer the desire to covet and to scoff."

*I am basing my transliteration of the word Joseph to take into consideration he was the Emperor of Egypt and through friendly, helpful relations with just about every nation in the middle east was able to create a primitive Commonwealth with Egypt as the hub. He fed, housed and clothed the world during a time of deep drought. A huge success!

2 So this allotment was for the rest of the people of Manasseh—the clans of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher and Shemida. These are the other male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans.

Abiezer= My father is of help.

Asriel= God has bound

Helek= portion, smoothness

Shechem= shoulder, personal interest

Hepher= to dig

Shemida= Complete knowledge of God

="To the man that digs for complete knowledge of God, who takes a personal interest in the past and the burdens of the present, God will show favor."

3 Now Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons but only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. 4 They went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our relatives.” So Joshua gave them an inheritance along with the brothers of their father, according to the Lord’s command. 5 Manasseh’s share consisted of ten tracts of land besides Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan, 6 because the daughters of the tribe of Manasseh received an inheritance among the sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh.

Zelophedad= shadow of fear

Hepher= shame

Gilead= Wheel of Stones

Makir= the Knower

Mahlah= Disease

Noah= respite

Hoglah= to wobble

Milcah= the queen

Tirzah= to be pleased

"The Lord delivers us from the shadow of doubt when we dig, so we come to know. Knowledge removes the disease of fear, instills confidence, removes anxiety, and confers sovereignty [over future actions]."

And all of us know well the meaning of the Ten Tracts of lan

7 The territory of Manasseh extended from Asher to Mikmethath east of Shechem. 

"Rewards and happiness are hidden from view unless personal interest drives them out into the open."

The boundary ran southward from there to include the people living at En Tappuah (the place of the aphrodisiac fruit).

8 (Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah itself, on the boundary of Manasseh, belonged to the Ephraimites "the fruitful".) 

9 Then the boundary continued south to the Kanah Ravine "the subdued ravine" woof!. There were towns belonging to Ephraim lying among the towns of Manasseh, but the boundary of Manasseh was the northern side of the ravine and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. 

10 On the south the land belonged to Ephraim, on the north to Manasseh. The territory of Manasseh reached the Mediterranean Sea "where one sees one's greatness" and bordered Asher "happiness" on the north and Issachar "wages of recompense" on the east.

-> Back to the Eden theme and the love apples:

"First comes the East where one bites the fruit. Things are driven out into the open and exposed to the light. To travel south after this, to actually subdue the ravine and leave innocence and shame behind is to finally see oneself free of shame and persecution."

11 Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh also had Beth Shan "House of Sharpening", Ibleam "to lead the people"  and the people of Dor "to pile up wisdom", Endor "habitation by the Fountain", Taanach "taw, mark, naach, with tranquility" and Megiddo "to make into an instrument of seeing", together with their surrounding settlements (the third in the list is Naphoth "to place of breathing, revival, expansion" [a]).

"From labor and happiness come improvements to the mind and the world. To accumulate wisdom inwardly benefits the world outwardly, and turns surrounding settlements into places of learning and provides them with opportunities to revive and expand."

12 Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites "traditionalists" were determined to live in that region. 13 However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely.

14 The people of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the Lord has blessed us abundantly.”

15 “If you are so numerous,” Joshua answered, “and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites, "tent villagers and faded ones".

16 The people of Joseph replied, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots fitted with iron, both those in Beth Shan "House of Sharpness" and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel. [where God sows].

17 But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment 18 but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron and though they are strong, you can drive them out.”

"Chariots fitted with iron, driven by men who sow in the valley are men without substance. They are easily overtaken by men with sharp minds and driven out."

We can't hold civilization back because of foresters. God does not want crude men and those with refined tastes to mix.

If men of vision are being hemmed in by those beholden to tradition rather than the truth, the traditionalists must yield and serve the truth alongside the next generation.

[randomnameless]

(Fe8 spoilers) You know, I once really sympathised with Lyon’s self esteem issues and inferiority complex, but after he wouldn’t stop talking about his weakness and how he lost a fight to Eirika once, in the middle of a war, including to Ephraim after everything that happened, it’s like, what? I thought you wanted to save everyone, not satisfy your jealousy! It was two years ago! After I got invested in other characters from other things I was like “sorry Lyon but less sympathy than before”.

I wrote a bit about Lyon before

Ultimately, I cannot really know if Lyon wanted to play with the Demonic Stone to save lives... or to impress Ephraim and Eirika.

Maybe both, because it is more complicated. And yet, Lyon knows the risks of doing so - being possessed and dooming the world - so why should he do it? To gain that extra "oomph" in power to be able to save lives? At the potential cost of the... continent??

Did Lyon refuse to ask Eirika and Ephraim for help concerning the future Grado earthquake because Vigarde told him asking for help is for sissies... or because Lyon was jealous and wanted to impress the twins?

It's all about the means to reach a goal (the dark stone to save people) but what goal are we talking about? Lyon gambled with the Magvel's future... and lost.

It could be tragic if he didn't know what was in the Dark Stone... But Lyon knows very well what dwells inside, and what are the consequences of being possessed/corrupted. If anything, the FEH FB event made me reconsider my earlier opinions, Lyon had been sure, at that time, he could harness the power of the DK without succumbing to possession.

Dude got too cocky, and Fomortiis had the last laugh.

even if the FB ultimately sucked because lol @ reformed!Lyon managing to troll the DK, when the DK is the troll master

I wonder if Magvel Echoes will ever give more light to their relationship, but as far as I'm concerned, Lyon lost sympathy points when he went :

the Stone of Grado seems especially responsive to my dark magic. I suppose it’s because it contains both sacred and demonic properties. Regardless, if I can just press my studies a little harder…

"Grado, Renais and Latona sucked, but I am different" - the guy is jealous of the twins, but thinks he can do better than the founding heroes who saved the continent 800 years ago :/

[four-loose-screws]

FE8 Novelization Translation - Chapter 9, Section 2

If you would like to start from the beginning, read a missed part, etc., click here!

FE Game Script Translations - FE Novel Translations - Original FE Support Conversations

If you are interested in donating to support my work, please check out my Ko-fi here. Thank you!

———————————

I call this a “section” because it is not a separate part of the chapter in the book, but divided from the rest of the chapter by a scene break.

———————————

Chapter 9: The Heroes at the Fort (con’t)

After Amelia joined Eirika’s army in Kiris, at first, everyone was wary of her.

Not only was she from Grado, she was also a soldier, even if she didn’t look the part. It went without saying that many had a feeling that she might be a spy. Whenever Amelia herself became aware that people were looking at her like that, she shriveled up on the spot.

The first person to speak kindly to her was Neimi. She’d broken away from the circle one night, and when she passed by Amelia, who was polishing her armor all alone, her eyes stopped.

“Wow, amazing! Your armor is so shiny! It’s really, really pretty!”

“...Huh?” Amelia looked up in surprise.

Neimi smiled. “Archers like me don’t wear fancy armor like this, so I’m a bit jealous… I had to say something. This armor is for fighting on the front line, isn’t it?”

“Uh… Um…” Amelia was in complete shock, but was so happy for her armor to be praised that she blushed. No matter how tired she was, she never skipped out on caring for her armor and lance. “Thank you…”

“You’re name’s Amelia, right? I’m Neimi!”

“Nice to meet you, Miss Neimi!”

 “You can just call me Neimi. In return, I’ll just call you Amelia, okay?”

“...Okay!” Amelia’s face lit up. Though she had accepted that there was nothing she could do about people being suspicious of her, it was very, very lonely for everyone to avoid her.

“Your armor really is super pretty. It’s shiny like michew berries!”

“Oh, I know those… They’re really sweet, don’t you think? A lot of them grow in my village!”

“Really? There’s michew berries in Grado, too?”

“Yeah… There’s a mountain behind the small village of Silva. You can pick fruits of all kinds there!”

“That’s just like my village! I went to pick fruits all the time when I was a child!”

That simple casual conversation made them friends, and from then on, they were always together in both battle and at meals, so much so that it sometimes made Colm jealous.

In time, Amelia regained her smile, and everyone’s wariness of her gradually disappeared as well.

By the time they reached the Teraz Plateau, she was treated like any other member of Eirika's army.

-

“Innes is in that fort, correct?” Eirika, while continuing to walk down the northern mountain road, strained her eyes to look at it. 

She could see a particularly sturdy fort below, as well as a group of soldiers gathering to surround it.

Tana couldn't seem to wait. She gripped Achaeus' reins as they walked and said with a determined look on her face, "I'm going to try flying over there! I want to see my Brother's face already…"

"Tana, I know how you feel, but that's dangerous."

If a pegasus knight neared an enemy unit all on their own, they would become fodder for any archers among them.

"I'll be fine! I'll be careful… Oh please, Eirika! You ignored danger to save Ephraim, didn't you!? Now I want to save my brother!"

She understood how Tana felt. However, she couldn't allow it. 

As Eirika was searching for the words to say, Forde cut into their conversation. 

“Only an idiot would rush into a battle that they have no chance of winning, Lady Tana."

Kyle's eyebrow twitched at the word "idiot," but didn't try to scold his partner. 

Tana tried to argue back, but Ford ignored her and continued speaking. “Just look over there. The enemy army set up a ballista.”

Eirika and Tana both looked at where he was pointing.

Because he had passed through the area of the battlefield with Ephraim before, Forde’s observation was right. It was stationed in a spot one would overlook it if they were careless, but it was indeed there.

Ballistae were terrifying long range weapons that could shoot arrows from unexpected angles. They were difficult to use, and their accuracy wasn’t very good, but there was nothing more dangerous to a pegasus knight. If they neared one, they would become easy prey.

That point made even Tana give up. She became silent in her frustration and stared at the ballista in the distance.

“But hey, there’s no reason to be impatient. With the current number of enemies surrounding the fort, everyone inside is still safe. We made it in time. If we just fight in our standard formation, we should surely be able to defeat them.”

“...I see.” Tana nodded.

The enemies seemed to have realized that Eirika’s army was closing in on them. Their movements became frantic, but they seemed to know what to do.

Eirika’s army had no time to waste, either. 

Eirika swung her rapier into the air and gave the order that she was already very used to giving. “Charge!”

-

The enemy army was a group of mercenaries, so while they were each very skilled individuals at fighting, they had no central leadership. Most of them were impatient to show off their own abilities and swung their weapons without any true strategy, so the battle became one where they could not compare to Eirika’s well-coordinated army.

Seth and those with him routed the enemies before them, opening up the road. Eirika and Tana shielded each other while making their way towards the fort.

When Eirika rounded the corner of the fort and reached its front side, she gasped. There, an unexpected sight unfolded before her eyes.

Innes was fighting. Though she thought he would likely be locked up inside the fort waiting for reinforcements, he was blocking off the top of the stairs, holding his stance and not taking even one step back.

His specialty was in bows, but his was very different from Neimi’s plain weapon. It was huge in size, and its silver color glittered in the light. Of course, it didn’t just look pretty, it was also powerful. He shot swift and accurate arrows straight into the hearts of all enemies before him, and they toppled down the stone stairs one after the other.

It was the first time she had ever seen how he fought, but she already knew much about his skills.

Though he should have been exhausted from defending the castle, he did not show it at all. He looked magnificent every time he drew his bow back, and his graceful movements made her forget for a moment that they were on a battlefield.

“Wow… Not that I would expect anything less from him.” Forde breathed.

Kyle nodded and added, “I’d heard the rumors, but he’s even greater than I imagined.”

“I know it’s rude of me to say this, but I didn’t have a very high opinion of him. I thought he was all bark and no bite.”

“...Watch your mouth! ...However, I can’t say that I don’t know the feeling. If only he would show this side of himself to Lord Ephraim.”

Eirika then noticed the muscular man guarding Innes as he fought.

In direct combat, bows were at a disadvantage. To protect Innes, the man was swinging his large sword at those trying to get close to him.

Eirika didn’t recognize the man. He had a long scar across his face and a terrifying appearance.

Just then, Tana arrived riding Achaeus, and flew extremely low around Eirika’s head.

“Brother! Thank goodness you’re safe!”

The sudden voice startled Innes, and he turned his bow towards the source.

Tana was startled and nearly fell off her mount, but Achaeus was so smart that he quickly regained his balance, and saved his rider.

“...Tana!? What are you doing here!?”

“I came with Eirika’s army! I’m here to protect you!” Tana swung her lance. 

Innes’ face slowly turned pale. “Don’t be foolish! Stand down!”

“No, everyone else is fighting! I want to do what I can!”

“What can you do!? Stand down already!”

“No, I will not!”

The man with the scar on his face took a deep breath and shouted, “Sorry to butt in!”

The enemies who’d been taken aback by Tana’s appearance had once again begun to close in on them.

“But can’t it wait until later? If you’ve got time to chit-chat, you’ve got time to fight!”

"I apologize.” Innes nocked an arrow. 

Every single enemy who stumbled into the range of Innes or any one in Eirika’s army fell, one-by-one.

Before long, they’d defeated all of the enemies currently within the vicinity of the fort.

Innes lowered his bow and turned back towards Eirika. “I am ashamed to have troubled you by making you come here.” He said in an admirable tone that was nothing like him.

“No, you don’t have to be for something like this… Anyway, who is he?” Eirika looked at the man with the scar she’d been curious about since she’d first arrived and noticed him.

Innes fixed his collar, which had become ruffled during the battle, and answered, “His name is Gerik. He is the commander of the mercenary group I hired.”

“Hey, you canceled our contract, remember?” The man laughed. Though he’d looked like a demon in combat, when he laughed, his face softened, and he seemed very kind.

“You… canceled it? But…” Eirika asked, however, Innes ignored her question and didn’t answer, as yet another person showed herself to them.

The person who came out from behind Gerik’s shadow was a beautiful woman wearing revealing clothing.

‘Why is she dressed like that on a battlefield?’ Eirika was in shock.

The woman gathered up the fabric draped around her and bowed deeply.

“This is Tethys, and one of the mercenaries. It is thanks to them that I was able to hold out until now.”

“Oh, my!” Tethys stepped back and turned towards Gerik. “Did you hear him? He said “thanks”! I never thought the prince could speak such modest words! Do you think he hit his head?”

“Hey now, don’t tease him too much!” Gerik frowned.

Perhaps because he was so embarrassed, Innes continued in a tone that was even more haughty than his usual one. “I am well aware of the fact that you two were very helpful during this battle, so I’d like to hire you again, if you’d agree to it. I’ll double your contract fee.”

Tethys clapped her hands together, and Gerik held back a laugh and nodded.

Innes’ expression twisted in all the anger it could muster, then he turned towards Tana once more. “Now, I will ask again. Why are you here, Tana?” He glared down at her.

She looked so miserable that it seemed as if her normal, energetic self was all an act. “I was worried about Eirika… and came with her. Then, while we were traveling to Rausten, your messenger arrived and told us that you’d been betrayed by Carcino as well… So I, um…”

“Does Father know?”

“...I left him a letter, so he’ll be okay…”

“Tana.” His voice was quiet, but cold. 

Not only was Tana there, but everyone else had gathered around them.

“I’m so ashamed of you! Do you have any idea how much Father loves and worries about you!?”

“I do! But…”

“No buts! You better listen to me this time! First of all…”

He seemed to be preparing for a long lecture, but luckily for Tana, Vanessa and her pegasus arrived at the fort at that exact moment. She had been leading a group of soldiers in the battle on the south side of the fort.

“Lady Eirika! We are currently engaged in a difficult battle on the south side, and are requesting reinforcements!”

“Understood. We will leave immediately. Can you describe the enemy forces to me?”

“The unit is primarily made up of axe fighters and archers. While their numbers are not particularly great, there is an exceptionally skilled mercenary among them.”

“And they are?”

“She is a woman, but her swordsmanship is very sharp, and she’s more than willing to gamble her life on risky moves, so she’s too powerful for us to take down. She’s toying with all of us on her own.” 

Eirika suggested to Innes and the mercenaries that they rest inside the fort, but Innes wouldn’t hear it. Gerik and Tethys both expressed their will to keep fighting as well.

When Vanessa quickly flew away, they all followed after her, and headed south.

There, a difficult battle was currently raging. 

Forde put his hand over his forehead to see better and said, “Is that her? The skilled mercenary. She really is that strong… But she’s so beautiful!”

Eirika also watched how she fought.

Her long hair fluttered behind her, and she swung her sword while dashing around from left to right.

Some of the members of Eirika’s army were trying to surround her, but she was too fast, and they couldn’t keep up. Then, while they were confused, she would show them no mercy, taking them out in a single attack.

And Forde was right in calling her beautiful. Even from a distance, anyone could see that she had a pretty face. She showed no emotion, and she did not even twitch, as if her face was stuck. She appeared to derive no pleasure from the battle.

“Wait, Commander! Isn’t that…!?” Tethys said in a panic, and nudged Gerik from behind. 

Gerik folded his arms and shouted, “...Hey, what are you doing!? Why are you with the Carcino Army if you didn’t see us there!?”

“Commander Gerik?” Eirika whirled around in surprise. “Do you know her? That mercenary?”

“Know her!? She’s Marisa! She’s one of us! Jeez… I’ll go talk to her.” Gerik quickly walked over to her.

She also noticed him, and lowered her sword. Her face was still expressionless.

“Hey, is that you, Marisa!?”

“Commander!”

“What are you doing!?”

“Fighting.” She answered simply.

“I can see that… But that’s not what I wanted to ask you. How were you hired by Carcino?”

“The same as always. By the guild.”

Gerik looked up at the sky. “What a mess. Is everyone there half asleep!? ...You see, Marisa, we’re all working as the Frelian prince’s guard right now. They must have messed up your assignment.”

“What should I do?”

“Even if you ask me that, I don’t know… If you quit in the middle of a job, it will damage your reputation. You might have no choice but to see it through. ...But even that is a problem. I don’t want us to have to kill each other.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Well, I mean, I’d like it best if you came with us, but… That’s not really…” 

“I understand.” Marisa turned around and pointed her blade at the Carcino soldiers that had been fighting with her. “Then I will betray them.”

Everyone from both Eirika’s army, and the shocked soldiers who had been guarding her, all took several steps back.

But the most surprised of them all was Gerik. “You’ll betray them…? Marisa, that’s not something you can just say! It’ll ruin your reputation!”

“I’m fine with that.” She truly was a woman without emotion.

-

When the Carcino Army lost the person they’d been relying on most, they fell apart in an instant. Eirika’s army used that momentum to reach their base and chase down the commander. 

He was none other than Pablo of the Carcino elders. He was a coward with no backbone to see the battle through. The moment it finally became clear that his army would likely lose, he used his mercenaries as shields and fled.

Eirika’s army did not chase after him, as something far more important immediately came up.

Pablo had used a small village east of the fort as his base. After he ran off, an old man appeared from one of the houses on the edge of the town.

Though he was haggard, one could see how wise and refined he was in his facial features. The villagers led him out by the hand, then he kneeled before Eirika and Innes.

“You fought splendidly in battle, but what is most important is that you are uninjured.”

Eirika had never seen him before, so she tilted her head to the side.

The old man placed a hand on his chest and introduced himself. “Sorry for not introducing myself right away. I am one of the elders who rules over Carcino. My name is Kilmt.”

“Carcino’s…?”

Eirika and Innes’ faces hardened significantly, so Kilmt took a step back and bowed deeply. “Please wait. I have no intention of making you my enemies. Pablo is after my life as well.”

“...What do you mean?”

“It is a shameful tale.” Kilmt hung his head.

According to him, The Republic of Carcino was currently divided into two factions in an ongoing dispute. Kilmt was the leader of the moderate faction, who valued the republic’s alliance with Frelia, and wanted to keep things as they were. However, Pablo and the others of the second faction argued that it was not in Carcino’s best interest to fight against the powerful Grado Empire, and proposed they betray Frelia and turn over to Grado’s side.

Pablo and the others supporting him tried to bribe the moderate faction, but it did not go well. They were so impatient to reach their desired conclusion that they even resorted to assassinating the members of the moderate faction.  

“...Many of those who share the same opinions as I have been killed. Pablo’s ultimate target is me. I just barely managed to flee the city and was being kept hidden in this village, but ironically, it is the very same village that Pablo and his men were using as their secret base… Until now, I’ve been hiding in the houses of the villagers who support me. If all of you had not shown up, they may have gotten to me too.”

At the end of his story, Eirika breathed a huge sigh of relief.

She now understood that not all of Carcino had betrayed them, rather, it was only the reckless choice of a single group. Though it put them in danger, there were those who supported Kilmt. The group of those who would not give into Grado no matter what was actually quite large.

But that didn’t mean they could feel at ease just yet. This loss had compromised Pablo’s position. He would surely be desperate to try to restore himself to it. If they continued on to Rausten now, there was a high chance that Pablo would violently try to sabotage them.

Kilmt could see how worried Eirika was, and said, “I think it would be best for all of you to return to Frelia for the time being. If you stay here, Pablo will likely hire even more mercenaries, and try to capture you. I intend to go to Frelia as well, and explain the situation to King Hayden.”

They knew that his proposal was a logical one. However, Eirika would not allow her mind to be changed. 

They had no choice but to pass through Carcino to get to Rausten, and then Jehanna.

Even if they returned to Frelia to gather more troops, the main force of Frelia’s Army would still be with Ephraim, and it wouldn’t be possible to divide the troops further and have some come with them, no matter how important it was that they inform Rausten and Jehanna of the dangers threatening them as quickly as possible.

Eirika’s army parted ways with Kilmt, then gathered in the village square for the time being, where some simple benches were placed so the villagers could stop to relax. Everyone sat down, and they decided to discuss what they would do next.

The conversation continued on for a long time. Seth unsurprisingly suggested that they should be careful and return to Frelia. 

However, Innes did not agree. He understood that it was reckless, but wanted to keep moving towards Jehanna.

Eirika did not want to turn back if it was possible. If they weren’t able to warn Rausten and Jehanna as quickly as possible, then it would only be to Grado’s benefit, and put Ephraim in even more danger as he marched further towards Grado territory...

However, they couldn’t seem to come to a conclusion. Once everyone had given their opinion, a heavy silence fell over the group.

Just then, they heard a cheeky boy’s voice say,  “Hey, can I tell you something cool?”

Everyone looked up.

A skinny boy wearing a cape that was far too big for him was standing in front of them. Curiosity overflowed from his big, round eyes.

Was he perhaps one of the children who lived in the village?

“Go away.” Innes ordered him with a wave of his hand, but the boy did not take even one step back.

“You want to get to Jehanna, right? There’s a path through the mountains that leads there!” He seemed to have been listening in on their conversation. He spoke in a whisper, as if he was telling a secret.

“The mountains…? What are you talking about?” Eirika asked, not quite sure if she believed him.

A door to a tavern facing the plaza opened, and Tethys came running out and grabbed the boy by the arm. “Ewan, get back here! Don’t bother them while they’re talking about something so important!”

“I’m not bothering them!” He started flailing in resistance.

Tethys tightened her grip and bowed towards Eirika. “I’m so sorry! He can be so naughty sometimes! ...Now apologize to them!”

“I didn’t do anything to apologize for! I just wanted to tell them something that would help them…”

“That's enough! Now apologize!”

The boy hung his head in defiance.

Eirika noticed the similarities in their facial features, and that they had the same red hair and eyes as well. “Tethys! Is he your…?”

“He’s my little brother. I’m so sorry, I told him to wait quietly at home, but he came along with me…”

“I was worried ‘cause you’re all alone, so I came to see how you were doing!” He seemed to be displeased with being treated like a child, as his face twisted into a pout.

“Don’t be a smart mouth!” she scolded him, then started to drag him away.

However, Eirika stopped her. “Please wait! Is what you said true? That there’s a road through the mountains that leads to Jehanna…?”

“Uh-huh!” The boy puffed up his chest. He looked at Tethys triumphantly, as if to say “How about that?” then continued, “There’s a really tall mountain over there, see? Near the peak is a village called Caer Pelyn.”

He pointed east, where they could see a particularly tall peak among a large mountain range.

He was right about what direction Jehanna was in, but just the sight of the tall mountain made Eirika feel dizzy. “That means we’d really have to climb that mountain…?”

“Yup! All the other routes are no good. They’re sure to be under heavy watch. But that road should be safe! No outsiders ever come near Caer Pelyn.”

“Then that would make it very difficult for us to pass through…”

“You’ll be fine! My teacher lives up that mountain. If we tell him about our situation, he’s sure to show us the way to the village!”

“Your teacher?”

“He’s studying magic.” Tethys explained. “He looks up to mages, so he visited a renowned teacher, and pressured the teacher to accept him as a student. He’s a very strict teacher, so he probably thought he would chase off Ewan pretty quickly, but still agreed to teach Ewan for some reason…”

“It’s because he recognized my talents!”

“Don’t get full of yourself!” Tethys said and lightly hit her brother’s head.

He started rubbing the sore spot and said, “My teacher’s name is Saleh! He’s a famous sage!”

"Saleh…?" Innes muttered. “I’ve heard of him. He’s considered an exceptional spellcaster, and the greatest sage alive today…”

“Yeah, him! My teacher is such an amazing person!” The boy was as happy as if it was he himself who was being praised.

Eirika still had no idea what kind of person this Saleh was, but if Ewan was to be believed, she couldn’t imagine him to be a bad person. She asked Ewan, “Do you think he’ll let us meet him?”

“Of course! He’ll be sure to lend you his power if I ask him to! So, we can leave right away, right!? Follow me, everyone!”

He looked up at his sister and once again puffed out his chest. “See? I helped them, didn’t I?”

Tethys looked like she wanted to say something, but it was true that his suggestion was useful to Eirika and the others. “I suppose so.” She said with a forced smile, then hugged him.

[vodkacheesefries]

Linry the Halfling Bard

@blondepomeranian​ tagged me to do a thing and OF COURSE I have to do it because I have to talk about my D&D pcs every chance I get

GENERAL

Face-claim/look inspiration - Ryan Bergara 

Name: Linry

Alias(es): Hunky Punky

Gender: Cisgender male

Age: 29

Class: Bard, College of Lore 

Place of birth: Fantasy!Ephraim, Utah (I am really bad at place names and literally refer to everywhere a D&D character is from as fantasy!some place in the real world)

Spoken languages: Common, and halfling. (Do halflings have a language or do they just speak common?)

Sexual orientation: Pansexual

Occupation: (quasi retired) Alt-rock emo pop star of My Alchemical Romance and currently traveling ghost hunter/occult specialist

APPEARANCE

Eye colour: Brown

Hair colour: A dark brown

Race: Hafling 

Height: 3′6″

Scars: nothing special/memorable. Just what your standard person would have after a couple decades of life.

Overweight: No

Underweight: Nope. I think Linry’s in a good spot. 

FAVOURITE

Colour: Blue

Hair colour: On himself? His natural dark brown or a black

Eye colour: He has a soft spot for hazel. (Because of an ex.)

Entertainment: When he was younger, he wanted to be the center of attention. Now he’s more content to do some reading/studying up on some lore or swapping stories with people around him.

Pastime: As much as he says he dislikes performing in front or large scale audiences these days, he really does enjoy music.

Food: Yes.

Drink: Wine. Not a lot though. He’s a lightweight for a halfling. (it’s a sore spot.)

Books: Yes!

HAVE THEY

Passed university: Nope. Skipped that.

Had sex: Absolutely

Had sex in public: No, hasn’t gone quite that far

Gotten pregnant: Nope

Kissed a man: Yes!

Kissed a woman: Yes!

Gotten tattoos: He has a black, bleeding heart on his chest. (he isn’t proud of it, shh don’t judge him)

Gotten piercings: Yes, but he doesn’t wear them so much anymore. 

Had a broken heart: Why do you think he has a black bleeding heart tattoo

Been in love: YEEEEUP

Stayed up for more than 24 hours: That is probably the one thing he wouldn’t do. He likes sleep. Stayed up too late? Absolutely. But he would never go more than 24 hours without sleep.

ARE THEY

Religious: No. 

A virgin: Yes, if you ask his mother.

A cuddler: Sure! He flails a bit in his sleep so it won’t last long.

A kisser: Yes

A smoker: He never goes anywhere without a pipe. Doesn’t use it much. But he always has it with him.

Scared easily: DO BIRDS FLY

Jealous easily: He tries not to be. 

Trustworthy: Yes!

Dominant/submissive: Surprisingly more on the dominant side.

Single: Currently

FAMILY

Sibling(s): I swear to god every time I bring up his siblings the number changes but I’m writing it down here so I won’t lost it again: he has three older brothers, two younger brothers, and a little sister.

Parents: A mother and a father who haven’t been very good at letting them know they’re proud of him, and he’s worried they’re ashamed of him so he doesn’t write home as often as he should.

Children: No, he was always very careful.

Pets: Probably had cats and dogs as a kid, but band life isn’t conducive to pets, nor is being a travelling ghost hunter. 

RANDOM QUESTIONS

Have they harmed themselves: No

Thought of suicide: Nope

Attempted suicide: Absolutely not

Wanted to kill someone: No, I don’t think so. 

Actually killed someone: Yes...? I actually can’t remember if we’ve actually fought humans/sentient beings in the campaign...

Ridden a horse: Horses are high and he is small. He avoids it if he can.

Have/had a job: He was in a band and currently works as a ghost hunter/occult specialist. Although, that’s on hold right now given as he’s on some adventures.

Have any fears: Basically everything? He’s working on it, and he’s braver than he gives himself credit for. 

[092219archive]

incorrect fe8 quotes

ft. Eren

Ephraim, to an enemy: I’ll take you down! Come, Eren!

Eren:

Ephraim: Ere- Are... Are you red? In the face?

Eren: W-Well... the way you said that was...

Ephraim: Eren, it’s not the time for that.

Enemy: Really? Right in front of my salad?

Eirika: What’s the worst decision you’ve made while drunk?

Eren: I don’t mean to brag, but I don’t need alcohol to make really bad decisions.

Ephraim, after protecting Eren from further enemy attacks: Are you alright?

Eren:

Eren: I might need mouth-to-mouth CPR.

Ephraim: I will protect you. Just believe in me and follow my lead.

Eren: And if I don’t?

Ephraim: Then perish.

Ephraim: By the way, Eren... Is there anything you want currently?

Eren: Huh?

Ephraim, internally: Knowing Eren like I do, they’ll simply say something like, “Oh, Ephraim, I’ll be more than happy if you ust keep watching over me,” and I won’t have to--

Eren: A new set of armor... for my wyvern and I...

Ephraim: New sets of armor, you say...

Eren: Make sure to think before you speak. It’s a very important skill that you need for life.

Myrrh: Is that what you do, Eren?

Eren: Me? No, absolutely not. The words that come out of my mouth are as raw as fish.

Fomortiis: Mark my words! I will take away your happiness, no matter the cost!

Eren: My happiness...?

Eren: You think I’m happy?

Eren: Hey! I’m Eren, and this is my ex-boyfriend.

Ephraim: Haven’t I told you to stop calling me that?

Ephraim: Apologies, I’m Ephraim -- their husband.

Eren: Then, the officer said, “Anything you say can and will be held against you.”

Eren: So, I said, “Ephraim.”

Tana: Go tell them about your feelings, Ephraim!

Ephraim, awkwardly: You! You, uh... You fight good.

Eren, visibly disappointed: Oh. Thanks.

Eren: I am the strongest soldier known to man. The story of my awful deeds have spread across Magvel, to instill fear into the people, to gain the upper hand, to ensure Grado’s victory in this war. I will destroy and murder anyone who crosses my path.

Ephraim: *laughs*

Eren: I am a teenager with a crush.

Eren: About a week ago, I accidentally slept with Ephraim.

Tana: ... Really?

Eren: Yes.

Tana: You slept with Ephraim?

Eren: Yes.

Tana: Accidentally?

Eren: Yes.

Tana: I don’t understand, did you trip over something?

*First time being introduced to the rest of Ephraim’s army*

Ephraim: Just be yourself, say something nice.

Eren: Which one? I can’t be both.

Enemy: Go to hell!

Eren, quickly taking them out: Guess there’s no place like home.

Priest: Now, repeat after me-

Eren: After me.

Priest, whispering to Ephraim: Are you sure you want to marry this one?

Innes: Eren, I am-

Innes, putting his fingers together: -THIS close to smacking you.

Eren: Your fingers are touching.

Innes: Exactly.

Eren:

Innes:

*Eren immediately bolts, Innes trailing not to far behind*

Ephraim: So, I have this pretty rock that Eren gave me.

Eren: I threw it at you.

Eren: Ephraim and I are no longer friends.

Ephraim: That is the worst way to tell people we’re dating.

Eren: Ephraim sneezed earlier and I accidentally said, “shut the fuck up” instead of, “bless you.”

Innes: How do you accidentally say, “shut the fuck up?”

Eirika: It’s a little chilly...

Seth, offering his jacket: Here, my coat, Princess.

Eirika: Thank you, Seth.

Eren: I’m cold, Ephraim.

Ephraim: I can’t control the weather, Eren.

Eren: Ephraim... I can’t have children.

Ephraim: You can’t? Why?

Eren: Because I fucking hate kids.

Eren: Guess what I’m about to get?

Innes: On my nerves.

Eren: Who ate my fries? I’m gonna fucking b-

Myrrh: Oh... I did.

Eren: -buy you some more. You haven’t been eating enough.

Forde: I’m crying.

Forde: You made me cry.

Eren: Baby...

Forde: Now isn’t the time for pet names, Eren.

Eren:

Eren: I’m calling you a baby.

Eren: I’m insulting you.

Eren: Maybe hot chocolate wants to be called beautiful chocolate sometimes.

Innes: Maybe you should shut up.

Eren, uncomfortable: Why are you squeezing my body?

Ephraim: It’s a hug, Eren. I’m hugging you.

Myrrh, to Colm: You should ask Eren for help.

Myrrh: They look happy today.

Eren: *scowling*

Colm: ... Are we looking at the same person?

Ephraim: What are you two up to?

Ephraim: Oh! Eren seems to be in a good mood today.

Ephraim: I’ll give you a few minutes to cancel the rest of your plans for the day.

Eren: No need. My only plan was to buy Skittles.

Ephraim: Eren, we should be partners.

Eren: Like, partners in crime?

Ephraim: Yeah, er... that’s what I meant.

Ephraim: *gets a papercut*

Eren, under their breath: Hasn’t he been through enough?

Eirika: Who’s turn is it to give the pep-talk?

Innes, sighing: Eren...

Eren: Fuck shit up out there, and don’t die.

Ephraim, wiping a tear from his eye: Inspirational.

*Eren and their anger levels*

Eren (normal): Hey.

Eren (30%): Don’t do that again, Eph.

Eren (90%): If you don’t cut that out, Ephraim, I’m going to resort to unorthodox methods.

Eren (500%): We need to talk, Prince of Renais.

Eren: Hey, Eph. Your birthday is coming up. What do you want?

Ephraim: Thanks for asking, but I wouldn’t worry too much about it.

Eren: I already asked, so spill it out.

Ephraim: Alright, then. How about...

Ephraim: Your heart?

Eren: Don’t ask for something you already have.

Eren, realizing what they said: Wait--

Ephraim: *genuinely pleased despite doing nothing*

Eren: Don’t look at me like that.

Eren: Ephraim, wait.

Ephraim: ?

Eren: W... Will you go out with me?

Ephraim: Sure.

*Outside*

Ephraim: Why did you want to go out, Eren?

Eren: *internally screaming*

Eren: Okay. Stay calm. Stay calm...

Lute: Everyone is calm, Eren.

Eren: I’m talking to myself.

Ephraim: *feels slightly upset*

Eren: *kicks down the door of the room Ephraim’s in*

Eren: It’s motherfucking hug time.

Aaron: You really love my sibling, don’t you?

Ephraim: I do.

Aaron: Gods help you.

Eren: Alright, listen up, you little shits.

Eren: Not you, Eirika. You’re an angel and we’re thrilled to have you here.

Neimi: Eren’s losing a lot of blood!

Neimi: What’s your blood type?

Eren: B positive...

Neimi, crying: I’m trying!!

Ephraim: Hey, Eren. The password is 4177122.

Eren: The password to what?

Ephraim: To the wifi when you come over tonight.

Eren: Ohhh! You’re my favorite type of peanut butter!

Eren: SMOOTH

Eren: You’re so clingy.

Ephraim: You... came into MY bed?

Eren: You like me? For my personality?

Ephraim: I was surprised, too.

Eren: Wow, Eph! I wish I could pull off that outfit.

Ephraim: Go ahead.

Eren: What--

Ephraim: Next person to insult Eren will have to face me in combat.

Eren: I’m worthless. I don’t contribute to anything.

Ephraim:

Ephraim: Prepare your weapons, Eren--

Ephraim: You’re cute when you’re mad.

Eren: I’m always pissed.

Ephraim:

Eren:

Eren: ... Okay, you win this round.

Eren: Coffee or tea?

Ephraim: Tea.

Eren: Wrong! It’s coffee.

Aaron and Eren’s father: I am proud to have raised two fully, functional children.

Both of them: You have two kids we don’t know about?

Eren: Your hands... They’re big.

Ephraim: You know what they say about big hands.

Eren, with no hesitation: All the better to play with yourself.

Eren: I hate you.

Ephraim: No, you don’t.

Eren: No, I don’t.

Innes: It looks like you got no sleep last night.

Eren: I got 8 minutes.

Eren: Not consecutively though, but it’s fine. You’re not that blurry.

Ephraim: I love you.

Eren: Love? Do you mean like love or do you mean LOVE love?

Ephraim: Eren, it’s our wedding night.

Innes: I called you.

Eren: I know. I watched the phone ring.

Eren: I have to kill you.

Ephraim, confused: Eren?

Eren: I don’t know how to hit on you, so you have to die.

Ephraim: Eren, are you... seeing anyone?

Eren, sweating: No, why?

Ephraim: I just... think you’d benefit from a therapist or something.

Ephraim: Eren, can I give you advice?

Eren: Absolutely not.

Ephraim: I think we would be able to see eye-to-eye.

Eren: I’m 4′11″.

Eren, internally: Ephraim stopped talking. He wants you to respond! Say something, idiot!

Eren: I wasn’t thinking about killing you.

Ephraim: Thanks?

Eren, internally: Nailed it.

Eren: Aw, you had a crush on me.

Eren: That’s so embarrassing.

Ephraim: Eren, we’re married.

Eren: Still.

Ephraim: *does anything*

Eren: I’ve decided to give this man all of the love and affection I have to offer.

Ephraim: Good morning, Eren.

Eren, sleepy: Good morning, dearest...

Ephraim, after hearing “dearest”: :O!!!

Ephraim, bleeding severely: I think I might need a cleric.

Eren: Are you kidding me, Ephraim? I think you’re dying.

Ephraim: Eren, your hair is... interesting.

Eren: Thanks, I grew it myself.

Eren: I heard you were interested in someone.

Ephraim: Have you now?

Eren: They must be quite the looker to catch your eyes like that.

Ephraim: I didn’t think you were this full of yourself.

Eren:

Eren: Wait a minute--

Enemy: You have a lot of nerve challenging me!

Eren: You have a lot of nerve being alive.

Eirika, offering Seth food: Try some, Seth! Here.

Seth: I thank you, Princess.

Ephraim: Hey, why don’t we ever do that?

Eren: Go to hell.

Eren: I'm proud to identify as morosexual. I’m attracted to dumbasses and dumbasses exclusively. A guy asked me what kind of animal a wyvern was and I dream of kissing him under the moonlight.

The same guy: Hey, what color is the Pink Panther?

Eren, already taking off their clothes: Ephraim, you’re so fucking stupid.

Ephraim: I would like to propose--

Eren: *eyes widen*

Ephraim: -an idea...

Eren: I’m not jealous. I just get this weird, burning feeling when I think about Ephraim being with somebody else.

Tana: That’s jealousy.

Eren: I want to kiss you.

Ephraim: And if you don’t like it?

Eren: You can return it.

Eren: Did it hurt?

Ephraim: ... When I fell from heaven?

Eren: No, Eph. When you got beat up and almost died.

Eren: Do you have any pets?

Ephraim, remembering girls like sensitive guys: A cat.

Eren: Oh, what’s its name?

Ephraim, remembering girls also like tough guys: Missile Launcher.

Eren: What do I do?

Tana: Tell him “you’re beautiful!”

Eren: Good idea.

Ephraim: Hey, Eren.

Eren: I’m beautiful.

Eren: I’ve always wondered... how do tall people like you sleep at night when the blanket can’t possibly cover you from your shoulders to your feet?

Ephraim: Eren, it’s 4AM.

Eren: Oh, you can’t sleep?

Eren:

Eren: Is it because of the blanket?

Tana: Eren! That’s a really cute top!

Eren: Thanks, his name is Ephraim.

Eren: I don’t believe in love. Love is for fools who have nothing else to believe in. Also-

Ephraim:

Eren:

Eren: Damn it.

Ephraim: How can someone say Eren is evil? They’re a soft, kind person.

Eren, wiping blood off of their face: Yeah! I’m fucking adorable.

Eren: I bet I could fit the whole world in my hands.

Ephraim: Eren, you can’t-

Eren, holding Ephraim’s face: Yes, I can.

Ephraim:

Ephraim, blushing: I have a reputation.

Ephraim: Is that my shirt?

Eren, wearing a shirt that goes down to their knees: No.

Ephraim: Are you decent?

Eren: Not morally. But I’m wearing pants if that’s what you’re asking.

Tana: Hey, Eren! Are you free next week? Maybe around 5PM on Friday?

Eren: Yeah.

Tana: What about you, Ephraim?

Ephraim: My schedule allows it.

Tana: Great! Because I’m not. You two go without me. Enjoy your date!

Ephraim:

Eren:

Eren: I would die for you.

Ephraim: I would die for you, too.

Eren, very emotionally: Please don’t.

Eren: I married my husband. I love saying “my husband,” it sounds so adult. “That’s my husband.” It’s great, you sound like a person.

Ephraim: You’re going to ace this test.

Eren, frustrated: You think that because you love me, and love has made you dumb.

Ephraim: I disagree. If anything, love has made me smarter. Remember how I boiled that egg last week?

Eren: That was big. I was really proud of you.

Innes: Why is Eren crying in the bathroom?

Lute: They’re  drunk.

Innes: And?

Lute: They heard Ephraim was married.

Innes:

Innes: But they’re Ephraim’s spouse.

Lute: I know.

Waiter: What would you like to have?

Ephraim: Please bring a milkshake with two straws.

Eren: *blushes a little*

Ephraim, putting both straws into his mouth: Watch how fast I can drink this.

Ephraim, holding up a picture of Eren: Have you seen my spouse?

Seth: Not recently. Why? Are they missing?

Ephraim: Oh no, they’re fine. I just want people to look at them. Aren’t they great?

Seth: My lord,

Eirika: Eren, what are you looking for?

Eren: My will to live.

Ephraim: *walks in*

Eren: Oh, there it is.

Forde: You don’t like to admit it, but if anyone else was mean to Ephraim, you’d beat them up.

Eren: That’s incor-

Ephraim, walking into the room: Innes said he’s gonna kick my ass.

Eren, standing up: Not if I kick his ass first.

Eren: Can you turn on the lights?

Ephraim: Don’t worry, I’m the only light you need.

Eren: Eph, that’s sweet of you, but I can’t see anything.

Eren: I have high standards.

Ephraim: Lances are the superior weapon.

Eren: Oh no, he’s meeting all my standards.

Eren: I was put on this earth to do one thing.

Ephraim: You were?

Eren: Yeah. Luckily, I forgot what it was so now I can do whatever I want.

Glen: We have your spouse.

Ephraim: Spouse? I don’t have a spouse.

Glen: Then who was the one that was willing to embarrass themselves when we said we would hurt you if they didn’t?

Ephraim: Oh my Gods.

Eirika: What is it?

Ephraim: They have Eren.

Seth: What’s your greatest weakness?

Eren: I’m uncooperative.

Seth: May I have an example?

Eren, immediately: No.

Ephraim: *takes Eren’s hand*

Eren: What was that?

Ephraim: Affection.

Eren: Disgusting.

Eren:

Eren: Do it again.

Eren: Ephraim and I don’t have pet names for each other. That’s silly.

Tana: Uh huh. Hey, you know what bees make, right?

Eren: Honey?

Ephraim, from the other room: Yes, Dear?

Tana: Don’t lie to me like that ever again.

Ephraim: *does something cute*

Eren: I don’t care.

Narrator: But they did care.

Eren: *has been laying on the ground for 15 minutes*

Eirika: What’s the matter with Eren?

Tana: They’re overwhelmed.

Eirika: What happened?

Tana: Ephraim smiled at them.

Ephraim, waking up: Wh... Where am I?

Eren, sarcastically: In heaven.

Ephraim: Oh. Then, why are you here?

Eren:

Lute, reading a fortune cookie: "If you kill a killer, the number of killers in the world stays the same.”

Eren, not looking up from what they’re doing: Kill two.

Ephraim and Eren: *staring into each other’s eyes*

Innes: *opens a soda can*

Ephraim: We’re having a moment.

Innes: I’m having a soda.

Enemy: You played me like a fiddle!

Eren: Oh no. Fiddles are actually difficult to play.

Eren: I played you like the cheap kazoo you are.

Aaron: Eren, your boyfriend is on the phone.

Eren: How many times do I have to tell you Ephraim’s not my boyfriend?

Eren, talking on the phone: Hey, Babe.

Eren: It’s okay. Everyone’s afraid of something.

Person: Even you, Eren?

Eren: No.

Baby: *crying*

Eren: What is their name?

Mother: Oh! It’s Jacob.

Eren, leaning down to the baby: Shut the fuck up, Jacob.

Eren: Science side of Twitter, how do I become a jellyfish?

Innes: Jellyfish have no brains. You’re already pretty close.

Eren: Okay, first of all, fuck you,

Innes: Why is Eren on the counter?

Ephraim: They like to be tall.

*After a disagreement*

Eren: *hands Ephraim an egg*

Ephraim:

Ephraim: Is this... an apology?

Eren: *nods aggressively*

Ephraim: From now on, we’ll be using codenames. You can address me as “Eagle One.”

Ephraim: Tana-

Tana: ?

Ephraim: Codename: “Been There, Done That”.

Tana: *visibly offended*

Ephraim: Eren is “Currently Doing That".

Eren: *grumbling*

Ephraim: L’Arachel is “It Happend Once in a Dream”.

L’Arachel: You perv-

Ephraim: Kyle is "If I had to Pick a Dude”.

Kyle: My lord,

Ephraim: Innes is...

Innes:

Ephraim: ... “Eagle Two”.

Innes: Oh thank Gods.

Innes: You can’t keep doing this, Eren.

Eren: Then enlighten me, Innes! What would you do if you were in my shoes?

Innes: First of all, no one should ever be in those shoes,

Ephraim: *bleeding profusely*

Kyle: Gods! Eren, call Ephraim a cleric! Quickly!

Eren: Uh... Ephraim, you’re a... cleric.

Forde, rushing Natasha over: Eren, for crying out loud-

Eren: Do you ever get... water hungry?

Ephraim: ... Thirsty?

Eren: No, water hungry.

Eren, holding up Ephraim’s shirt: What color is this?

Eirika: Gray.

Seth: Gray.

Kyle: Gray.

Forde: Gray.

Eren, turning to Ephraim: Tell them what color you think it is.

Ephraim, quietly: Dark white.

Tana: If you had a shot for every time you made a bad decision, would you still be sober?

Eirika, Seth, Innes: Of course.

Ephraim, Lute, Kyle: Yes.

Forde: Maybe a little tipsy.

Eren, sweating: Dead.

Ephraim: Hey.

Eren: What do you want?

Ephraim: I can’t sleep.

Eren: I can. Goodnight.

Kyle: To think that you and Eren broke the bed last night...

Forde: You two must of gone wild!

Ephraim, nervously: Yeah...

*Last night*

Eren: Bet you can’t jump high enough to touch the ceiling.

Ephraim: Oh yeah?

Ephraim: How did none of you hear what I said?

Forde: I’ve been zoned out for the last two hours.

Tana: I got distracted halfway through...

Eren: I got too lost in your eyes to hear what you said.

Innes: Ignoring you was a conscious decision.

Eren: I’ve never had a friend before.

Ephraim, awkwardly: I can... be your friend.

Eren:

Eren: You know, I’ve never had a husband before either.

Eren: Ephraim kissed me.

Tana: Oh! Okay, did you kiss him back?

Eren: Why would I kiss him back?

Tana:

Eren: This has been the worst year for me.

Ephraim: It’s January.

Eren, reading the news: Someone tried to fight a squid at the aquarium.

Ephraim, covered in ink: Maybe the squid was being a dick.

Eren: I’m going to hell.

Ephraim: Save a space for me then.

Eren:

Eren, laughing: You’re not going to hell!

Ephraim: I told you in my vows - I’m going wherever you go. Save me a space.

Eren, choked up: Oh. Wow.

Eren: I can’t go. Stress is bad for the baby.

Ephraim: What baby?

Eren, softly: Me.

*Before recruitment*

Grado Ally: Has anyone in their life told you they love you?

Eren: Does my father count?

Grado Ally: Yes.

Eren: Then no.

Eren: I’ve only been in Ephraim’s army for a day and a half,

Eren: But if anything happened to him, I would kill everyone in this room and then myself.

Eren: Come on, Innes! I’m your hottest friend.

Eren: Wait, no. That’s Ephraim.

Eren: I’m your nicest friend!

Eren: No, that’s Eirika.

Eren: I’m your friend!

Innes: *preparing his bow*

Eirika: I relate to Belle because she loves to read books, and loves people for their souls.

Eren: I relate to Tinker Bell because she needs attention or she dies.

Eirika: Eren, I think we need to talk.

Ephraim: Eren, you need to react when people cry. Otherwise, it’s rude.

Eren: I did. I rolled my eyes.

Eren: I wasn’t that drunk.

Innes: You flirted with Ephraim.

Eren: What’s the big deal? He’s my husband.

Innes: You asked if he was single then cried when he said no.

Eren: Sorry I’m late. I didn’t want to come.

Tana: Do you ever want to get married?

Eren: I don’t want somebody in my house.

Eren: Unless it’s...

Eren: Oh Gods, unless it’s Ephraim.

Eren: Did you know “The Dead Sea” is the saltiest thing in the world?

Innes: Next to you.

Eren: Congrats! You just stole the spot.

Eirika: Happy Birthday, Eren! Ephraim ordered this cake for you.

Eren, looking at the size of the cake: ... He’s inside, isn’t he?

Everyone:

Eren, deeply sighing: Yes, he is.

Eren: Sometimes, I feel like dying.

Ephraim: What?

Eren: But then I think of not being able to see you anymore, and I don’t want that.

Eren: What the fuck is wrong with you?

Innes: You could have started with a “good morning.”

Eren: Good morning, what the fuck is wrong with you?

Person: I’ve been looking for you everywhere!

Eren: What a coincidence! I’ve been avoiding you everywhere.

Innes: Eren, can you get me a glass of water?

Eren, setting a glass of ice down on Innes’s table: Wait.

Ephraim: I heard you like bad boys.

Eren: Not... really.

Ephraim, taking off his shades: Oh, thank Gods.

Ephraim: That’s what significant others are for.

Eren: Gods, you’re so cute.

Eren: If I could kiss you right now, I would.

Ephraim: Eren... who says you couldn’t?

Eren: I could cuddle 23/7.

Ephraim: Why not 24/7?

Eren: Snack breaks.

Eren: Hey, want me to do a tarot reading for you?

Ephraim: I didn’t think you were into tarot reading, but sure.

Eren, laying down cards: Okay, this one tells me you’re a precious angel, this one says your smile is heavenly-

Ephraim: Eren, those aren’t tarot cards. They’re pictures of me.

Eren: Tall people! If we are walking, please take into consideration my tiny legs. I can’t keep up with you! Please think of my tiny legs! I don’t want to be jogging just to keep up with your leisurely stroll, you titans.

Ephraim: Just get a pair of roller skates and hang on to my sleeve. We don’t have all day.

Ephraim: In your opinion, what’s the height of stupidity?

Eren: I don’t know, Ephraim. How tall are you?

Eren: I don’t need to go to bed. I’m not tired.

Ephraim: But, love, I’ll be so lonely without you. Come curl up in my arms so I can feel whole again.

Eren:

Eren: Are you trying to seduce me into healthy sleeping patterns?

Ephraim: Is it working?

Eren: Ask me why I love you.

Ephraim: Why do you love me, Eren?

Eren, pulling out a 200 slide presentation: I’m glad you asked.

Ephraim: Is something burning?

Eren: Just my desire for you.

Ephraim: Eren, the toaster’s on fire.

Eren: When I said bring me back something from the beach, I meant a seashell or something.

Ephraim, struggling to hold a seagull: Well, you didn’t say that.

Innes: You know what your problem is?

Eren, sarcastically: I only have one?

Tana: Just go tell him he’s cute! What’s the worse that can happen?

Eren: He could hear me.

Tana: Oh, I wish I had the ability to make boys nervous!

Eren: Holding a sharp knife to their neck usually does it for me.

Tana: Eren, that’s not what I meant!

Eren: My boyfriend is too tall for me to kiss him. What should I do?

Lute: Punch him in the stomach, then kiss him when he doubles over in pain.

Innes: Tackle him, or kick him in the shin.

Ephraim: You could just ask me to lean down.

Eren: Come on, I wasn’t that drunk.

Ephraim: You tried to color my face with a highlighter because you said I was important.

Eren, tearing up: But you are.

Eren: I just ended a five year relationship.

Eirika: Oh no... Eren, are you okay?

Eren: Yeah, of course. It wasn’t mine.

Ephraim: Have a good day, Eren. Get well soon.

Eren: Don’t tell me what to do.

Eren: Hey, you think I could fit fifteen marshmallows in my mouth?

Innes: What is wrong with you? You’re a hazard to yourself.

Ephraim: And a coward. Do twenty.

Eirika: Eren doesn’t have a case on their phone and I’m worried that if they drop it, it’ll break.

Ephraim: Don’t worry, it won’t break from that height.

Eren: After knowing Ephraim for so long, we have this chemistry where we finish each other’s--

Ephraim: -sentences.

Eren: Don’t interrupt me.

Tana: Why is everyone so concerned about who’s a “top” or a “bottom”?

Tana: I’d just be happy to have a bunk bed.

Innes:

Seth:

Eirika:

Eren: I’m gonna tell her.

Ephraim, holding them back: Don’t you dare.

Innes: Eren, this plan... dare I say it, you’re... a genius.

Eren: I get called that a lot.

Innes: A genius?

Eren: No, Eren.

Eirika: There you are, Ephraim! Eren is hurt.

Eren: I’m not hurt. I was lightly stabbed.

Ephraim: I’m sorry, you were STABBED?

Eren: LIGHTLY stabbed.

Eirika: You guys have kissed how many times?

Ephraim: A few.

Eirika:

Eirika: That’s... not technically a friendship.

Ephraim: What’s the one thing you want to try in the bedroom?

Eren: Fall asleep without crying.

Eren: I’m going to show you all a song I’ve been working on! It’s called “My Life so Far.”

Eren: *plays a note*

Eren: *screams*

Ephraim: I’m quick at math.

Eren: Okay, what’s 38 times 74?

Ephraim: 25.

Eren: That... is not remotely close.

Ephraim: But it was quick.

Enemy: I’m going to kill you!

Eren: Okay.

Enemy: I’m going to kill Ephraim!

Eren: If you don’t lay down your weapons right now, I’ll see to it that you are never be able hold them again.

Eren: I’ve been dropping them obvious hints now. No response.

Ephraim: They sound stupid.

Eren: But they’re not! They’re really smart, actually. Just... dense.

Ephraim: Maybe you need to be more obvious.

Ephraim: Maybe something like, “Hey! I love you!”

Eren: I guess you’re right...

Eren: Ephraim, I love you.

Ephraim: See? Just say that.

Eren: Oh my Gods.

Ephraim: If that flies over their head then, sorry, Eren, but they’re too dumb for you.

Eren: Ephraim.

Ephraim: Good luck with whoever it is.

Innes: You keep hugging Ephraim when he’s upset. Next thing you know, he’s going to fall in love with you. Is that what you want?

Eren, scoffing: I don’t know, is that what I want?

Tana, loudly from the other room: Yes, that’s what they want!

Eirika: Where are you going, Eren?

Eren: To get butter or to stab someone -- I’ll decide on the way.

Eren: I don’t have a favorite friend. How could you think that? All of my friends are of equal importance and worth.

Lute: It’s Eirika, isn’t it?

Eren: I can’t help it! She has those “love me tender” eyes and I’m weak.

Person: I really look up to you.

Eren: Debatable.

Tana: So, Eren! Are you the little spoon or the big spoon?

Eren: I’m a knife.

Ephraim: They’re the little spoon.

Eren: I’m fine.

Ephraim: But you don’t look fine.

Eren: Then don’t look at me.

Ephraim: Eren,

Aaron: Hey.

Eren: New phone. Who is this?

Aaron: You can’t do that in person. It’s Aaron.

Eren:

Aaron: Your brother!

Eren: I’ve never been in a snowball fight.

Ephraim: Really?

Eren: I don’t even know the rules. Is it a point system?

Eren: Or... is it to the death?

Eren: You know, don’t take this the wrong way (or do), but I feel like you’ve become a lot more cooler since I’ve known you.

Innes: Thanks. And if I might return the compliment, I think you’ve become marginally less irritating.

Tana: I sort of did something and I need your advice. But I don’t want a lot of judgment and criticism.

Eren: And you came to me?

Ephraim: Can you pick up milk?

Eren: Yeah, it’s pretty easy.

Ephraim: I meant from the store.

Eren: I would imagine it weighs the same there, too.

Tana: Eren, how long have you been in love with Ephraim?

Eren: That’s disgusting. And wrong. I don’t even get - why would I - I’ve never been in love with anyone, anywhere. It’s none of your - you have - the nerve, the audacity. Ephraim is my friend, technically. And he’s terrible, face-wise. And how - how do I know, frankly, that you’re not in love with him? Maybe you are. Maybe you’re trying to throw me off. Check and mate.

Enemy: I will make you sorry you were ever born!

Eren: For your information, I’m already sorry I was ever born.

Eren: I’m at a loss for words.

Ephraim: Despite being at a loss for words, Eren proceeded to lecture me for 10 minutes.

Enemy: You have no idea what I’m capable of!

Eren: Don’t take it personally, but I feel like I’m being threatened by a cupcake.

Ephraim: What are we going to do, Eren?

Eren: I was thinking of dinner.

Ephraim:

Ephraim: I was referring to Fomortiis.

Joshua: What’s your biggest fear?

Eren: Being forgotten.

Joshua: That’s... wow.

Joshua: Mine is the Kool-Aid Man but I feel kinda stupid about it now.

Ephraim: Eren, please stop eating instant ramen so frequently. It’s bad for you.

Eren: How many times do I have to tell you that I’m here for a good time, not a long time?

Ephraim: Eren, please--

Ephraim: Be nice, Eren.

Eren: I am!

Ephraim: You threatened them with a knife.

Eren: But I didn’t stab them.

Person: I want to be as strong and stable as Eren is.

Ephraim:

Ephraim: I saw them drop dinner and cry for 20 minutes.

[loveofyhwh]

December 29: Zechariah 6–9; John 19:17–42; Psalm 148; Proverbs 31:1–9

New Post has been published on https://loveofyhwh.com/december-29-zechariah-6-9-john-1917-42-psalm-148-proverbs-311-9/

December 29: Zechariah 6–9; John 19:17–42; Psalm 148; Proverbs 31:1–9

Old Testament:

Zechariah 6–9

Zechariah 6–9 (Listen)

A Vision of Four Chariots

6 Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains. And the mountains were mountains of bronze. 2 The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, 3 the third white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses—all of them strong.Or and the fourth chariot strong dappled horses‘>1 4 Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 And the angel answered and said to me, “These are going out to the four winds of heaven, after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The chariot with the black horses goes toward the north country, the white ones go after them, and the dappled ones go toward the south country.” 7 When the strong horses came out, they were impatient to go and patrol the earth. And he said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth. 8 Then he cried to me, “Behold, those who go toward the north country have set my Spirit at rest in the north country.”

The Crown and the Temple

9 And the word of the LORD came to me: 10 “Take from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon, and go the same day to the house of Josiah, the son of Zephaniah. 11 Take from them silver and gold, and make a crown, and set it on the head of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 And say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD. 13 It is he who shall build the temple of the LORD and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And thereOr he‘>2 shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”’ 14 And the crown shall be in the temple of the LORD as a reminder to Helem,An alternate spelling of Heldai (verse 10)‘>3 Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah.

15 “And those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the LORD. And you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.”

A Call for Justice and Mercy

7 In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, which is Chislev. 2 Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech and their men to entreat the favor of the LORD, 3 saying to the priests of the house of the LORD of hosts and the prophets, “Should I weep and abstain in the fifth month, as I have done for so many years?”

4 Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me: 5 “Say to all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted? 6 And when you eat and when you drink, do you not eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves? 7 Were not these the words that the LORD proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous, with her cities around her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited?’”

8 And the word of the LORD came to Zechariah, saying, 9 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, 10 do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.” 11 But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear.Hebrew and made their ears too heavy to hear‘>4 12 They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of hosts. 13 “As IHebrew he‘>5 called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear,” says the LORD of hosts, 14 “and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one went to and fro, and the pleasant land was made desolate.”

The Coming Peace and Prosperity of Zion

8 And the word of the LORD of hosts came, saying, 2 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. 3 Thus says the LORD: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts, the holy mountain. 4 Thus says the LORD of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age. 5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. 6 Thus says the LORD of hosts: If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my sight, declares the LORD of hosts? 7 Thus says the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, 8 and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.”

9 Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Let your hands be strong, you who in these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present on the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built. 10 For before those days there was no wage for man or any wage for beast, neither was there any safety from the foe for him who went out or came in, for I set every man against his neighbor. 11 But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days, declares the LORD of hosts. 12 For there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. 13 And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.”

14 For thus says the LORD of hosts: “As I purposed to bring disaster to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the LORD of hosts, 15 so again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not. 16 These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; 17 do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD.”

18 And the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, 19 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: The fast of the fourth month and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace.

20 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. 21 The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD and to seek the LORD of hosts; I myself am going.’ 22 Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD. 23 Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

Judgment on Israel’s Enemies

9   The oracle of the word of the LORD is against the land of Hadrach     and Damascus is its resting place.   For the LORD has an eye on mankind     and on all the tribes of Israel,Or For the eye of mankind, especially of all the tribes of Israel, is toward the Lord‘>6 2   and on Hamath also, which borders on it,     Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise. 3   Tyre has built herself a rampart     and heaped up silver like dust,     and fine gold like the mud of the streets. 4   But behold, the Lord will strip her of her possessions     and strike down her power on the sea,     and she shall be devoured by fire. 5   Ashkelon shall see it, and be afraid;     Gaza too, and shall writhe in anguish;     Ekron also, because its hopes are confounded.   The king shall perish from Gaza;     Ashkelon shall be uninhabited; 6   a mixed peopleOr a foreign people; Hebrew a bastard‘>7 shall dwell in Ashdod,     and I will cut off the pride of Philistia. 7   I will take away its blood from its mouth,     and its abominations from between its teeth;   it too shall be a remnant for our God;     it shall be like a clan in Judah,     and Ekron shall be like the Jebusites. 8   Then I will encamp at my house as a guard,     so that none shall march to and fro;   no oppressor shall again march over them,     for now I see with my own eyes.

The Coming King of Zion

9   Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!     Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!   Behold, your king is coming to you;     righteous and having salvation is he,   humble and mounted on a donkey,     on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10   I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim     and the war horse from Jerusalem;   and the battle bow shall be cut off,     and he shall speak peace to the nations;   his rule shall be from sea to sea,     and from the RiverThat is, the Euphrates‘>8 to the ends of the earth. 11   As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you,     I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. 12   Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope;     today I declare that I will restore to you double. 13   For I have bent Judah as my bow;     I have made Ephraim its arrow.   I will stir up your sons, O Zion,     against your sons, O Greece,     and wield you like a warrior’s sword.

The Lord Will Save His People

14   Then the LORD will appear over them,     and his arrow will go forth like lightning;   the Lord GOD will sound the trumpet     and will march forth in the whirlwinds of the south. 15   The LORD of hosts will protect them,     and they shall devour, and tread down the sling stones,   and they shall drink and roar as if drunk with wine,     and be full like a bowl,     drenched like the corners of the altar. 16   On that day the LORD their God will save them,     as the flock of his people;   for like the jewels of a crown     they shall shine on his land. 17   For how great is his goodness, and how great his beauty!     Grain shall make the young men flourish,     and new wine the young women.

Footnotes

[1] 6:3 Or and the fourth chariot strong dappled horses [2] 6:13 Or he [3] 6:14 An alternate spelling of Heldai (verse 10) [4] 7:11 Hebrew and made their ears too heavy to hear [5] 7:13 Hebrew he [6] 9:1 Or For the eye of mankind, especially of all the tribes of Israel, is toward the Lord [7] 9:6 Or a foreign people; Hebrew a bastard [8] 9:10 That is, the Euphrates

(ESV)

New Testament:

John 19:17–42

John 19:17–42 (Listen)

17 and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. 19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20 Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic.Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin‘>1 But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24 so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,

  “They divided my garments among them,     and for my clothing they cast lots.”

So the soldiers did these things, 25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

The Death of Jesus

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Jesus’ Side Is Pierced

31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

Jesus Is Buried

38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to JesusGreek him‘>2 by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five poundsGreek one hundred litras; a litra (or Roman pound) was equal to about 11 1/2 ounces or 327 grams‘>3 in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

Footnotes

[1] 19:23 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin [2] 19:39 Greek him [3] 19:39 Greek one hundred litras; a litra (or Roman pound) was equal to about 11 1/2 ounces or 327 grams

(ESV)

Psalm:

Psalm 148

Psalm 148 (Listen)

Praise the Name of the Lord

148   Praise the LORD!   Praise the LORD from the heavens;     praise him in the heights! 2   Praise him, all his angels;     praise him, all his hosts! 3   Praise him, sun and moon,     praise him, all you shining stars! 4   Praise him, you highest heavens,     and you waters above the heavens! 5   Let them praise the name of the LORD!     For he commanded and they were created. 6   And he established them forever and ever;     he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.Or it shall not be transgressed‘>1 7   Praise the LORD from the earth,     you great sea creatures and all deeps, 8   fire and hail, snow and mist,     stormy wind fulfilling his word! 9   Mountains and all hills,     fruit trees and all cedars! 10   Beasts and all livestock,     creeping things and flying birds! 11   Kings of the earth and all peoples,     princes and all rulers of the earth! 12   Young men and maidens together,     old men and children! 13   Let them praise the name of the LORD,     for his name alone is exalted;     his majesty is above earth and heaven. 14   He has raised up a horn for his people,     praise for all his saints,     for the people of Israel who are near to him.   Praise the LORD!

Footnotes

[1] 148:6 Or it shall not be transgressed

(ESV)

Proverb:

Proverbs 31:1–9

Proverbs 31:1–9 (Listen)

The Words of King Lemuel

31 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

2   What are you doing, my son?Hebrew What, my son?‘>1 What are you doing, son of my womb?     What are you doing, son of my vows? 3   Do not give your strength to women,     your ways to those who destroy kings. 4   It is not for kings, O Lemuel,     it is not for kings to drink wine,     or for rulers to take strong drink, 5   lest they drink and forget what has been decreed     and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. 6   Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,     and wine to those in bitter distress;Hebrew those bitter in soul‘>2 7   let them drink and forget their poverty     and remember their misery no more. 8   Open your mouth for the mute,     for the rights of all who are destitute.Hebrew are sons of passing away‘>3 9   Open your mouth, judge righteously,     defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Footnotes

[1] 31:2 Hebrew What, my son? [2] 31:6 Hebrew those bitter in soul [3] 31:8 Hebrew are sons of passing away

(ESV)

[wisdomfish]

Deuteronomy 32-33

Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak;   let the earth hear the words of my mouth. May my teaching drop like the rain,   my speech condense like the dew; like gentle rain on grass,   like showers on new growth. For I will proclaim the name of the Lord;   ascribe greatness to our God!

The Rock, his work is perfect,   and all his ways are just. A faithful God, without deceit,   just and upright is he; yet his degenerate children have dealt falsely with him,   a perverse and crooked generation. Do you thus repay the Lord,   O foolish and senseless people? Is not he your father, who created you,   who made you and established you? Remember the days of old,   consider the years long past; ask your father, and he will inform you;   your elders, and they will tell you. When the Most High apportioned the nations,   when he divided humankind, he fixed the boundaries of the peoples   according to the number of the gods; the Lord’s own portion was his people,   Jacob his allotted share. 

He sustained him in a desert land,   in a howling wilderness waste; he shielded him, cared for him,   guarded him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirs up its nest,   and hovers over its young; as it spreads its wings, takes them up,   and bears them aloft on its pinions, the Lord alone guided him;   no foreign god was with him. He set him upon the heights of the land,   and fed him with produce of the field; he nursed him with honey from the crags,   with oil from flinty rock; curds from the herd, and milk from the flock,   with fat of lambs and rams; Bashan bulls and goats,   together with the choicest wheat—   you drank fine wine from the blood of grapes. Jacob ate his fill;   Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked.   You grew fat, bloated, and gorged! He abandoned God who made him,   and scoffed at the Rock of his salvation. They made him jealous with strange gods,   with abhorrent things they provoked him. They sacrificed to demons, not God,   to deities they had never known, to new ones recently arrived,   whom your ancestors had not feared. You were unmindful of the Rock that bore you;   you forgot the God who gave you birth.

The Lord saw it, and was jealous;   he spurned his sons and daughters. He said: I will hide my face from them,   I will see what their end will be; for they are a perverse generation,   children in whom there is no faithfulness. They made me jealous with what is no god,   provoked me with their idols. So I will make them jealous with what is no people,   provoke them with a foolish nation. For a fire is kindled by my anger,   and burns to the depths of Sheol; it devours the earth and its increase,   and sets on fire the foundations of the mountains. I will heap disasters upon them,   spend my arrows against them: wasting hunger,   burning consumption,   bitter pestilence. The teeth of beasts I will send against them,   with venom of things crawling in the dust. In the street the sword shall bereave,   and in the chambers terror, for young man and woman alike,   nursing child and old grey head. I thought to scatter them   and blot out the memory of them from humankind; but I feared provocation by the enemy,   for their adversaries might misunderstand and say, ‘Our hand is triumphant;   it was not the Lord who did all this.’

They are a nation void of sense;   there is no understanding in them. If they were wise, they would understand this;   they would discern what the end would be. How could one have routed a thousand,   and two put a myriad to flight, unless their Rock had sold them,   the Lord had given them up? Indeed their rock is not like our Rock;   our enemies are fools. Their vine comes from the vine-stock of Sodom,   from the vineyards of Gomorrah; their grapes are grapes of poison,   their clusters are bitter; their wine is the poison of serpents,   the cruel venom of asps.

Is not this laid up in store with me,   sealed up in my treasuries? Vengeance is mine, and recompense,   for the time when their foot shall slip; because the day of their calamity is at hand,   their doom comes swiftly.

Indeed the Lord will vindicate his people,   have compassion on his servants, when he sees that their power is gone,   neither bond nor free remaining. Then he will say: Where are their gods,   the rock in which they took refuge, who ate the fat of their sacrifices,   and drank the wine of their libations? Let them rise up and help you,   let them be your protection!

See now that I, even I, am he;   there is no god besides me. I kill and I make alive;   I wound and I heal;   and no one can deliver from my hand. For I lift up my hand to heaven,   and swear: As I live for ever, when I whet my flashing sword,   and my hand takes hold on judgement; I will take vengeance on my adversaries,   and will repay those who hate me. I will make my arrows drunk with blood,   and my sword shall devour flesh— with the blood of the slain and the captives,   from the long-haired enemy.

Praise, O heavens, his people,   worship him, all you gods! For he will avenge the blood of his children,   and take vengeance on his adversaries; he will repay those who hate him,   and cleanse the land for his people.

Moses came and recited all the words of this song in the hearing of the people, he and Joshua son of Nun. When Moses had finished reciting all these words to all Israel, he said to them: ‘Take to heart all the words that I am giving in witness against you today; give them as a command to your children, so that they may diligently observe all the words of this law. This is no trifling matter for you, but rather your very life; through it you may live long in the land that you are crossing over the Jordan to possess.’

On that very day the Lord addressed Moses as follows: ‘Ascend this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, across from Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites for a possession; you shall die there on the mountain that you ascend and shall be gathered to your kin, as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his kin; because both of you broke faith with me among the Israelites at the waters of Meribath-kadesh in the wilderness of Zin, by failing to maintain my holiness among the Israelites. Although you may view the land from a distance, you shall not enter it—the land that I am giving to the Israelites.’

This is the blessing with which Moses, the man of God, blessed the Israelites before his death. He said: The Lord came from Sinai,   and dawned from Seir upon us;   he shone forth from Mount Paran. With him were myriads of holy ones;   at his right, a host of his own. Indeed, O favourite among peoples,   all his holy ones were in your charge; they marched at your heels,   accepted direction from you. Moses charged us with the law,   as a possession for the assembly of Jacob. There arose a king in Jeshurun,   when the leaders of the people assembled—   the united tribes of Israel.

May Reuben live, and not die out,   even though his numbers are few.

And this he said of Judah: O Lord, give heed to Judah,   and bring him to his people; strengthen his hands for him,   and be a help against his adversaries.

And of Levi he said: Give to Levi your Thummim,   and your Urim to your loyal one, whom you tested at Massah,   with whom you contended at the waters of Meribah; who said of his father and mother,   ‘I regard them not’; he ignored his kin,   and did not acknowledge his children. For they observed your word,   and kept your covenant. They teach Jacob your ordinances,   and Israel your law; they place incense before you,   and whole burnt-offerings on your altar. Bless, O Lord, his substance,   and accept the work of his hands; crush the loins of his adversaries,   of those that hate him, so that they do not rise again.

Of Benjamin he said: The beloved of the Lord rests in safety— the High God surrounds him all day long—   the beloved rests between his shoulders.

And of Joseph he said: Blessed by the Lord be his land,   with the choice gifts of heaven above,   and of the deep that lies beneath; with the choice fruits of the sun,   and the rich yield of the months; with the finest produce of the ancient mountains,   and the abundance of the everlasting hills; with the choice gifts of the earth and its fullness,   and the favour of the one who dwells on Sinai. Let these come on the head of Joseph,   on the brow of the prince among his brothers. A firstborn bull—majesty is his!   His horns are the horns of a wild ox; with them he gores the peoples,   driving them to the ends of the earth; such are the myriads of Ephraim,   such the thousands of Manasseh.

And of Zebulun he said: Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out;   and Issachar, in your tents. They call peoples to the mountain;   there they offer the right sacrifices; for they suck the affluence of the seas   and the hidden treasures of the sand.

And of Gad he said: Blessed be the enlargement of Gad!   Gad lives like a lion;   he tears at arm and scalp. He chose the best for himself,   for there a commander’s allotment was reserved; he came at the head of the people,   he executed the justice of the Lord,   and his ordinances for Israel.

And of Dan he said: Dan is a lion’s whelp   that leaps forth from Bashan.

And of Naphtali he said: O Naphtali, sated with favour,   full of the blessing of the Lord,   possess the west and the south.

And of Asher he said: Most blessed of sons be Asher;   may he be the favourite of his brothers,   and may he dip his foot in oil. Your bars are iron and bronze;   and as your days, so is your strength.

There is none like God, O Jeshurun,   who rides through the heavens to your help,   majestic through the skies. He subdues the ancient gods,   shatters the forces of old; he drove out the enemy before you,   and said, ‘Destroy!’ So Israel lives in safety,   untroubled is Jacob’s abode in a land of grain and wine,   where the heavens drop down dew. Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you,   a people saved by the Lord, the shield of your help,   and the sword of your triumph! Your enemies shall come fawning to you,   and you shall tread on their backs.

[togxther-we-ridx-blog]

💔 now for camilla or ephraim >:3c Or Both

POR QUÉ NO LOS DOS MI AMIGA???

FUCKED UP KISSING MEME | always accepting, I love this meme so much you can send repeats even if you already sent one :o

14: an ‘im sorry’ kiss

Were her words too harsh on the young lady? Camilla was only offering pointers to become a better princess to her people, but that resulted in severely degrading Lucina. The smaller princess had heard enough when Camilla told her she needed to be prettier.

Did Camilla mean more womanly? It didn’t matter, “pretty” was the exact word she used.

Catching up to Lucina despite the disadvantage of her shoes, she whirls the girl around and kisses her full on the lips. Her face is pink when she draws back.

I’m sorry Lucina… Take all that I said back, you are beautiful… I’m sorry…

4: a bloody kiss

More enemies?! The field was flooded with them so suddenly, enough to make Lucina and even Ephraim fear for their lives.

Of course, when Lucina -hidden under the guise of Marth- ordered the pair retreat, Ephraim refused.

You should know by now, Hero-King. I don’t pick fights I can’t win!

Famous last words.

He wasn’t wrong though. He came out victorious, but Lucina couldn’t say the same. Through the mask, she witnessed a man turning into a killing machine, feeding on the rush of battle around him, soaking himself in the gore until his white pants had turned red. The brutal clash was over soon, but it felt like years to the Princess who had ended up dazed on the ground, her face beaten and bleeding save for what lay underneath her disguise.

That was something, you should have seen yourself, Marth!

“N-no, Lord Ephraim. I have seen enough of that. And I highly doubt you had ever once actually glanced my way.”

He watches her struggle, dizzy when getting to her feet, but she still scolds him.

“Next time, you listen!”

What, are you jealous that I was giving the monsters more of my attention?

“What?! No! That has nothing to do with-”

Oh, come on, Marth. I’ve noticed your presence around me has been more frequent as of late. Any other sane man would have run away even when I went head fist into the fight. You wanted to protect me?

Lucina’s blush is not hidden very well by the mask.

“You will hold your tongue! This is not— what is with you right now, you hardly sound like the same noble Ephraim!”

Maybe this is who I really am, don’t you think? Fresh and alive from a good fight.

Lucina’s open mouth presents as good an opportunity as ever for Ephraim to insert himself, quite literally. His tongue invaded her mouth in the sloppiest kiss she’d ever expect, but the worst part was the metallic taste that covered every part of her tongue. She didn’t know who’s blood it was, perhaps a mixture of her, Ephraim himself, and the monsters, but then next thing Ephraim knows, he is punched hard in the jaw and left to watch the smaller “prince” sprint away from him.

[rxstorationlord-blog]

"Congratulations, Ephraim!" Was she jealous of his endorsement by the masses? A little. But that didn't mean she couldn't be happy for him! [@anamnesisqueen]

“Thank you Eiri.  I am still unsure how I won the favour and admiration of so many others, but it makes me feel like I might be on the right path for it.”  He can read her like a book though, he knows she is feeling a little jealous.

“Don’t worry about it little sister, I am sure you too will have your time to shine as well.”

[minimalaifu]

Rules: Copy this post into a new text post, remove my answers and put in yours, and when you are done tag up to 10 people and also tag the person who tagged you… and most importantly, have fun!

A - Age: 

B - biggest fear: 

C - current time: 1:10

D - drink you last had: water

E - every day starts with: coffee and my computer

F - favorite song: 

G - ghosts, are they real: I saw one as a kid. But I wasn’t sure myself since it looked just like a white paper cutout of a lady. But how the time seemed to stop, and how my head felt big (as they say) tells me that it is.

H - hometown: somewhere in planet earth of course, definitely not in planet namek

I - in love with: 

J - jealous of: Skilled people (in a good way!)

K - killed someone: :)

L - last time you cried: hmm.. is being teary-eyed counted? From reading.

M - middle name: 

N - number of siblings: 

O - one wish: To be a skilled artist.

P - person you last called/texted: My favorite cousin~

Q - question(s) you’re always asked: If I already got a husband/family (it’s normally asked at this age i guess)

R - reasons to smile: Minami <3

S - song last sang: Fantasy

U - underwear color: Bold of you to assume i am wearing one

V - vacation destination: Iceland

W - worst habit: taking small things seriously

X - x-rays you’ve had: Chest x-ray

Y- your favorite food: good dish perfect with rice (esp fried rice), veggies and something fried to the side if the dish/veggie is soupy!

Z - zodiac sign: Scorpio

Tagged by: @ephraim-o-rama thank you!!

Tagging: @kpop-con @catgirlcommunist @cuuuurrypasta @koolworu @lamupika @pinkprogram @prison-for-pigeons @just-a-friendly-trash-can @ahandfulofobsessions hmm, the others i usually tag have already been tagged, so yeah~

[mwgaybachelor]

As she continued to watch him...he sensed she was there and turned around and started walking towards her.  His body was exquisite, he certainly was the best looking man she had ever seen...she felt a twinge of guilt as she watched him.  Graham would most certainly become a little jealous of this guy.

EPHRAIM- “Thank you, Thymian, I work hard to maintain my body and health. I want to be in the best shape possible. Hopefully I can live as long as my father.”

She realized that he had read her mind...she was now embarrassed.

THYMIAN- “Sorry, I meant nothing by my thoughts, I was just admiring your dedication.”

EPHRAIM- “I am sorry, I went into your head, I normally refrain from that, but I really had no idea you were in the room, so it just happened.  I apologize, let me put on a shirt...so you work out as well?”

THYMIAN- “Yes, it’s part of my morning routine.”

EPHRAIM- “Good, okay, then I will leave you at it.  I will see you at the counsel meeting.”

THYMIAN- “Oh, please don’t cut your workout short on my behalf. It actually would be nice to workout with someone as opposed to doing it alone.”

EPHRAIM - “would be my pleasure, maybe you can give me some pointers.”

THYMIAN- “I doubt that, I am sure it would be the other way around...”

[four-loose-screws]

FE8 Novelization Translation - Chapter 4, Section 2

If you would like to start from the beginning, read a missed part, etc., click here!

FE Game Script Translations - FE Novel Translations - Original FE Support Conversations

If you are interested in donating to support my work, please check out my Ko-fi here. Thank you!

———————————

I call this a “section” because it is not a separate part of the chapter in the book, but divided from the rest of the chapter by a scene break.

———————————

Chapter 4: The Pursued Cleric (con’t)

Serafew was a bustling town on the border between Renais and Grado.

The two nations had been allies since long ago, and Serafew had always been a symbol of that friendship. The citizens of both countries lived there with no division between them, and they were able to enjoy many benefits with each other, like trading goods freely.

Yet now, those stories were all in the past. Serafew was now under the Grado Army's control.

Eirika and the others followed a road that was just outside of town, and planned their next strategy.

When they received the report from their reconnaissance team, Seth explained to Eirika, "If we're lucky, their guard will not be very tight. A Grado general stopped here all by themself, but has already left and started moving towards a fort to the northwest."

"A general…?"

Eirika remembered her meeting with Selena in the small mountain village, and it raised her hopes. If Selena was close by, then she wanted to try meeting her again.

"Yes, a man named Glen. He rides a dragon, and rumor has it that he is very strong."

"Glen… Really? He's here?"

Eirika remembered that name. It was only once, but they had met before.

When the continent was still at peace, she'd visited the capital city of Grado together with Ephraim. General Glen was a soldier that Prince Leon trusted very much. He was still young, yet already very dignified, and Eirika was impressed but not surprised that he'd become a general of the empire's large army at such a young age.

"General Glen has already left, and the security within the town is light. When the royal palace of Renais fell, they likely considered guarding this area to be of low importance. We'll be able to put up a good fight at our current strength."

Eirika looked again at the wall around Serafew in front of them.

"It looks like it would be unlikely for us to be spotted from the west gate. Let's enter from there."

They followed Seth's plan and went around to the west side.

As they'd predicted, the security there was indeed light. They hid their weapons and dressed as merchants. Just by doing that alone, the guards said "You may pass," and waved them through as if it was an inconvenience to do so.

"That was so easy that I'm disappointed!" Franz whispered.

At that same time, a man who'd appeared from around a corner approached them.

Eirika and the others were nervous, but the man said in a weary tone, "Excuse me, there's something I'd like to ask you."

He had the face of an intellectual, and was very tall. 

"What is it?" Eirika responded.

"I'm looking for someone. Have you seen a young girl with indigo blue hair?"

"Unfortunately, no…"

The man looked discouraged. He bowed his head to say "Sorry for bothering you," then left.

'The little girl must have gotten lost. Was he her father? Ever since public order started to worsen here, missing children have probably been a concern.' He must have been worried sick. Eirika felt pity for him.

'Should I break some of the soldiers off from the group to help him look for her?' She began to consider, but suddenly, she heard a loud noise come from in front of them.

"After her! Don't let her get away!" Yelled a gruff voice that came along with footsteps that were getting louder and louder.

‘What was that?’ Eirika wondered, frozen in place, when she heard someone make a threat.

"Turn yourself in, traitor!"

Then, she heard a higher-pitched, feminine-sounding voice. She couldn't make out exactly what the woman said, but  understood that she was begging desperately for something. 

A rough man's voice echoed through the air again, cutting the woman off.

"Silence! If you are going to beg for forgiveness, then do it before His Majesty! I was told that if you resist, then I may execute you on the spot!"

It looked like a fight was about to break out. Even without Eirika's orders, everyone immediately unsheathed their hidden weapons.

Eirika rushed ahead with the front line. The place where all the noise was coming from was a plaza atop a staircase.

A woman with a hood covering her hair had fallen over. Judging by her clothing, she was likely a cleric serving the gods. Surrounding her were Grado soldiers.

Though she didn't know any details about what was happening, she could never allow a large group of men to surround a lone woman and try to hurt her. She probably hadn't intended to cause a commotion, but in a circumstance like this one, there was no avoiding it.

When Eirika tried to rush over to her, the cleric stood up in one quick movement.

She took advantage of the men having let their guards down, and ran over to Eirika's army.

 "Are you alright?" Eirika shielded the cleric and asked.

Her feet gave out in front of Eirika, and she collapsed. "Wh… Who are you…?"

"I am a citizen of Renais. What's going on? Why are you being chased by the Grado Army?"

"You're from Renais…? Ah…!" The girl quickly put her hands together in front of her chest, showing her thankfulness to the gods. "There's something I want to tell you! Grado is…!"

However, they couldn't listen to the details at the moment. The Grado Army was coming. Eirika's army all readied themselves for battle.

The cleric quickly whispered to Eirika, "My name is Natasha. I cannot fight, but I am knowledgeable in healing magic."

"Then will you please take care of the wounded from the rear line?"

"Yes. But, before that… I want to try talking to the Grado soldiers."

"Huh…?" Eirika whirled around in surprise. 

Natasha looked serious, and was watching the soldiers closing in on them.

"But they're…"

"Trying to capture me. I know. However, there is something I must tell them no matter what. If things continue on as they are now, then something terrible will happen…"

Each and every word she spoke was uttered with strong determination.

Whatever she wanted to say, it sounded serious. All Eirika’s army could do was protect her as she searched for someone who looked like they would listen to her.

It was an extremely difficult task, but Eirika had made up her mind to see it through. “Then we will be your guard. Please do not leave our sides.”

“Thank you!!”

The battle began. The Grado soldiers immediately started calling out for help, and soldiers rushed in from all four directions to provide backup.

This battle set within narrow city streets was completely different from any they’d fought before. Not only was it very difficult to use long weapons, but the horses’ and pegasi's movements were also limited.

And to make matters worse, although the area was in ruins, it was still where many local citizens made their living. They wanted to keep the damage done to the buildings at a minimum, and had to be careful at all times not to get the common people who had yet to run away involved.

While fighting this grueling battle in conditions that they were not used to, Eirika’s army slew the enemies coming at them.

Both sides fought with the intent to kill each other. It seemed nearly impossible that Natasha would find anyone that she could talk to.

Among the enemy army was one especially strong man. And not only was he strong, but he also had long, fiery red hair, and wore stylish clothing that looked nothing like what the other soldiers had on, making him stand out all the more. This made it clear that he was not a formal soldier, but a mercenary working for money.

His swordplay was, for lack of a better word, whimsical. But though he would crack an occasional joke and move as if he was playing, he always hit his target. His ability to perfectly hit his target's weak points was unparalleled. The other Grado soldiers weren’t very tough, but that one mercenary toyed with Eirika's army and made the battle difficult for them.

The mercenary lightly dodged the opponent attacking him, then landed in front of Eirika as if he was floating. 

Eirika tightened her grip around her sword and shielded Natasha standing behind her.

“Do my eyes deceive me? What a beautiful swordfighter I see over there!” The mercenary said teasingly, then turned towards Eirika and swung his sword playfully.

“I’m so jealous. The Grado Army is full of filthy men. There’s not a person with taste to be found... Whoops!” He repealed Eirika’s sword with a laugh, as if he was playing a game. “You’re pretty good, aren’t you! But you still have a long way to go. Your left side is wide open.”

After they clashed swords a few more times, Eirika realized the difference in their power.

‘He’s too strong. I’m no match for him. I can’t win. He will kill me.’ She shrank back in fear.

Natasha jumped out from behind Eirika in desperation.

“Natasha…!” Eirika shrieked. 

There was no way she planned to talk to this mercenary, was there? It was no use. Eirika couldn’t imagine there was a way such a person, who treated everything as if it were a game, would lend an ear to the cleric’s serious story.

The mercenary also appeared to be completely dumbfounded. He drew his sword back and muttered “Whoa, that's dangerous!”

“Do you remember me? We crossed paths while I was running earlier…”

He looked at Natasha and furrowed his brow, then nodded. “Yeah, you’re that cleric! Wait, are you the traitor!?”

“Were you hired to keep me quiet?"

"I mean… I was told that if I got rid of you, I'd receive a huge reward. That's just how the mercenary trade works, so no hard feelings."

"I do not care about what happens to me. But I want to tell you this. The current situation within the Grado Empire is not normal. If the other countries are not warned about this danger, then all light across the continent will vanish."

He looked down at Natasha apathetically. He seemed to have lost all killing intent, as his word was now drooping at his side.

However, that did not calm Eirika.

This opponent was a mercenary, meaning he was a member of a parasitic group in society who would take on any job for money, no matter how much it dirtied their hands. It was too optimistic to commit to persuading him.

"...You know, I don't care at all about Grado or the continent. No matter what you have to say, it's all the same to me."

Natasha's expression changed to one of complete determination. 

The man smirked, then continued speaking. "Although I'd hate to see a beauty like you be done in by these Grado barbarians. Say, do you like to gamble?"

"Huh?" Natasha stared at him in confusion.

The man reached into one of his pockets and pulled out a small object.

"There's nothing I love more in life. ...Though I haven't a shred of luck. I always lose." The man flicked the object he'd taken out into the air with a clink.

It flipped over and over as it flew in the air, then landed back in his hand, revealing that it was a gold coin. "Let's bet on it! If you win, I will believe you."

"What…? You want me to gamble…?"

"All you need to do is choose heads or tails. So, which one am I holding?"

"...Heads… No, tails…" Natasha said weakly. 

The mercenary's eyes lit up. 

"Alright then, if it's tails, you win. If it's heads, then I win. The anticipation in this moment is incredible, and I can't stop chasing it. Know what I mean?"

Neither Natasha nor Eirika felt any anticipation whatsoever, rather, they felt as if their hearts would jump out of their chests. 

Natasha put her hands together and whispered, "Please, gods, please…"

The mercenary slowly opened up his hand. Natasha swallowed and asked, "Which is it?" 

The mercenary sounded full of himself as he answered, "The result is… tails. Like I said, I'm not lucky at all! Or wait, maybe I am? I do get to become allies with a beautiful woman like you."

"Really? You'll really join us!?"

"Yeah. If you go against a loss, then you'll upset lady luck, and you'll never win again."

Eirika couldn't believe what she was witnessing. Did a person who would leave something so important to a coin flip really exist? It was taboo for a mercenary to betray their contract. If he was captured by Grado, then he may even be executed.

But the man was entirely serious.

"The name's Joshua. Nice to meet ya. Shall we start by cleaning up around here?"

He once again took a fighting stance, returned to his usual whimsical self, then threw himself right into the thick of the battlefield. The only difference was that this time, his opponent was the Grado Army.

"Damn you, mercenary! Are you betraying us!?" Those on Grado's side noticed tha Joshua was coming towards them, and started shaking.

"Yeah, sorry about that." He said with a laugh before unleashing an attack that was frightening in both accuracy and speed.

The tide of battle reversed completely. Eirika's struggling army took back their momentum. The Grado Army, enraged that they were losing, stampeded towards Eirika's army as if they wished to bring about their own ends.

After the battle among the city streets was over, Eirika and Seth moved over towards the rear support group to check up on Natasha, as once she'd finished talking to Joshua, she'd retreated to the rear line to heal the injured.

Moulder stood up from among the wounded and approached Eirika.

When Eirika called out to him and said, "Thank you for your hard work," he laughed.

"This battle was a really tough one. Our army has a lot of injured as well."

"Oh, really…?

"But please feel at ease. They are healing very well. I might not be able to handle this much work all by myself, but the beautiful cleric is working with me."

When Eirika followed Moulder's line of sight, it led her to Natasha, waving her staff as she talked to the injured. They looked not in pain, but happy as they circled around her.

"As you can see, she's very popular. Some of the injured even ran away when I tried to heal them. They said they didn't want me, and asked her to examine them. I couldn't agree to such selfish requests, and when I forcefully healed them, they complained that they missed their chance. My my, how deplorable…"

Eirika couldn't help but laugh at Moulder's disappointment. She was worried that the rough soldiers might scare Natasha, but if that was what was actually happening, then she would be okay.

Natasha finally saw Eirika and the others and walked up to them. The worried expression she'd had on her face during battle was gone, and she was now smiling calmly. "Thank you. How can I ever express my thanks to you?"

"Are you from the Grado Empire?" Seth asked.

Natasha nodded. "I was a helper at a church within the empire."

"Then why are you being chased by Grado soldiers? Can you tell us what's going on?"

Natasha's smile vanished. It seemed that she was holding in something very serious.

She looked away from them and began to speak. "...It happened a few days ago. The bishop who served as my teacher was suddenly captured and executed. He was accused of the crime of treason… but he was framed. The emperor killed him. To silence him."

The harsh words that Natasha had managed to say shocked Eirika. 

Seth also looked surprised, and responded, "To silence him?"

"Yes. Right before he died, he said this to me: 'The emperor is trying to destroy the Sacred Stones.'"

Eirika couldn't believe her ears.

Until she'd heard this, she'd thought that perhaps Natasha had happened to learn something by chance, and that's why she was being pursued. But this secret she'd told them was no such simple matter.

The Sacred Stones were known to all as the stones in which the Demon King was sealed, saving the world from his reign of terror long ago.

There were five in total, and to this very day, one was located in each of the five major nations of the continent, and were considered the most valuable treasures in all the land.

Renais of course was among the nations that housed one of the Sacred Stones. The shrine in which it was placed was guarded as the central location of their religion. The four remaining stones should each be in Grado, Frelia, Jehanna, and Rausten.

Word had it that the Grado Empire was already trying to completely destroy their stone, so the chance that they'd already destroyed it was high. And during the invasion of Renais they had likely destroyed Renais' stone as well...

"Why would the emperor do such a thing?"

Natasha shook her head sadly at Seth's question.

"I do not know. His Majesty has always been.  known for his warmth and wisdom. He is loved by both those who serve him and the people. However, ever since that day, he's been so cold that it's like he's another person… and then he devised a terrifying plan to destroy the Sacred Stones. That is what the bishop told me. He also told me that we must tell the other nations that house the Sacred Stones, for if we do not put all our strength into protecting the stones, then something terrible will happen… I tried to flee the country secretly, but the soldiers found me and started chasing me."

"So that's what's been happening…" Eirika looked at Seth.

He was staring down at Natasha, as if he was trying to see through her, with a stern look on his face. 

"What do you think, Seth?"

"We cannot accept the word of someone from Grado without question. However, if what she says is true, then we cannot ignore it."

"Yes… it is a very serious matter. We must do whatever we can to stop it…" Eirika remembered her bad feeling.

The enemies waiting for them upon their path were not just Grado soldiers. The terrifying shadow of something much bigger was looming over them. Though they did not currently know what it was, right now, all they could do was continue forward.

[dailyofficereadings]

Daily Office Readings August 03, 2020

Psalm 80

Psalm 80

Prayer for Israel’s Restoration

To the leader: on Lilies, a Covenant. Of Asaph. A Psalm.

1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth 2 before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your might, and come to save us!

3 Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

4 O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers? 5 You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure. 6 You make us the scorn[a] of our neighbors; our enemies laugh among themselves.

7 Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

8 You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. 9 You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land. 10 The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches; 11 it sent out its branches to the sea, and its shoots to the River. 12 Why then have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit? 13 The boar from the forest ravages it, and all that move in the field feed on it.

14 Turn again, O God of hosts; look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine, 15 the stock that your right hand planted.[b] 16 They have burned it with fire, they have cut it down;[c] may they perish at the rebuke of your countenance. 17 But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself. 18 Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name.

19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Footnotes:

Psalm 80:6 Syr: Heb strife

Psalm 80:15 Heb adds from verse 17 and upon the one whom you made strong for yourself

Psalm 80:16 Cn: Heb it is cut down

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Psalm 77

Psalm 77

God’s Mighty Deeds Recalled

To the leader: according to Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A Psalm.

1 I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, that he may hear me. 2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. 3 I think of God, and I moan; I meditate, and my spirit faints.Selah

4 You keep my eyelids from closing; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 5 I consider the days of old, and remember the years of long ago. 6 I commune[a] with my heart in the night; I meditate and search my spirit:[b] 7 “Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? 8 Has his steadfast love ceased forever? Are his promises at an end for all time? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?”Selah 10 And I say, “It is my grief that the right hand of the Most High has changed.”

11 I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord; I will remember your wonders of old. 12 I will meditate on all your work, and muse on your mighty deeds. 13 Your way, O God, is holy. What god is so great as our God? 14 You are the God who works wonders; you have displayed your might among the peoples. 15 With your strong arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.Selah

16 When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; the very deep trembled. 17 The clouds poured out water; the skies thundered; your arrows flashed on every side. 18 The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook. 19 Your way was through the sea, your path, through the mighty waters; yet your footprints were unseen. 20 You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Footnotes:

Psalm 77:6 Gk Syr: Heb My music

Psalm 77:6 Syr Jerome: Heb my spirit searches

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Psalm 79

Psalm 79

Plea for Mercy for Jerusalem

A Psalm of Asaph.

1 O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins. 2 They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the air for food, the flesh of your faithful to the wild animals of the earth. 3 They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them. 4 We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those around us.

5 How long, O Lord? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealous wrath burn like fire? 6 Pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that do not call on your name. 7 For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his habitation.

8 Do not remember against us the iniquities of our ancestors; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. 9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name’s sake. 10 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes.

11 Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power preserve those doomed to die. 12 Return sevenfold into the bosom of our neighbors the taunts with which they taunted you, O Lord! 13 Then we your people, the flock of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Judges 6:25-40

25 That night the Lord said to him, “Take your father’s bull, the second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal that belongs to your father, and cut down the sacred pole[a] that is beside it; 26 and build an altar to the Lord your God on the top of the stronghold here, in proper order; then take the second bull, and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the sacred pole[b] that you shall cut down.” 27 So Gideon took ten of his servants, and did as the Lord had told him; but because he was too afraid of his family and the townspeople to do it by day, he did it by night.

Gideon Destroys the Altar of Baal

28 When the townspeople rose early in the morning, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the sacred pole[c] beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered on the altar that had been built. 29 So they said to one another, “Who has done this?” After searching and inquiring, they were told, “Gideon son of Joash did it.” 30 Then the townspeople said to Joash, “Bring out your son, so that he may die, for he has pulled down the altar of Baal and cut down the sacred pole[d] beside it.” 31 But Joash said to all who were arrayed against him, “Will you contend for Baal? Or will you defend his cause? Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because his altar has been pulled down.” 32 Therefore on that day Gideon[e] was called Jerubbaal, that is to say, “Let Baal contend against him,” because he pulled down his altar.

33 Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the east came together, and crossing the Jordan they encamped in the Valley of Jezreel. 34 But the spirit of the Lord took possession of Gideon; and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him. 35 He sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they too were called out to follow him. He also sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they went up to meet them.

The Sign of the Fleece

36 Then Gideon said to God, “In order to see whether you will deliver Israel by my hand, as you have said, 37 I am going to lay a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will deliver Israel by my hand, as you have said.” 38 And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “Do not let your anger burn against me, let me speak one more time; let me, please, make trial with the fleece just once more; let it be dry only on the fleece, and on all the ground let there be dew.” 40 And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.

Footnotes:

Judges 6:25 Heb Asherah

Judges 6:26 Heb Asherah

Judges 6:28 Heb Asherah

Judges 6:30 Heb Asherah

Judges 6:32 Heb he

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Acts 2:37-47

The First Converts

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers,[a] what should we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” 40 And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Life among the Believers

43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds[b] to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home[c] and ate their food with glad and generous[d] hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Footnotes:

Acts 2:37 Gk Men, brothers

Acts 2:45 Gk them

Acts 2:46 Or from house to house

Acts 2:46 Or sincere

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

John 1:1-18

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life,[a] and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.[b]

10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own,[c] and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son,[d] full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son,[e] who is close to the Father’s heart,[f] who has made him known.

Footnotes:

John 1:4 Or 3 through him. And without him not one thing came into being that has come into being. 4 In him was life

John 1:9 Or He was the true light that enlightens everyone coming into the world

John 1:11 Or to his own home

John 1:14 Or the Father’s only Son

John 1:18 Other ancient authorities read It is an only Son, God, or It is the only Son

John 1:18 Gk bosom

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.