#i mean!!! princess of Renais!

[selenadem]

Kitten of Renais!

[pierswife]

"Thank you for everything, Sir-" the former princess cut herself off as she smiled down at the knight who had been by her side since she had fled. "Thank you, Forde."

The knight of Renais reply was with a laugh as he looked at her fondly. "Anytime, Princess."

Okay anyway huge shout out to @camellias-and-coriander for making MandaForde canon real, which I mean it kinda is my endgame ship soooooo-- My god the lady and her knight aesthetic these two have is just so real and it makes me wanna just melt into a little puddle. They start out so rough and then grow to care about each other so much over time like *cries*

[redfurrycat]

❤️📺Ten (ish) TV-shows I love❤️📺

Tagged by the lovely @renai-chan to do the 'Ten Movies I love' Tag Game.

I already did that, so allow me to redirect you to this post listing my ten movies, and this other one (a much much much much longer version, if you feel up to it).

However, after reflecting about which 10 movies I like the best –what a dilemma it was– I also thought about which 10 TV-shows are my comfort rewatches. I came up easily (surprisingly so) with the selection, so let me share that with you instead! 😊 ❤️

Xena: Warrior Princess

The most badass warrior I have ever seen on TV. What a sight is Lucy Lawless, I fell in love with those gorgeous blue eyes since the moment my child eyes saw them… This tv-show is everything to me. Xena & Gabrielle, the purest soulmates. There were also lots of amazing characters and actors (Karl Urban and Kevin Smith, among others). Produced in New Zealand too… Which is so awesome! <3 (Strong opening theme!)

Stargate SG1/Atlantis

MY FUCKING SCI-FY babies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t even tell you why I love these two TV-shows, because I got so overwhelmed about it! I. JUST. LOVE. THEM. SO. MUCH! (I actually watched several Stargate Atlantis episodes just before typing this list.) If you like the genre, GO.WATCH.THESE! (Amazing opening themes as well! <3)

Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (the 20-min-episode tv-show)

I’ve watched every rerun on TV since it has been broadcasted. It is tied to my childhood, so I’m rather attached to it! I prefer this version over the more recent one, which is a bit too dark compared to the comedic one. Salem is so funny! He’s I-C-O-N-I-C! :P

Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman/// House MD

My absolute two favourite tv-shows involving doctors… though they are very different from one another. Western drama vs. medical drama. It’s really not your typical medical show however.

A female physician from a 19th-wealthy family moving in the wild west to establish a practice. She feels very deeply and has a strong moral compass. The themes mentioned are quite serious (which I like) as you have, for instance, a close-minded-white-men little village, a woman working a man job, Cheyenne tribes being mistreated so are the black people and any other non-White people. Of course, it is still a tv-show, so I don’t how historically-accurate it is. But so not as sappy as Grey’s Anatomy if you know what I mean. 😊

AND the Sherlock doctor. Hugh Laurie is magnificent in this out-of-the-ordinary, junkie, snarky genius of a doctor!  

Avatar: the Last Airbender

Do I really need to spell it? MASTER OF THE ELEMENTS. AIRBENDING. WATERBENDING. FIREBENDING. EARTHBENDING. THIS IS SO FREAKING COOL!!!!!! The Legend of Korra is good too!

White Collar

The adventures of an FBI agent and his con artist/thief consultant. YUP. It is as cool as it sounds. All the characters are lovely as well!

Downton Abbey

THIS IS MY FAVOURITE BRITISH PERIOD DRAMA EVER. It is about the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants’ life during the earliest 20th century. The cast is realllllllllllllly good! A lot of good characters, strong episodes (very emotional sometimes)! Dame Maggie Smith is killing it as the Dowager Countess of Grantham, the sass in this character’s lines and faces!!!!! XD (Again, the opening theme is SO GOOD!)

Once Upon a Time

A very nice tv-show where fairytales characters are transported into the real world because of a curse. The cast is INSANE! :O Nice revisit of famously known fairytales!!!! I have a thing for the accents…Well, there are a lot of different accents to listen to!

Lucifer

It’s probably one of the last (new-ish) TV-show I’ve watched from the beginning to the end. The British (again with the accent) Devil’s adventures with the Detective (yeah… it’s her official name! XD). Very good chemistry between Tom Ellis and Lauren German! And the other characters are equally as good!!!!!!!!!

Prison Break

Season 1 was the best. Truly. The idea was so original when the tv-show came out! Wentworth Miller’s acting is pure *chef’s kiss*. (That’s why I love Captain Cold so much btw, especially because Dominic Purcell is also his Rogues buddy in The Flash). Also, I’ve never loved the crookiest of the crook characters so much than how I love T-Bag. He’s the worst, but OMG his lines and mimicking (Robert Knepper did a fine job!)

As I already did the tagging before, I won’t do it again, but I let this open. Anyone feeling like talking about their comfort TV-shows are more than welcomed to do this “other version” of the tag game! 😉

[sacred-stanning]

Chapter 16 Part 9: Promoting our lords

Ephraim and Eirika unlock the secret room below the throne in Renais and head down to look for the sacred stone.

And while the sacred stone is important and all, what we really care about for gameplay reasons is that Ephraim and Eirika can now use their bracelets to promote into advanced classes!

Here goes Ephraim!

STATS

Next up is Eirika

...and my phone camera chose that moment to not cooperate and focus, so I missed her cool stat up screen.

Interestingly, neither Ephraim nor Eirika get access to any other weapon types with their promotions. I mostly mention it because the prvious game, Blazing Blade, gave additional weapon types to all three lords when they promoted. Ephraim at least has access to 2 range lances, but it means that Eirika is stuck for the whole game with no 2 range weapons aside from the weird, magic-based Wind Sword.

Seth tells us that, aside from the sacred stone itself, the twin sacred treasures of Renais are down here too.

First is Siegmund, Ephraim's other personal lance.

It has more might than Reginleif, but less crit, and it's a bit heavier. It also gives the wielder +5 strength.

While I was looking up information about it, I discovered that this was one of the things that got toned back in the US release of the game. It had 17 might in that, but as you can see here, the Japanese version gives the weapon 19 might.

Eirika gets a personal sword too, the Sieglinde. It's significantly stronger than the rapier, with 16 might instead of 7. And just like the Siegmund, it gives the wielder +5 strength.

While they're glad to have a sacred stone, Innes grumbles that it's the only one they have left, to which L'Arachel responds, "Don't forget about Rausten!"

"Our sacred stone is still guarded safely. Everyone, let us be off for Rausten!"

"Lute! Lute!!!"

What was this screaming? This noise!? Lute just wanted it to go away.

"Wait, where am I?" she thought, feeling confused, her limbs heavy.

She tried to retrace her steps logically. She remembered leaving her horse behind in the throne room and going walking, looking for the library. After a couple of wrong turns, she had found it, and what a library it was!

Having grown up in a small town, Lute was impressed at the scale of a library in a royal castle, and the one in Renais was the first one she had seen. They hadn't had time in Grado, much to her disappointment, and she hadn't been able to wander freely during their stop in Frelia's castle.

Lute had never had much interest in being a leader of any sort, but on seeing the walls of books, she found herself thinking that maybe being a queen wouldn't be so bad.

Or better, yet, a princess with a brother, like Eirika. Then her brother could become king and she could read in the royal library all day long.

"Lute!!! By the stones, are you ok!? Can you hear me!?"

There was that loud voice again...

Wait, was that Vanessa?

Lute felt herself lurch back to the present. She felt a pain in the back of her head, and her whole back was pressed up against something hard and cold. She slowly opened her eyes, and she saw Vanessa's face.

It took her a moment to pull in other details, but she realized that she was also seeing the ceiling of the library behind Vanessa. "Am I on the floor?" she thought, confused.

"Oh thank the sacred stones you're awake again!" Vanessa looked extremely worried. Lute moved her arms to push herself up from the cold, hard floor that she had found herself on, but Vanessa put a hand on her shoulder.

"Wait, don't get up! Are you ok? What happened?"

Lute realized she wasn't sure. She remembered coming into the library, and she remembered looking around at the books. She was searching for materials on social organization structures in Renais, as well as folk customs, and then...

"I..am not sure..." she said. "I came to look at some books, and then I heard you yelling. When did you get here?"

Vanessa put a hand on Lute's forehead. Lute grimaced at how cold it felt. Why did everything feel so cold?

"You're burning up and sweaty!" Vanessa said. "You must be sick! Maybe you passed out. Hold on, I'll get a healer." Vanessa started to stand.

"Vanessa..." Lute said weakly.

Vanessa paused, "Yes?"

"The floor is cold."

"Oh, I'm sorry! I'm..I'm not thinking straight. You shocked me being passed out like that when I walked in here!"

Vanessa crouched again and gingerly reached down to the back of Lute's head with one hand and her shoulder with the other hand. "I'm going to help you sit up. But let me know if you feel weird, or if you might pass out again."

Lute nodded without speaking. Vanessa's face was close. She could smell her, and post-battle, she was sweaty, but Lute found that it was not unpleasant, unlike when that noisy boy--what was his name again?--had talked to her before. Then Lute noticed the small talisman on a chain around Vanessa's neck.

"You are still wearing the talisman I gave you" Lute said.

"Huh?" Vanessa responded. Then she looked down briefly and realized what Lute was saying. "Oh, yeah. Of course! It was really nice of you to give it to me."

"I didn't actually end up giving it to you" Lute thought guiltily. "I got upset about other things and dropped it on the ground." She felt a mix of shame at how she had panicked and lost control, but also happiness that Vanessa had picked the talisman up and worn it despite everything.

Vanessa slowly pulled Lute up while cradling her head.

"Can you sit like this while I get a healer, or do you want to lean against something?" Vanessa asked. Then, without waiting for an answer, she started looking around the room, "No, never mind. You shouldn't strain yourself. Let's get you seated somewhere you can rest properly."

Lute didn't usually like being told what to do, but she didn't even complain when, this time, Vanessa put one arm under her legs, and the other behind her back and lifted her straight off the floor and carried her to one of the nearby sofas where she lay Lute carefully down.

"I'll be right back" Vanessa said, and then ran off.

Lute already felt a little better for not being on the floor anymore. She nodded and closed her eyes. She really was tired after all of these battles, one after another...

Next time: Well, I guess we're going to Rausten!

[fluxrspar]

A part of Selena wonders how honest the boy is being; there is a light in his voice as he speaks—a pride and life that brims with passion—but he is young, the Fluorspar notes, and it is hard to imagine he came out of the war unscathed. Had she possessed his age at the time the war broke—perhaps she would be alive, but she cannot imagine in what state. (Perhaps it is the resiliency of youth, she notes, always rising against the tumultuous waves of time and showing themselves to be stronger for it.)

(She thinks of Grado and the way it breaks—before coming back together again.)

And then, likely by chance: as she thinks of it, he wonders the possibility of having lent her aid to their side. To his friends and family, his teacher, and, of course, Princess Eirika—of which, Selena knows there is only one. (Selena remembers meeting Ephraim upon the hill that killed her, and she remembers the mercenary Erina—she who bore a face so similar to the now-king’s.)

‘Madness though it may be…’

“Thank you,” she smiles, “and there’s no need to apologize; I understand what you mean to say.” (Renais’ army would have had an easier time of things had the Fluorspar joined the Obsidian.) “So don’t worry about it—all the same, that’s now all in the past.”

The Fluorspar does not mention that she was involved in the war.

“So then, what brings you to the Officers Academy?” (Though, perhaps he has been here longer than she.) “I imagine it’s in the interest of learning more foreign magic? Or is there some other purpose that brings you here?”

war and magic.

[four-loose-screws]

FE8 Novelization Translation - Chapter 17, Section 1

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 17 - The Demon King's Shadow

There were five Sacred Stones total, and all of them were passed down within each of the nations of Magvel. Eirika and her army had safely obtained Renais' Sacred Stone, but Grado, Frelia, and Jehanna's Stones had already been destroyed.

They now were seeking the last one, and so they decided to march to the Theocracy of Rausten. Their guide was none other than Princess L'Arachel.

Once they left Renais, they traveled in peace for a long while. They were not attacked by any enemies nor any monsters. They were also blessed with good weather, and L'Arachel was in a fantastic mood.

"It's good to return home sometimes. I wonder if Lord Uncle is doing well?"

Dozla was walking alongside her. His guffaw echoed through the air. "Pontifex Mansel is sure to be very surprised! You've grown into an even finer young woman than you were when you left home, Lady L'Arachel!"

"Oh, Dozla, stop it!"

*Can I ask you somethin’?" Rennac was trudging along behind them. He said with a bored, apathetic look on his face, "This Pontifex Mansel person will pay me my money, right? Every gold coin his niece has avoided paying me…?"

"Oh, that's right, Eirika! There are many exceptional bards in Rausten. And the one we all talk about most, Saaga, is so amazing that he moves me to tears no matter how many times I listen to him perform. I want you to hear him as well!"

"...Uh-huh..." Eirika turned back and caught a glimpse of Rennac out of pity for him. 

He looked utterly exhausted and worn out as he muttered, "...She ain't even listenin’." 

Eirika didn't know whether L'Arachel really didn't hear him, or whether she just pretended not to, but either way, L'Arachel's voice gradually became more and more cheerful.

"But this time, it is my turn to tell the bards of my many adventures! Our services for the greater good are sure to become a beautiful poem passed down for many generations to come!"

"If so, I wonder if I will be in this poem as well?"

"Oh, Dozla, of course! You will go down in history as my loyal servant!"

"Ohhhhhh, what an honor that will be! You have moved me greatly by saying so!"

"You don't have to record much of anything about me. Just pay me." Rennac muttered.

"We will soon reach the Narube River. Dozla, do you remember when we crossed it? Monsters were trying to attack a boat traveling upon it, so we gallantly rushed in and saved some ordinary citizens who were trying to escape…"

"We should be able to rendezvous with the Frelian Army here." Innes forcefully cut into their conversation. He unsurprisingly seemed to be fed up with L'Arachel's cheerful banter.

Eirika smiled and added to show that she heard what he'd said, "Yes. And when we do so, it will make all of our battles from here on out much easier."

"Of course. We will be teaming up with Frelia's most elite unit."

The Frelian Army had departed their home country following a different route from Eirika's army, and were now going to Rausten as well. Eirika had received a report from the pegasus knights that they should be able to meet up somewhere within the vicinity of Narube.

They would combine with the Frelian Army to bolster their numbers, then obtain Rausten's Sacred Stone so they could capture Lyon this time with all of their forces. That was her army's current strategy.

No matter how powerful Lyon's Dark Stone may be, they had nothing to fear if they had two Sacred Stones. The army he led was now nothing more than the survivors from Grado, so his numbers and weapons likely wouldn't compare to Eirika's. L'Arachel and all of the other members of her army were making cheerful expressions because they could feel hope for the road ahead.

But their cheerful march did not last for much longer. The moment they reached the Narube River, they froze. Two ordinary citizens were cowering alongside the road.

They were a young girl and an elderly man. The exhausted man was comforting the girl, who appeared to be his granddaughter.

The girl noticed Eirika's army and pulled back in fear.

Eirika dismounted her horse and quietly approached her so as not to surprise her. "What happened? Do you live around here...?"

"...You're not with the Grado Army? You're not, right?" The tension drained from the girl's body with a sigh of relief. 

But on the contrary, her words made Eirika's army nervous. "You saw the Grado Army? Somewhere close to here?"

"Yes."  Terror flashed through the girl's big eyes, and she nodded. "They attacked us suddenly. A group of soldiers wearing Grado’s armor came here… and set our village on fire. They killed all of the men who tried to stand up to them… Just when we thought it was all over for us, Frelia's pegasus knights rushed in and saved us. But… the Grado Army is so strong it's terrifying… most of the soldiers from Frelia were killed."

"What? The Frelian Army was killed by the remaining soldiers from Grado?" The color drained from Innes' face, and he pulled in closer to the girl. 

His angry expression spooked her. She shrunk back closer to the old man, then nodded. "Y-Yes…"

"Not all of them were defeated, right? For every last member of Frelia's elite to be gone…"

"No, there is a unit still fighting. But only one. The other units were all defeated. There's still a few friends in our village who have yet to escape… The last of the Frelian Army is still doing everything they can to protect them. Please save them! Please…"

"Understood. Let's go, Eirika!" Innes shouted.

However, Eirika was worried about the look on the face of the crouching old man that the girl had protected. His face was twitching like he'd suffered a horrifying experience, and his lips moved as if he was trying to say something.

Eirika approached him, bent down next to him, and gently said, "You're okay now. We will defeat the Grado Army and save the villagers. Please try to relax and…"

"...No match… for him." The old man muttered something in a muffled voice. 

"Huh?" Eirika responded.

"You are… no match… for him. You are no match… for a terrifying person… like him…"

The man was shaking all over, and continued speaking in a mumble. The words that she only just barely managed to make out were ominous. "No… he's not… a person… He's not... human… He's… a monster… He's… the Demon King…"

"The… Demon King? What does that mean?" Eirika felt a chill crawl down her spine for no discernable reason, and her voice lowered to a hush.

The old man's eyes were wide open, and his breathing was shallow. 

His granddaughter noticed this and wrapped a blanket around his shoulders, then she said to Eirika, "I'm sorry. Grandfather rushed right out when the village was attacked… and seems to have seen him. The commander leading the Grado Army…"

"Their commander? Who could it have possibly been…?"

"I didn't see, so I can't say anything at all, but… Grandfather was saved by the Frelian Army when he was in danger. Still, he's absolutely terrified. I have no idea what he saw."

"...Can you tell us what kind of person the enemy commander was…?”

The moment she tried to ask the man for more details, L'Arachel suddenly cried out, "Look at that! There's someone over there…"

Eirika looked up in the direction L'Arachel was pointing to.

A black shadow rose over the grass.

Or so it appeared to be at first glance, for it radiated a gloomy aura all around it. Then Eirika realized that it was someone she knew well, standing with his back slightly hunched over, not moving a muscle. 

Eirika whispered before she even knew what she was saying, "Lyon…?"

Grado's prince was staring at her from beneath his long bangs. His eyes were cold and unfeeling.

Eirika's heart was filled with a sense of relief. Even though they were currently enemies, they could communicate with each other from the heart. ‘I'll always be your ally…' She could hear his voice clearly even now.

'I want to talk with him. I want to ask him for the answers to all of my doubts.' With her mind focused on only that one thought, she tried to walk over to him.

But Ephraim saw her moving and sharply yelled at her to stop. "Stop, Eirika! Don't get anywhere near him!"

"Brother…?"

Ephraim stood in front of her as if to shield her from something, and glared at Lyon.

Lyon's expression abruptly softened. Considering Ephraim's threatening look, his was so gentle it was strange. "Hey, Ephraim… What's the matter? Why are you making such a scary face…?"

 "Lyon! How dare you appear before me with such a calm look on your face!"

Lyon tilted his head at Ephraim’s violent words like he didn't know what Ephraim meant.

"You remember the time we met in the capital, right? Don't tell me you forgot!" Ephraim's voice became more and more harsh with each word. Lyon, by contrast, was calm, and even smiling.

"Of course I remember! I would never forget… Ephraim, we're finally meeting again after so much struggle… Why are you so mad? Did I do something to upset y-?"

"Shut up!" Ephraim sharply cut him off.

Eirika anxiously looked for an opportunity to stop her brother. If he continued to speak with such hostility, they would lose their chance to talk with Lyon.

However, his anger was so fierce that she couldn't carelessly call out to him. All she could do was watch over them, with all of her apprehensions weighing on her mind.

"What did you say then? That you were the one who instigated this war… and that you were the one who invaded Renais and killed my father? That was what you said, right?!"

"Ephraim…" Lyon suddenly made a sad face in response. 

Eirika couldn't stay silent any longer. She softly placed a hand on her brother's back and said, "Please stop. Brother. Don't talk like that."

"Eirika…"

Ephraim turned around and said in a strong tone to warn her, "He's not the Lyon we know. He's being controlled by an evil power. Probably the Dark Stone…"

"That can’t be… You're not yourself today, Brother…" Eirika could feel that Ephraim had made up his mind.

Eirika didn't know exactly what their conversation in Grado Castle had been like. Everything she knew was from her brother's report. She didn't think that he had lied to her, but they couldn't say there wasn't a chance that he lost himself when he was agitated, and interpreted everything Lyon said as animosity, even though Lyon might have come seeking reconciliation.

"Why are you looking at Lyon like he's suspicious? He's our dear friend, isn't he?"

"Eirika…"

 "Lyon said that he will be our ally no matter what. Isn't that right, Lyon?"

"Yes, of course! I'm so happy, Eirika. You really are very kind. Why don't you come… closer…" Suddenly, Lyon's body stiffened. He bit his lip, signaling that he seemed to be enduring intense pain. But he couldn't suppress his voice, and a quiet groan escaped his lips.

"Lyon? What's the matter? Are you alright, Lyon…?" Eirika remembered that Lyon's body was not very strong.

Since long ago, he often broke out with fevers, and his swordsmanship never improved significantly. He was even embarrassed, and it made him feel inferior. But though his body was weak, because he possessed superior intelligence and sensibility, Eirika thought he should be more proud. Yet he still seemed to lack confidence in himself and be troubled by his weaknesses.

Lyon's face twisted, though now it was less in pain and more in anger. "Gah…! Don't get in my way…!" The moment Lyon shouted in frustration, his knees gave out, and he fell atop the grass.

Eirika tried to run straight over to him, but his sharp voice made her feet stop moving.

"Get away from me, Eirika!"

"Huh?"

The anger vanished from Lyon's face. In its place a desperate, pleading expression formed before he shouted, "You can't come near me! Hurry, get away…! If you don't, then I'll…"

"Lyon! What's wrong? What's happ-"

"I'll destroy you… Run… Hurry out of h-" Lyon cut his words short, and hid his face.

Eirika was utterly shocked. She was worried about his health, but he had told her to run. She found it hard to decide what to do, and didn't move.

Lyon slowly raised his head. On his face returned the same cold smile he had when he first appeared. He said in a calm voice, "Sorry for worrying you, Eirika. I’m alright now. That was just a light spasm."

 "...Lyon?" If they were true, then those words should have reassured her, but for some reason, they only made her feel all the more worried. She took a step back against her own wishes.

This was not Lyon. That was the first thought that immediately came into her mind. Lyon didn't smile like that. He would never coax her in such a terrible way 

"Be careful, Eirika. Don't leave any holes in your stance. He's not Lyon." Ephraim said. 

Lyon… no, this being with the same face as the prince, laughed in amusement. "I'm not Lyon? Don't say such strange things, Ephraim. Oh, I get it. You don't like seeing me with so much energy? Would you be satisfied if I suffered a more severe spasm? You always looked at me like you would. You said that Lyon is a weak, pitiful child. But that was just your impression. You did not know anything about me…"

"That's not true." Ephraim refused to be provoked by Lyon’s attempts to agitate him, and responded in a calm voice, "We were friends. Of course, that doesn't mean we knew everything about each other. It wasn’t that simple. But I knew what was most important. You… Lyon was not the type of person to ever deceive or betray us. He wasn't a terrible creature like you, trying to enchant us with whatever words we wanted to hear. He wasn't a horrible person like that. You are not Lyon. You cannot be him.”

Lyon tilted his head to the side and stared straight at Ephraim, but, little by little, his expression began to change. The smile he was directing at them twisted into an arrogant smirk that could even be considered brazen. “Hmph… I see. It seems that human feelings are not something that I can underestimate.”

Eirika could not believe her ears. His tone was more sarcastic than any she’d ever heard before in her life. 

“Pretending to be human was more fun than I ever expected it to be, but… there’s no need to keep up that facade any longer. You saw right through me, Prince of Renais. This body no longer belongs to Prince Lyon.”

“Damn you! ...I knew it! So you have taken over Lyon’s body?!” Ephraim shouted. “I don’t know what you are, but get out! Get out of Lyon’s body right now! Or else I’ll…!”

“Or else you’ll what? Come now, what are you going to do, you foolish prince? Prince Lyon’s heart is already almost entirely gone. I’ve eaten it all up…”

“What did you just say…?”

“Didn’t you hear me? I ate it. Though it resisted and screamed, I ate it up. For a descendant of Grado, he had such a weak heart…”

“Damn you…!” The anger disappeared from Ephraim’s voice. He tried his very hardest to keep himself together, but his voice still shook slightly.

Eirika was taken utterly aback. This was the first time she’d ever seen her brother tremble before an enemy.

“What are you?!”

“You still don’t know? You really are an utter fool, prince of Renais. You should remember your legends that have been passed down through the ages. The name of the enemy you sealed away.”

“He can’t be…” Eirika whispered.

“The Demon King… of ancient times…” Ephraim growled.

He burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the air. He'd already given up his human facade, and a malicious aura radiated around him.

He was the being known as the Demon King, that had existed eight hundred years ago and was feared by humanity. He’d led countless monsters and did as he pleased with the continent of Magvel. The fire his monsters breathed burned down the villages and towns, and drowned the people in the depths of despair.

What became the people's final hope was the five Sacred Stones and the hero Grado. He led his soldiers, challenged the Demon King to battle, and in the end, succeeded in sealing away the Demon King’s soul. This finally brought peace to the continent, and humanity created new towns atop the ashes. The hero Grado founded an empire, and the brave soldiers that fought with him each built their own countries. 

That was all supposed to already be a thing of the distant past, and become legend. The Demon King wasn't supposed to be resurrected ever again. But the seal had been broken, and the Demon King revived. And he’d even taken the body of a descendant of Grado, the very man who’d defeated him.

The Demon King said with satisfaction in his voice, “Prince Lyon will never appear again. This body has already yielded to me. It is mine now!"

But then the Demon King clutched his chest with one of his hands. It appeared that the gesture meant that Lyon’s heart continued to try its hardest to resist, and the Demon King was trying to keep him suppressed.

“Don’t worry, I will grant you your desire to kill Prince Ephraim of Renais, and claim Princess Eirika. That was what you wanted, is it not?

“Damn you…” Ephraim tightened his grip on his lance, however, before he could launch his attack, the Demon King vanished.

“He ran away…?” Ephraim looked around.

Eirika turned her head towards him. “No, Brother. He’s not running, but trying to lure us somewhere. I think his target is more likely the people of Narube that haven’t escaped yet and the survivors of the Frelian Army. He wants to attack them and lure us to him.”

“You’re right. Let’s hurry, Eirika. We must save Frelia’s unit!”

“Yes, we must…” Eirika nodded, but did not feel like giving the order straight away. 

Ephraim noticed her expression, and looked at her. “What’s the matter, Eirika?”

“Brother, I wonder what Lyon’s… No, the Demon King’s final words meant. About Lyon’s desires…”

Ephraim winced and said, “It was just part of an enemy’s plot to make us falter. Don’t worry about it. It’s more important we think about the Frelian Army and the people of Narube first.”

“...Yes, it is.”

Ephraim was right. Their allies were fighting desperately to protect the citizens. Rescuing them came first.

[bluecarelesswhisper]

TOP 100 FEMALE SOLO SINGERS OF THE '50S AND '60S

Patti Page - All My Love, The Tennessee Waltz, Mockin' Bird Hill, I Went to Your Wedding, The Doggie in the Window, Cross Over the Bridge, Allegheny Moon, Old Cape Cod; Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte

Connie Francis - Who's Sorry Now, My Happiness, Lipstick on Your Collar, Everybody's Somebody's Fool, My Heart Has a Mind of its Own, Where the Boys Are, Don't Break the Heart That Loves You

Brenda Lee - Sweet Nothin's, I'm Sorry, I Want to Be Wanted, Fool #1, Break it to Me Gently, All Alone Am I

Kay Starr - Wheel of Fortune, Side By Side, Changing Partners, If You Love Me (Really Love Me), Rock and Roll Waltz

Doris Day - A Guy is a Guy, Secret Love, If I Give My Heart to You; Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera); Everybody Loves a Lover

Dionne Warwick - Anyone Who Had a Heart, Walk on By, I Say a Little Prayer, (Theme from) Valley of the Dolls, I'll Never Fall in Love Again

Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You), Respect, Baby I Love You, Chain of Fools, The House That Jack Built

Teresa Brewer - Music! Music! Music!, Till I Waltz Again With You, Ricochet, A Tear Fell, A Sweet Old Fashioned Girl

Jo Stafford - Shrimp Boats, You Belong to Me, Jambalaya, Keep it a Secret, Make Love to Me!

Rosemary Clooney - Come On-a My House, Half as Much, Botch-A-Me, Hey There, This Ole House

Joni James - Why Don't You Believe Me, Have You Heard, Your Cheatin' Heart; My Love, My Love; How Important Can it Be?

Petula Clark - Downtown, I Know a Place, My Love, This is My Song, Don't Sleep in the Subway

Dinah Washington - I Don't Hurt Anymore, What a Diff'rence a Day Makes, Unforgettable, This Bitter Earth

Mary Wells - The One Who Really Loves You, You Beat Me to the Punch, Two Lovers, My Guy

Georgia Gibbs - Kiss of Fire, Seven Lonely Days, Tweedle Dee, Dance With Me Henry (Wallflower)

Lesley Gore - It's My Party, Judy's Turn to Cry, She's a Fool, You Don't Own Me

Nancy Sinatra - These Boots Are Made For Walkin'; How Does That Grab You, Darlin'?; Sugar Town, Love Eyes

Sarah Vaughan - Make Yourself Comfortable, How Important Can it Be?, Whatever Lola Wants, Broken-Hearted Melody

Dusty Springfield - I Only Want to Be With You, Wishin' and Hopin', You Don't Have to Say You Love Me, Son-Of-A Preacher Man

Ruth Brown - Teardrops From My Eyes, 5-10-15 Hours, (Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean, Oh What a Dream

Kitty Wells - It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels, Makin' Believe, Searching (For Someone Like You), Heartbreak U.S.A.

Etta James - The Wallflower, All I Could Do Was Cry, At Last, Tell Mama

LaVern Baker - Tweedlee Dee, Play it Fair, Jim Dandy, I Cried a Tear

Gale Storm - I Hear You Knocking, Teen Age Prayer, Dark Moon

Dinah Shore - My Heart Cries For You, Sweet Violets, Chantz-Chantez

Jaye P. Morgan - That's All I Want From You, Danger! Heartbreak Ahead, The Longest Walk

Eydie Gorme - Mama, Teach Me to Dance; You Need Hands, Blame it on the Bossa Nova

Carla Thomas - Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes), B-A-B-Y, I Like What You're Doing (To Me)

Patsy Cline - Walkin' After Midnight, I Fall to Pieces, Crazy

Peggy Lee - Lover, Fever, Is That All There Is

Dee Dee Sharp - Mashed Potato Time, Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes), Ride!

Kitty Kallen - Little Things Mean a Lot, In the Chapel in the Moonlight, My Coloring Book

Annette - Tall Paul, O Dio Mio, Pineapple Princess

Cher - All I Really Want to Do, Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down), You Better Sit Down Kids

Barbra Streisand - People, He Touched Me, Second Hand Rose

Linda Scott - I've Told Every Little Star, Don't Bet Money Honey, I Don't Know Why

Connie Smith - Once a Day, Ain't Had No Lovin', The Hurtin's All Over

Barbara Lewis - Hello Stranger, Baby I'm Yours, Make Me Your Baby

Anita Bryant - Till There Was You, Paper Roses, In My Little Corner of the World

Skeeter Davis - My Last Date (With You), The End of the World, I Can't Stay Mad at You

Sue Thompson - Sad Movies (Make Me Cry), Norman, Paper Tiger

Della Reese - And That Reminds Me, Don't You Know, Not One Minute More

Loretta Lynn - Don't Come Home A-Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind), Fist City, Woman of the World (Leave My World Alone)

Betty Everett - You're No Good, The Shoop Shoop Song, There Comes a Time

Jackie DeShannon - What the World Needs Now is Love, Put a Little Love in Your Heart, Love Will Find a Way

Timi Yuro - Hurt, What's a Matter Baby, Make the World Go Away

Debbie Reynolds - Tammy, A Very Special Love, Am I That Easy to Forget

Gogi Grant - Suddenly There's a Valley, Who Are We, The Wayward Wind

Maxine Brown - All in My Mind, Funny, Oh No Not My Baby

Betty Johnson - I Dreamed, Little White Lies, The Little Blue Man

Jean Shepard - A Satisfied Mind, Beautiful Lies, Second Fiddle (To An Old Guitar)

Shirley Ellis - The Nitty Gitty, The Name Game, The Clapping Song

Little Eva - The Loco-Motion, Keep Your Hands Off My Baby, Let's Turkey Trot

Vera Lynn - Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart, Yours, If You Love Me (Really Love Me)

Eartha Kitt - C'est Si Bon, Santa Baby, Somebody Bad Stole De Wedding Bell

Lulu - To Sir With Love, Best of Both Worlds, Morning Dew

June Valli - Crying in the Chapel, I Understand, Apple Green

Connie Stevens - Sixteen Reasons, Why'd You Wanna Make Me Cry, Mr. Songwriter

Jane Morgan - Fascination, The Day the Rains Came, With Open Arms

Nancy Wilson - (You Don't Know) How Glad I Am, I Wanna Be With You; Face it Girl, it's Over

Esther Phillips - Release Me, And I Love Him, When a Woman Loves a Man

Vikki Carr - It Must Be Him, The Lesson, With Pen in Hand

Little Peggy March - I Will Follow Him, I Wish I Were a Princess; Hello Heartache, Goodbye Love

Mindy Carson - Candy and Cake, My Foolish Heart, Wake the Town and Tell the People

Sandy Posey - Born a Woman, Single Girl, I Take it Back

Bobbie Gentry - Ode to Billie Joe, Fancy

Brenda Holloway - Every Little Bit Hurts, When I'm Gone

Eileen Rodgers - Miracle of Love, Treasure of Your Love

Barbara Lynn - You'll Lose a Good Thing, Second Fiddle Girl

Dottie West - Here Comes My Baby, Would You Hold it Against Me

Baby Washington - That's How Heartaches Are Made, Only Those in Love

Kathy Linden - Billy; Goodbye Jimmy, Goodbye

Cathy Carr - Ivory Tower, First Anniversary

Fontella Bass - Rescue Me, Recovery

Barbara Mason - Yes, I'm Ready; Sad, Sad Girl

Marianne Faithfull - As Tears Go By, Summer Nights

Shelley Fabares - Johnny Angel, Johnny Loves Me

Wanda Jackson - Let's Have a Party, In the Middle of a Heartache

Tammy Wynette - D-I-V-O-R-C-E, Stand By Your Man

Mama Cass - Dream a Little Dream of Me, It's Getting Better

Faye Adams - Shake a Hand, Hurts Me to My Heart

Jill Corey - I Love My Baby, Love Me to Pieces

Dodie Stevens - Pink Shoe Laces, No

Bettye Swann - Make Me Yours, Don't Touch Me

Jan Howard - Evil on Your Mind, Bad Seed

Nina Simone - I Loves You, Porgy; Ain't Got No; I Got Life

Norma Jean - Go Cat Go, I Wouldn't Buy a Used Car From Him

Miss Toni Fisher - The Big Hurt, West of the Wall

Damita Jo - I'll Be There, If You Go Away

Patty Duke - Don't Just Stand There, Say Something Funny

Bonnie Guitar - Dark Moon, Mister Fire Eyes

Gloria Lynne - I Wish You Love, Watermelon Man

Jody Miller - Queen of the House, Home of the Brave

Gisele MacKenzie - Hard to Get, The Star You Wished Upon Last Night

Betty Madigan - Joey, Dance Everyone Dance

Ketty Lester - Love Letters, But Not For Me

Barbara George - I Know (You Don't Love Me No More), You Talk About Love

Joanie Sommers - One Boy, Johnny Get Angry

Irma Thomas - Don't Mess With My Man, Wish Someone Would Care

Diane Renay - Navy Blue, Kiss Me Sailor

[kikuism]

mariam!!! okay now that tumblr unearthed that lost ask i also need to know what 3 songs you'd choose for each of your characters!! :'0 🎶

hello jenna!! 🤍🤍🤍 so so so sorry for the late response!! but in this time i've really gotten to think about which songs fit my ocs hghfhf i really had to use my brain cells for this bc you know i .... don't listen to english/lyric songs but at the same time i didn't want to just put instrumental/anime music for them 😔 this is like....new territory for me. so without further ado....

kiku: no introduction needed!! keywords: spring, pining, forbidden love.

reflection — mulan 1998: god. this is the kiku song. is anyone surprised??? Every single lyric just hits. i scream. “can it be i'm not meant to play this part? / now i see that if i were truly to be myself, i would break my family's heart.” SCREAM. “somehow i cannot hide who i am, though i’ve tried” i'm sobbing.

bloom — the paper kites. p i n i n g .... pure sweetness.

renai circulation — kana hanazawa: i haven't watched monogatari but this song is everywhere and everyone knows it. it just sounds so cute and the lyrics are So kiku....about feeling all 'fuwa fuwa' when your crush looks/smiles at you. and there's this lyric: ‘i know that the me that's inside of you isn't as big as the you that inside of me”, like, oh my god.

bonus: i love the way—from the something rotten! musical. kiku is both of the characters here 😌📚💕

and finally, spring by max richter....this is how kou makes kiku's heart feel :")

kou: the hardest one to find songs for. i guess it's just hard to find songs about....[gestures vaguely] gentle wise philosophical souls. kou is like....an ancient, loving olive tree.

constellations — the oh hellos: this is a song about how nothing is set in stone, how we try to find meaning in our experiences, how our perceptions of the word are constantly changing and falling apart, like tectonic plates, like constellations. kou is someone who muses a lot about the world and his experiences with it, especially as a blind person.

while my guitar gently weeps: from what i have read about this song, apparently it is about the universal potential of all of us to love and be kind, and how, for some people, that potential is still sleeping. being the philosophical healer that he is, i like to think kou muses on these things too.

telephone number — junko ohashi: ahhh japanese city pop....i love this song, it's so cheesy and sweet. kou loves loves loves talking to kiku on the phone, even more so since he can't see him,,and he loves his voice so much and he's always waiting for him to call :')) 'don't forget my telephone number, i want you to dial it anytime you're worried' ☎️💕

mull of the mountains: a lovely celtic harp! this piece is just so peaceful and tender and soothing. this is the energy kou gives off 🤍

naomi: overachiever, eldest daughter, no-nonsense. sharp, cold, elegance.

therefore i am — billie eilish.

oh no! — marina and the diamonds: the naomi song....omg. “don’t do love, don't do friends, i'm only after success” hello??? and i love the duality of confidence and anxiety in this song. “i know exactly what i want and who i want to be / i know exactly why i walk and talk like a machine” and “one track mind, one track heart / if i fail i'll fall apart”.

caprice no. 24 — paganini: this is a piece renowned for its difficulty....i always imagine naomi trying to play it. and its sharpness reminds me of her too.

aida: disney princess, wants so much more than this provincial life, adventure in the great wide somewhere....

when will my life begin? �� tangled ost: the perfect song for aida! she's bored by the routine in her life and craves something new and exciting. she does make the most out of each day but also she just wants something new, you know?

belle — beauty and the beast ost. aida walking around the village in the early morning to buy ingredients for breakfast...

what the hell — avril lavigne: “all my life I've been good, but now i'm thinking what the hell, all i want is to mess around.” WOW. aida is such a goody two shoes who sets an example of how others should act but sometimes it's like. aren't you tired of being nice? don't you just want to go apeshit? i just think it's really funny. these feelings surface especially after she meets the world's #1 troublemaker, kaname.

kaname: gaslight gatekeep girlboss. eat the rich.

bad guy — billie eilish.

royals — lorde: “i've never seen a diamond in the flesh”, “we aren't caught up in your love affair”, “we’ll never be royals, it don't run in our blood”. kaname also definitely turns up her nose at the lavish decadent lifestyles of the wealthy.

anklebiters — paramore: 'someday you're gonna be the only one you've got' okay! scream.

buddy, ryo — devilman crybaby ost.

shou: gothic, weird, eerie. like a wisp of dark darting between the trees....not really of this world...

control — halsey.

seven devils — florence + the machine.

meet me in the woods — lord huron: this song is delightfully gothic and creepy and otherworldly. just like shou is, constantly straddling the line between this world and the world of the dead.

little dark age — mgmt.

hajime: the knight in the knight-and-prince dynamic. has the unfortunate dilemma of crushing on said prince.

tongue tied — grouplove: something about being in love with your best friend 😳😳

somebody else — the 1975.

king and lionheart — of monsters and men.

zen: extremely bisexual. he's just here for a good time not a long time. he's the complete opposite of kiku in that he revels in his lavish decadent lifestyle and wouldn't have it any other way.

how to be a heartbreaker — marina. this is his anthem tbh....zen doesn't know the meaning of commitment. he loves playing around,,,breaking hearts,,,,but what's going to happen when he actually catches feelings??

young and beautiful — lana del ray. everyone loves zen....but will they still love him even when he's no longer young and beautiful? i like to think it's an insecurity of his. also #doriangray vibes....

god, i hate shakespeare — something rotten! ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS EVER JGJDKSJGJ this is scandalous of me to admit as an english major.......anyway this is absolutely zen energy. bizarrely, i like to imagine this is a dialogue between zen and kiku hghfhgj

[hectabdr]

Dragon Raja IV - Chapters 5 & 6 (Abridged)

Good evening (or morning, maybe?). Here are today's summarized chapters from the fourth novel.

Previous chapters (3 & 4)

For more source-material related stuff, check the new Index.

Chapter 5

Nono woke up in the backseat of a car. Initially she thought she was kidnapped, but by who?

Maybe the school infiltrated the Iris academy and took her prisoner, they must think she's a conspirator. She tried to remember her training, the first step was to stay calm, then, she had to analyze her surroundings. The bumps in the road and the speed indicated that she was probably in a highway. The weather belonged to a subtropical region and the strong tobacco smell was similar to...

-Your friend is a lazy-ass isn't she?

-Why would you say that?

-I gave her a sedative that should last at most 24 hours, but she's been sleeping for 30 hours!

...Finger!

She had managed to untie one of her hands already and now she wasn't afraid to reveal that she was awake. She used the rope to choke Finger and started beating both of them up out of anger. A police officer noticed their little exchange and ordered Finger to stop. Nono decided to play along, after all, this wasn't the right moment to put both of them in jail, despite how nice that sounded at the moment, deep down she wanted to believe Luminous.

The three were just entering to the city of Beijing and Nono agreed to help them begrudgingly. Finger's first idea was to search for Johann Chu's traces in the high school where he and Luminous studied years ago. Nono refused to get out of the car unless they bought her some clothes, since she was still wearing a night gown. Finger bought her a school uniform because there were no department stores nearby.

The place was heavily remodeled, now it had two statues in the entrance, one of which looked remarkably similar to Luminous. The school was holding an event that day and Luminous accidentally bumped into Chen Wenwen, his old crush. He thought he had erased her completely from his mind, but there she was again, and to his surprise, she was incredibly shy in his presence, blushing and stuttering, she even called him "Senior brother".

It wasn't only Wenwen, the rest of his literature club were acting the same way. Zhao Menghua and Wenwen were still dating in this new world, but he seemed extremely uncomfortable, it looked like he saw himself as second fiddle, he even stepped back to let the "old lovers" talk like some gentleman. Su-Xiaoyao, the school princess who used to compete with Wenwen for Menghua's attention before, now seemed to ignore the latter completely, she even called him "brother Mingfei". They were all there for a school anniversary event.

He found himself on the honorary lists as the highest ranking graduate and even as a basketball star, wearing the very same 'number 11' jersey that previously belonged to Johann. Luminous realized something, he had taken Johann's place in a world where he didn't exist. The statue in the school's entrance was actually built in his honor, it had his face indeed.

The principal asked him to give a speech to a crowd of admiring parents. It was raining, but people with umbrellas respectfully waited for him to finish reading the cards that the principal wrote for him. As the speech came to a close, he was surprised to see his uncle, happily applauding under the rain.

It had been two years since the last time he saw him, back then, he had an argument with his aunt and he never came back to Beijing after that. His uncle invited the principal and Luminous's classmates to attend a small celebration at the restaurant where he worked.

The party was a compliment fest for him, and as everyone got more and more drunk, Wenwen and Su Xiaoyao rested on both of his arms while Nono rolled her eyes. A little overwhelmed, he decided to leave momentarily and get some fresh air in the roof.

His drunk uncle reached him and tried to have a heart to heart conversation with him, with the occasional interruption to throw up in a corner. Most of the talk was centered around his future and the possibility of starting a career in China, the type of woman he'd marry and the life he hoped to have.

He turned back to say a few words but his uncle, along with the rest of the world, including the raindrops were standing still. In the middle of a paused environment, Ming·Z·Lu was siting in the shadows. In an illusion, he tossed Luminous a basketball, he realized he knew how to play the game, he was wearing Johann's Jersey and they had a brief match in the middle of the frozen rain.

Years ago, Nono made Luminous understand that, in life, choosing a door will always mean that another one is getting closed. When he chose to get on Johann's car instead of staying with Wenwen in the Aspasia restaurant, he chose Cassell over his previous life. Similarly, when Nono chose the Gattuso Family, she closed the door to Cassell. Ming·Z offered his brother to re-open this door.

For the last quarter of his life, Luminous could stay in his hometown and live the life of a local celebrity. He could date one of his former high school classmates, get a good job anywhere and drink with his uncle every week. However, Cassell would stay out of the picture forever.

Luminous asked if that meant leaving Johann behind. Ming·Z confirmed his theory, expressing that this world could only exist with his absence.

-He is my friend, if we die, we die together.

Angry, he caressed Mingze's hair right before pushing him from the top of the building, but the little devil paused his fall, floating in the air.

-I'm not a devil, brother. I'm a monster. We're all monsters and one day we'll be killed by the righteous Ultraman!

He resumed the flow of time and fell down.

Chapter 6

Finger and Luminous carried his uncle back to his house. Luminous really wanted to avoid meeting his aunt, but she opened the door before he could leave. It was awkward for a moment, so he hugged her without saying a word. She let them stay in his old room, Luminous wasn't expecting to find the place intact. His aunt kept all of his things right where he left them for the last two years.

Finger used some encryption and redirection techniques to contact his girlfriend in Cuba, asking Luminous to give him some privacy. He left his bedroom through the window, and he started walking on the streets of his hometown, the rain had only gotten worst. Suddenly, a red Ferrari stopped by.

-Get in the car, pretty boy!

It was just like three years ago, when Nono picked him up from the theater in the same car. While Luminous and Finger where drinking with his former classmates, Nono was looking for clues of what happened to Johann Chu and borrowed a car from Shao, an old contact of her family. Luminous suddenly remembered something.

Years ago, Johann's adoptive father organized him a birthday party. Since Johann didn't have any friends at school, he left an invitation in every club. Those were like golden tickets for the girls and Chen Wenwen decided to assist herself. Since every club had to bring a gift, she asked Luminous to collect some of the club's top literary works and deliver them to Johann's house during the party.

When Luminous arrived, he noticed everyone was socializing while the birthday boy grilled chicken in the corner. He looked lifeless, almost like a cooking robot. He passed the gift to Wenwen who thanked him and closed the door, leaving him outside. He walked back home and that was it. Thanks to that, Luminous knew where Johann and his mother, Su Xiaoyan used to live.

When they arrived, he recognized the house maid. Johann mentioned her a few times. He asked for his classmate, but the woman mentioned that there were no children in the house. He then asked for Su Xiaoyan, and the maid told him that she was in the hospital. After obtaining the name of the clinic from an envelope in the mailbox, Nono asked him to get in the car and they left the house.

The Sacred Heart Renai Hospital was surprisingly isolated. Since Nono was wearing a school uniform and it was the middle of the night, they made up a story: Luminous was her older brother and their car got broken on the road. They were proud of their little story but the guard was asleep when they arrived. Luminous almost woke him up to explain his made-up problem before Nono stopped him and they sneaked in.

She gave him a guard uniform that didn't fit very well and he searched for Su Xiaoyan. She was peacefully sleeping in her room and Luminous sat next to her. When she suddenly woke up and wondered why he was there, Luminous simply explained that he was covering up for a nurse, since the clinic was short on personnel and she surprisingly went along with it.

Without mentioning her son's name, he told her the story of Johann Chu, his missing friend, going through every detail, hoping that some of it would resonate with her.

The story successfully brought Xiaoyan to tears, but Luminous's sudden excitement was short lived, as said tears were not born from painful memories, but from deep felt sympathy. She said she was pregnant, hoping her future child would be as good as the guard's missing friend. Terribly disappointed, he thanked her, said goodbye and left the room.

Outside, Nono was waiting for him holding an umbrella. His eyes said everything, trying not to cry and to stay optimistic, he asked himself if anyone would look for him in case he disappeared as well.

-Finger loves you very much, he would look for you from every corner of the world.

If that Johann Chu is real, he would find you, you seem to care for each other very much.

Maybe Caesar would look for you too, he would take good care for his godson, no doubt about that.

...And if none of those useless guys managed to find you, even if you're deep in the gutter, I will bring you back.

Nono dropped the umbrella and gave her former sidekick a strong hug.

[allykakamatsu]

FE SS X DRV3 General plot

Once again, I’m back on my bulls**t. Got the basics for the AU sorted now so let’s take a look, as well as what most of the characters are doing

Plot Outline:

As I mentioned in the first post https://allykakamatsu.tumblr.com/post/649470604067717120/fe-ss-x-drv3 the reason the class is in Magvel in the first place is because Monokuma decided that trapping them in the game was gonna be the motive, where you either have to end the war/beat the game or kill someone from the real world in order to get out. The characters got sent to various points in the timeline, and as you can imagine, this changed quite a lot.

Shuichi Saihara:

•The last one to wake up, aka got sent to when the game starts rather than some time before like the others.

•Ends up unintentionally becoming Eirika’s bodyguard as they run into each other while the Princess is trying to get to Frelia and Seth has gone missing dun dun dun

•Sticks around as Eirika knows where Kaede is and because he doesn’t want to leave her on her own.

•Can use magic, but still needs to work on his aim. Aka, never let him fight an enemy that’s near a tree.

•Still better than when he uses a Lance, he just stabs wildly and hope it works

•Because he doesn’t get the pre-war time everyone else had to get ready, he does get the advantage of remembering other things, though they’re things he’d rather not remember.

Kaede Akamatsu:

•Was sent to Renais and ended up getting adopted by the royals, so she’s the Twin’s step-sister.

•Despite her accidental new status, doesn’t change too much, and enjoys her time with her new family even if she’s always scarred about when the war will start

•As such, she’s also very overprotective and always goes with Ephriam to his dumb stunts, under the guise of being all for it.

•Very over dramatic organ player.

•Like Eirika she’s good with swords, but tends to specialise in staffs.

•Is part of Ephriams four (well now five) man army trying to take Grado down.

Maki Harukawa:

•Woke up in Jehana but didn’t stick around for long due to not liking the heat.

•Ended up travelling with Tenko for a while as travelling mercenaries, but when Maki’s work started leaning on the assassin side again she left so the Aikido Master wouldn’t get involved.

•After that becomes an assassin for hire, and she works for people all over the continent, including with Rausten which (unfortunately) led to her seeing Kokichi again

•”If it wasn’t for the fact your Princess hired me I’d kill you”

•Eventually after several jobs making her infamous, she was hired by Kirumi to help protect Eirika.

•Agreed, and was extra motivated due to Shuichi being dragged into this.

Himiko Yumeno:

•One of only two who was over the moon to be sent to Magvel, because now she has real MAGIC

•Winds up in Lute and Arthur’s village, where she joins their friend group to become master Mages.

•Constantly getting on Lute’s nerves for napping during practice.

•More energetic than usual, but that just means when she’s out she’s out for the count.

•Specialises in thunder magic, but that’s mostly not to steal Lute’s thunder, well, fire in this case.

•Goes with Arthur to get help when the village is attacked by monsters to “make sure they don’t claw him to death”

Angie Yonaga:

•Ends up becoming a priestess in Grado.

•Doesn’t really like spreading the word of non-Atua figures, but sticks around because Atua said so.

•Also leads to her becoming friends with Natasha and also ‘friends’ with Cormag

•Was already growing weary of the Empire when she heard about the war, but when Natasha was branded a traitor she knew something was up and went after her.

•Still always smiling, which depending on the person is a relief to see someone keeping their hopes up, or disturbing cause “does she ever not smile?”

•Mostly a light magic user, but can heal and not afraid to staff bonk.

Kirumi Tojo:

•Was sent to Frelia and became a servant at the castle very fast.

•Joined the staff only a few days before ‘The Frelian Tragedy’ where the crown Prince was kidnapped and presumed dead.

•Because of this and the King being so busy, Kirumi ended up being the one to console the young Princess Tana.

•Ended up becoming a mother/big sister figure and was offered a change of position as the nanny. Ended up taking it and staying on maid duty, and eventually rose to head maid.

•More open with her emotions, but still quite reserved.

•Can use all weapons well, but prefers spears and staffs.

Kokichi Oma:

•Not known where or when he first arrived, but after 3 years ended up in Rausten.

•Wound up as part of L’Arachel’s entourage due to his battle skills and her liking his attitude.

•Dream tam for each other, nightmare for everyone else.

•Was rumoured to be part of the Frelian Tragedy, but no one can prove it or knows how.

•With L’Arachel for most of the war, but ran off for a bit to drag Renac back

•A full blown trickster class, so swords and staffs for him.

Kiibo:

•Since Robots don’t exist, he’s a dragon now.

•Excited that he’s living and breathing, but scarred because “How did I change species?!”

•Eventually finds Myrrh and she thankfully sets things straight.

•Proud of his new species, but does miss his old life.

•When Selena steals her dragon stone, he tries to get it back, only to get caught in some trees while in dragon form.

•After that accompanies her on Ephriam and Kaede’s path to get the stone back.

Rantaro Amami:

•A former wyvern rider turned pegasus knight

•Yes, somehow he got a pegasus to trust him enough to let him ride, to the confusion of everyone else.

•Was with Grado for a while, but jumped ship to Jehana about three years before the war.

•When he learned that the Queen’s son had run away, his big brother instincts kicked in and he volunteered to find him.

•His search eventually led to Carcino where he found Joshua alone with the rest of Eirika’s party.

•Agreed to tag along so he could keep an eye on the gambling Prince and so he could help out Shuichi.

•Good with lances, but way better with flying.

Miu Iruma:

•A wyvern rider from Grado, though an unconventional one (I mean, it’s Miu)

•She and Rantaro were part of the same squad, but she stayed unlike him.

•Good at making all her allies lives a living hell with her antics (RIP Cormag) but she’s kept around due to her skill

•Saw Valter kill Glenn, but while trying to tell Cormag, got sidetracked by seeing Selena try to take Kiibo’s dragonstone, which made her go “F**k it”, swear the Flurspar out, and switched sides to team Ephriam.

•The only wyvern who uses an axe. Everyone calls her crazy for it but hey, whatever works.

Tenko Chabishira:

•Was in Renais at first, but after being ditched by Maki she went to Jehana due to her unsurprisingly wanting to be in the nation lead by a queen rather than a king like the rest.

•Ends up bumping into Marisa on a job, and once it’s over she convinces Tenko to join the Mercenaries.

•Loves Tethys and Marisa, so she stays no matter what, but she does eventually get some respect for Gherik.

•Doesn’t stop her from thinking somethings up with Kiyo and the new recruit who won’t take his mask off.

•Would’ve joined up with team Eirika either way since everyone else agreed, Himiko being there just made her a lot more aggressive with it.

•Axes all the way baby!

Korekiyo Shinguji:

•Wound up in Caer Pelyn, which royally confused everyone, but they kinda just rolled with it.

•Stayed due to his interest in the village, but when he was about to leave Ewan stopped by, and after a misunderstanding about why he wanted to leave Kiyo gets dragged into the mercenaries.

•At first only stayed due to wanting to send his sister more ‘friends’, but after seeing Tethys and Ewan act like how siblings are supposed to act, he realised how badly he screwed up, so he ends up sticking around to find out what real siblings are meant to do.

•Gladly joins up with team Eirika once they show up not only to stay with his allies, but also to get some more ‘sibling role models’

•Good with dark magic and staffs, but is in the summoner class..... be very afraid.

Kaito Momota:

•Woke up in Carcino, but after realising the guys in charge were assholes, he left and started travelling all over as a mercenary.

•After seeing Ephriam and Kaede storm a castle with 5 people total and win, he got the bright idea to become a masked hero busting innocents Grado captured out of jail and just generally be a thorn in their side.

•Formed a bit of a partnership with Kokichi because of this cause hey, where else in Magvel are you going to get smoke bombs.

•Eventually met Lyon, and after they explained what was going on to him, Kaito decided to risk it all on them as he let himself get caught to help bust Knoll out of jail, which worked, albeit with a lot of extra help from team Ephriam.

•All and all, more or less the same, just in WAY over his head.

•Of course he’s in the Hero class, so that means swords and axes.

Tsumugi Shirogane:

•The only one who’s played the game before, and easily the most excited, especially as she ended up in Grado and to be more specific as Lyon’s adopted sister.

•Thought she could get everything she wanted due to this being a game, but ended up having a bit of an existential crisis when the world turns out to be harder to manipulate and more real then she thought.

•Not wanting to accept that fiction can be real to, decided to take the demon kings power that wasn’t in Lyon (this was before the stone was shattered so that means most of it) to try get control back.

•This, of course, backfires, as while her already wanting to cause chaos/drama meant she kept her sense of self for longer, her lie eventually crashed in as once Shuichi got her to accept that fiction can be real she got completely possessed.

•Has the same class as Lyon, though she’s less tanky in exchange for being faster, worth it when you’re dealing with dark tomes.

Well, that’s everything for now. Hope you enjoy!

[fe8meta]

Grado’s Propaganda

Actually, you know something the game doesn’t dwell on enough? The use of propaganda against Eirika and Ephraim. And interestingly, the game seems to imply that only those two got smear-campaigned. The most we hear about Innes is more like awed praise with a tinge of fear, but it’s nothing like Amelia’s perception of the twins and Rennac’s reaction to encountering Ephraim.

Eirika’s Side

Amelia-Eirika recruit convo:

Amelia: I’m a Grado soldier. I’m here to stop the princess of Renais…

Eirika: Huh? You’re with Grado?

Amelia: And you’re Princess Eirika? But the commander said Eirika’s a cruel and merciless fiend…

Eirika: What? No, I’m… …I don’t know what Grado’s officers have been telling you, but… Our two countries are at war, so I suppose they can say what they want.

Glen-Eirika’s convo:

Glen: I come here on the direct orders of the emperor. I’m to bring to justice the rebel army leader who’s been terrorizing Carcino. It’s you, Eirika. They say you’ve been murdering innocents.”

Eirika: What? Wait! What do you mean? I…

Glen: [...] I do not believe revenge could drive a woman like you to such depths. And yet… here you are in Carcino with a small army under your command. And the emperor tells us that you massacred everyone in Port Kiris.

Aias’ dialogue:

Aias (start of chapter): This Princess Eirika supposedly defeated General Glen.

Aias vs. Eirika:

Aias: Ah... So here you are. The princess Eirika. Eirika: Who? Aias: You're not at all what I had expected... I would test the arm that bested Glen.

Ephraim’s Side

Amelia-Ephraim recruit convo:

Amelia: Wha-what are you going to do to me?!

Ephraim: Calm down. As long as you don’t try to stab me, I won’t do a thing to harm you.

Amelia: You lie! You’re a liar! Everyone knows about Prince Ephraim of Renais. He’s a beast who attacks [襲いかかる, can also translate to “swoops down on” or “advances on”] any woman he sees…

Ephraim: …..Right, this has gone far enough. I am not going to hurt you. If you’re scared, throw down your weapon and run away. But…If you’re willing to listen, I’d like to ask for your help. You must realize this whole war is madness, right? Something is wrong in Grado.

Amelia-Franz recruit convo (Ephraim):

Amelia: I… B-but… I’ve heard Prince Ephraim takes female prisoners and uses them as palace slaves. If I surrender, will I be forced to work in the palace, too?

エフラム王子は敵国の女性をつかまえて無理やり後宮に入れてしまうって･･･ (I heard that Prince Ephraim forcibly takes women into his seraglio...) あたしが降伏したらエフラム王子に襲われたりしない？ (If I surrender, will I get assaulted too?”)

Rennac-Ephraim recruit convo:

Rennac: I-I thought so. You’re the one they call the Beast of Renais… I’ve heard tales of how you’ve looted and pillaged your way across the land…

If you accept Rennac’s offer:

Rennac: You..aren’t going to stab me once I’ve taken your money, are you? Once the fighting’s all done, you won’t burn me at the stake or anything? Ephraim: …What rumors are these people spreading about me?

If you decline Rennac’s offer:

Rennac: What? You’re lying now, aren’t you? Rumor has it you’ve stored away so much gold, you groan from its weigh…

The twins initially accept the malicious rumors spread about them as an indication that things are amiss in Grado, and as a natural part of war. On the other side, Gradoans who actually encounter them look at them for 2 seconds and realize “Wait, they’re nothing like the rumors.”

These blatant falsehoods make it hurt all the more when they (Ephraim especially) discover that Lyon is behind the war. At best, Lyon has no knowledge of the propaganda or tried to argue against it to no avail; more realistically he was complicit; at worst he actively contributed.

Eirika gains some relief in the belief that Lyon is the selfsame person and that he, in his own words, was “too weak” to stop this war. Even after she learns that he was actually consumed by the Demon King, she can at least attribute his actions to the Demon King’s manipulations.

There’s a touch of irony that the peaceful Eirika is accused of being a vengeful slaughterer ordering the massacre of civilians... when it turns out to be the once-peaceful Lyon doing it at the Demon King’s behest. Accentuated all the more when she very nearly falls to the same temptation Lyon did in her ending.

Also of interest is that the people who hear the falsehoods about her (Glen and Aias) pretty quickly go “Hmm... Things aren’t adding up here.” Amelia immediately sees from Eirika’s eyes that she hates this whole affair. Glen actually starts to believe the lie (or at least pretends to in order to draw out the truth), though Innes quickly sets things straight by calling him a dumbass. Meanwhile, Aias looks at Eirika and goes “She beat Glen? Big doubt.” (He gives the benefit of the doubt, at least.)

But then again, people who knew Lyon wrote off the rumors that Lyon was at the helm of the war, and look how that ended up. I once asserted that Eirika was probably next in line after Lyon in terms of “best royal to get possessed by Fomortiis”. The possibility she could’ve ended up the way the rumors spoke of is a very interesting train of thought indeed.

In Ephraim’s case, seeing that Lyon has been consumed by the Demon King fuels him with the excuse he wants to pin the malicious rumors on... only to have it pulled from underneath him when Lyon reveals himself to be the “real deal” and claims that the grandiose “Demon King possession” earlier was just an act. Not only that, it comes a chapter after Ephraim defended Lyon’s integrity and emphatically proclaimed that Lyon was not himself.

The rumors about Ephraim have severe implications. Not only do they make him out as a hedonistic molester, he is also labeled a pillager and looter -- despite making a point to avoid villages during his initial “campaign” into Grado as to not draw them into conflict. His eagerness to fight and hone his skills has been morphed into the visage of a man who craves senseless violence and kills for the sake of killing... not unlike a certain man named Valter, who already has some parallels to Ephraim.

So in Chapter 18, Ephraim’s reaction is disbelief. “Wha– Why?! Why would you say such a thing?!” Because in that moment, Lyon has claimed responsibility for every misfortune Ephraim has encountered: resurrecting Vigarde and using his corpse as a puppet to initiate the war, the death of his father and the ruin of his country, Selena’s meaningless death in defense of the crown, Orson’s betrayal and the resurrection of Monica’s corpse, and the slander about him.

Lyon has gone from a kind, caring, studious friend slightly lacking in self-confidence to a ruthless warmonger who has propagated complete slander about a person who he claimed was (and is) his friend... all while insisting he’s the same exact Lyon he’s always been.

Yeah, no, I don’t think so.

[sonitavalentine]

Sigh, is it just me or is that new volume cover for VKM looking EXACTLY like a yuri manga cover? Hino needs to either stop queerbaiting or just grow the balls needed to cross the line she keeps tiptoeing around and make RenAi canon. At this point she has already ruined their characters past redemption for me so that even if it was canon I would not be surprised. Funny thing is both girls look so much like Yuki it just looks like YukixYuki self-cest to me lmao.

No, anon, it’s not just you, I see exactly what you see haha. My problem is that I have controversial feelings about it.

Let’s face it, the cover is pretty. Very pretty. If there’s something Hino hasn’t failed in yet, it’s her art. Left aside her same-face syndrome (you noted it that both girls look too much like Yuuki), she’s a talented artist. This cover would be an asset for any yuri or shoujo ai manga - that’s how pretty/sexy/charming it looks.

But I still can’t settle with the idea of them getting together. It’s not that much about me having ew feelings because they’re siblings - I still ship Yume, but that this theme doesn’t add any layers to the story. Like, when we were first introduced to the incest aspect of VK, it was kind of fresh and made sense. Haruka and Juuri as a sibling romantic couple were presented to us the same time Kaname and Yuuki were, so they still fell into the category of fresh addition to the story. But Ai and Ren... what’s in it for VKM development? For their development? I don’t know. 

Sure it stil does look more like queerbaiting than confirmed wlw relationship, and if I have to choose I’d want Hino either go away from it or go full lesbian regime than this. However, Hino continues going this route and people are getting hooked up, and not choosing a side is just unfair of her, but oh well, we’re talking about Matsuri Hino - the girl isn’t fond of picking sides.

I have two biggest regrest about Renai at this moment. First is that if incest wasn’t introduced to us before in any form, their love would look fresh in the story and added drama to their characters and relationship. I mean, if Kaname, for example, wasn’t in any way related to Yuuki. Then both girls would be just two daughters of same mother but different fathers who accidentally fall in love with each other (daughters, not fathers lol)  and have to deal with that, struggling with their inner issues and coming to some conclusion at the end. But VK has another background, so not only it’s nothing new, but it’s also nothing necessary right now, because if Hino wanted to show us how much girls cherish each other, she should’ve done it through their sisterly love without romantic aspect.

And here’s my second biggest regret with Renai: they don’t give us this sibling bonding. I’ve said it some time ago, and I repeat it now: VK lacks healthy sibling relationship, one part of them are romantic (the Kurans), the other part is super unhealthy (Rido and his siblings, the Kiryuu twins). And Renai could’ve fixed that for us being that first example of not only being sisters that care for each other, but a very good example of a pureblood and a huntress who co-exist well in same household and are very close. Of course, all of this still can be and should be present in romantic relationship, but... we saw that in this manga. What we didn’t is healthy sibling bond on the basis of purely family feelings.

All that being said, I think that Renai could work great apart from VK background. Like, if it was a story about a pureblood princess and a huntress, which are from warring families, and they fall in love. Let’s say, some lesbian vampire Romeo & Juliet but with both girls knowing well what family each of them coming from and without tragic ending. Hell, I’d read that with pleasure! Give me that. But the VK origins are doing dirty them in my eyes, it erases everything that could be appealing for me in their relationship. In other words, just not my cup of tea because it doesn’t give me what I want from it.

It’s still a question if Renai become 100% canon without it being vaguely or openly hinted, of course, but huge hints are already there so it can’t be left unadderessed. If Hino goes full incest route, I will applaud her bravery but nothing else because it won’t change the rest for me. If she doesnt, well, we knew who we were dealing with. 

[sleepy-summoner]

dirsteh (summoner)/silas supports c-s

here are the dirlas summoner supports! they continue off of the FB conversations :^)

i’ve also had the a and s supports done for a while, but all the new summoner content inspired me to finish the others!

(this is also self-indulgent as hell but w/e)

C Support

S: Did you need me for something, Dirsteh?

D: Yeah! Remember how I said I was going to help you find your strengths? Well, that starts today! I was going to introduce you to the squad, and then we’re going out for a little training. While you guys get your exercise, it should give me a feel for how you are in combat. Does that sound good to you?

S: Uh, wow... Y-yeah, that sounds great.

D: ...Is something the matter?

S: No, not at all! I’m surprised you have a plan so quickly.

D: Hah! Well, I’ve done the same kinda thing with most of the Heroes here, so you could say I’ve had some practice.

D: Anyway, lemme introduce you to the crew. First, we have Ephraim! He’s the prince of Renais from the continent of Magvel.

E: Nice to meet you. *grins* Hope I can get a good sparring match out of you!

D: Eph, you just met the guy and you already want to fight him? *sighes and shakes head as Ephraim shrugs*

D: Next, this is Reinhardt! He’s a general of Friege from the continent of Jugdral. He’s equally skilled with magic and swords...but I asked him to use his sword today to add some balance to the team.

R: *nods curtly* A pleasure, Sir Silas.

D: And lastly, we have Gunnthrá, the eldest princess of Nifl. She’ll be supporting us with her really cool magic! (Heh, “cool”...)

G: *smiles gently* It is very nice to meet you, Sir Silas. I look forward to working together with you.

S: *bows* It is my honor to meet all of you. I’m very eager to work with you all, and I hope I can pull my weight.

D: *pats Silas on the back* Oh, you don’t have to worry about that! I’m sure you’ll do fine.

D: With that out of the way, let’s saddle up and head out!

—

D: So...how’d the first day go?

S: Really well! It’s interesting to see how people of other worlds fight compared to what I’ve learned as a knight of Nohr. I’m definitely learning a lot!

S: That Prince Ephraim though... He’s amazing! I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone take out so many people so quickly!

D: Yeah, Eph is pretty good! He’s one of the strongest we have in the Order, so I trust him to take care of a lot of things on the battlefield. I poked fun at him before, but I would definitely recommend that you take him up on his offer! You could absolutely learn a ton from sparring with him.

S: Will do. I’m excited to see how much I can improve from training with other Heroes!

D: I’m happy to hear that! As for me, from today’s training I think I’ve got a better idea of your abilities in combat. It might take me a bit longer to come up with a definite plan for you, but it shouldn’t take too long!

S: Sounds good to me. I can’t thank you enough for all your help, Dirsteh. At the very least, I promise to work my hardest to be a knight you can be proud to have in your service!

D: Oh, don’t sweat it too much! You’re doing a fine enough job as it is.

D: Anyway, good work today! I’ll call on you whenever I need you for some more training.

S: *salutes/bows* Of course.

[Dirsteh and Silas have reached support rank C.]

B Support

S: You wanted to see me, Dirsteh?

D: Oh! Hi Silas! Yes, I think I’ve figured out your role for this army!

S: Is that right? Well, lay it on me.

D: So I had a hunch the first few times we went out training and even back when went looking for tea leaves with Alfonse. I talked with the others and they pretty much confirmed my suspicions. Eph tells me that in your spars with him that while you may not exactly match him in physical strength, he has a hard time getting past your defenses. Rein and Gunn also note that you’re very protective, often taking hits meant for them. On the other hand, you seem to struggle with defending against magic-users and dragons, but I do have a few ideas on how we could improve on that.

D: In all, I think you could work really well as a protector to pull others out of danger, and maybe even draw out enemies with your good defensive capabilities!

D: ...Phew, that was a lot. So, what do you think?

S: *mouth agape* ...

D: Oh God, I broke Silas. Are you OK? I’m so sorry, I dumped all of that on you so quickly...

S: I’m fine! It’s just...you figured out all of that in such a short period of time? You’re incredible, Dirsteh, you know that?

D: *blushes* Oh! Well... *looks away bashfully* Like I said, I’ve done this before, so it’s nothing too special, but thank you...

D: You’re the one who’s been working so diligently this whole time, though! So if there’s anyone who’s incredible, it’s you.

S: Y-you really think so?

D: *smiles brightly* Yes! Ever since you were summoned, you’ve been one of the hardest workers in the Order of Heroes. I’m super proud of how far you’ve come.

S: *blushes and rubs back of neck* Goodness...that really means a lot coming from you. Thank you.

D: Of course! Also...there is something else. I’ve also...uh, been thinking of rewarding you for all your hard work.

S: A reward?

D: Yep! Anything you want from me! Like a new weapon or whatever, or anything you want to do.

S: Well... *ponders for a few seconds* How about we go on a picnic together? I’d love to see the scenery around Askr outside the context of a battlefield.

D: Huh? A picnic?

S: Is something wrong? I can try to think of something else if you want.

D: No, you’re fine! I just didn’t expect that as your answer. A picnic sounds great, actually! Next time I’m free, we can go. *grins* I call bringing dessert!

S: Haha, of course! Whatever you want to make.

D: *claps hands excitedly* It’s a da—uh, I mean... We have plans, then! This is going to be so much fun—I can’t wait!

[Dirsteh and Silas have reached support rank B.]

A Support

S: Dirsteh, you didn’t tell me you were a baker! These are amazing!

D: Oh! Well, thank you! I used to bake a lot for my family back in my world. But lately I haven’t had the time to bake, so I’m glad I haven’t lost my touch.

D: You’re a pretty good cook yourself! The food you made was delicious!

S: Really? *rubs back of neck sheepishly* Ah, well... I don’t consider myself a great chef by any means, but I’m happy you enjoyed it.

D: Maybe a little too much... *sprawls out on the blanket and groans* Ugh, I think I ate so much, I might get the itis.

S: *also lays down and faces Dirsteh* “Itis”? What’s that?

D: Oh, it’s a term from my world. It’s just that sleepy feeling you get after eating a big meal.

S: I see...

S: ...

S: Dirsteh, I’m curious. What’s your world like?

D: My world? Hmm... Where do I even start?

D: Well, first off, it’s way more advanced than Askr. Like...hundreds of years more advanced.

S: H-hundreds of years?

D: Yep! We have buildings that can be over a hundred floors tall, metal cars we can drive without the help of animals, water that flows with the turn of a knob...

S: Whoa... That sounds amazing!

D: Yeah, it’s pretty convenient! I definitely took it for granted before I was summoned to this world. Honestly, thinking about it now, I still miss some of that stuff from my world.

S: Oh. I’m sorry. It really must have been hard for you to adjust.

D: *waves hand dismissively* It’s OK. It was difficult at first, but I think I’ve gotten used to it for the most part.

D: Though...the thing that was the hardest for me to get used to was being constantly at war.

S: Are there no wars in your world?

D: There are, but they either happened in the past or they’re far away from where I live. I’ve only really known peace, so suddenly being summoned and thrust in the middle of a war was...a challenge for me, to say the least. I was just a nobody studying medicine, and now I command an entire army! All this responsibility stresses the hell out of me, and sometimes I still feel out of place here!

D: ...Oh! Sorry, you just wanted to hear about my world and I started venting...

S: No, no, it’s OK! I had no idea you were under this much stress...

D: Yeah, well... As the Order of Heroes’ tactician, I feel like I should be this confident, level-headed leader, so I try my best to hide it. I don’t really want anybody to worry themselves over me.

S: Dirsteh... Everybody here cares about you and your wellbeing, myself included. You may be our tactician, but you’re also a person. You shouldn’t feel like you have to bottle up your real feelings to be a strong leader.

S: In fact, if I may... I think you’re the strongest of us all. We come from worlds that are similar to this one, so there’s not too much that we had to adjust to. But you... You had to adjust the most out of all of us, and I think you’ve done an amazing job. You’ve led the Order to so many victories, you’ve saved entire kingdoms from ruin, and you’ve helped a lot of people here, even someone like me. So please don’t feel like you aren’t already a good leader.

D: *wipes corners of eyes and nods* ...Yeah, I guess you’re right. Thank you for that.

D: Heh... This is kinda a reversal from before, huh? It’s almost like the pep talk I gave you when we were looking for those tea leaves.

S: Speaking of, do you remember what I said around that time? I said that I wanted us to be the kind of friends that can talk about anything.

S: Now, would you consider us friends?

D: Wha... You’re so silly, Silas. Of course I do!

S: *holds up hands defensively* Just wanted to make sure! Anyways, I meant what I said. If you ever have any worries, feel free to vent them to me. Or if you ever need advice, ask, and I’ll do whatever I can to help.

D: That’s so sweet of you! But I can’t let you shoulder all of the burden! So the same goes for me.

S: Haha, of course. Now...is there anything else you wanted to talk about?

D: Hmm... Oh yeah! So my family...

[Dirsteh and Silas have reached support rank A.]

S Support

S: *sigh*

D: (Oh, there’s Silas. Though he seems a little worked up... I should make sure he’s all right before we head out.)

S: ...

D: Hey Silas!

S: GAAAH!

D: Oh gosh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you.

S: I-it’s OK, Dirsteh. What did you need?

D: I was just going to let you know that we’re about to head out in a little bit for a mission from Commander Anna. I’ve already let the others in the team know, so they should be at the stables getting ready right now. Though...are you OK? You seem a little jumpy.

S: Y-yes, I’m fine. I was just lost in my thoughts, that’s all.

D: You sure?

S: *wordlessly nods*

D: Um...OK. Well, lemme just walk you to the stables and I’ll explain our mission along the way.

—

D: ...Anyway, it’s just a simple scouting mission. Nothing too hard, I think.

S: Right...

D: Well, I’ll leave you to prepare. Meet me at the castle gate when all four of you are ready!

[Dirsteh leaves. Silas stares at her as she departs.]

S: *sigh*

G: So have you told her yet?

S: O-oh! Hello, Princess Gunnthrá. W-what do you mean?

G: Heehee, don’t pretend you don’t know what I am talking about.

S: ...Is it really that obvious?

G: Quite.

S: *sigh* Typical of me to fall in love at first sight and take weeks to realize it. Though I worry that she doesn’t have the same feelings for me...

G: You realize that she is not obligated to reciprocate, correct?

S: Of course she isn’t! If things don’t work out, I at least want us to stay friends. I’m just worried that it’ll make things awkward between us.

G: *smiles knowingly* ...Well, I would not fret too much over it.

S: Why do you say that?

G: Perhaps just as obvious as your feelings is her favoring of you. I believe it would be worth it to at least let your feelings out. It will be much better than letting those worries fester within you and cause even more problems.

S: ...Yeah, I think you’re right. How should I do it, then?

G: I think something private would be a good start.

S: Hmm... We did go on a picnic a little while back. It was pretty secluded and we talked a lot... I think I could ask her on another picnic and tell her my feelings there.

G: It seems you have a plan, then.

S: *sigh* I feel so much better about this. Thank you so much for talking this out with me, Princess Gunnthrá!

G: *smiles gently* It is my pleasure, Sir Silas. Remember that we’ll be here to support you.

—

D: Thanks again for inviting me out on another picnic! It’s nice to wind down a bit especially with all the crazy stuff going on right now.

D: Though you didn’t have to make everything by yourself, you know! I could have taken some of it off your hands.

S: It's all right! I figured you already had enough to worry about. Anything to make your life even a bit easier.

D: That's so sweet. Thank you.

S: Of course.

[The two sit in silence. The air is so thick that a blade could cut through it.]

S: ...Say, Dirsteh. Do you remember the first time we met?

D: Hmm... Oh yeah! You were with Princess Laegjarn when we stormed the temple to stop Surtr from performing the Rite of Flames. I wandered too close to the front lines, and you almost skewered me but Grima knocked you flat.

S: *grimaces* ...That sounds about right.

D: ...But before that you stopped yourself. Why? You had the perfect opportunity to take out the enemy tactician.

S: Well... As I was charging, I caught a glimpse of your face under your hood. And...you looked like Corrin.

D: What? Last I checked I didn't have silver hair or red eyes.

S: No, the Corrin from my world. She doesn't look like any of the Corrins you've summoned to Askr. She looks more like you.

D: Huh, that’s strange. But with so many worlds and timelines I suppose anything is possible.

S: *nods* In the end, I just couldn't bring myself to hurt someone who looked like my best friend.

D: Hmm... Interesting. So I guess that's also why you seem a bit awkward hanging around the Corrins here.

S: ...Y-yes, that too. I think it also made me want to get to know you better and become friends. I hadn't seen Corrin in years, and I thought it would be the closest thing to meeting her again. I’ll admit, I might have been...projecting a little.

D: I'll say! But still... I'm really grateful for our friendship.

S: Me too. Which is why I hope the next thing I say won't ruin it.

D: ...What do you mean?

S: Dirsteh, I...

[Silas takes a deep breath and takes one of Dirsteh's hands into his own.]

S: At first, I was drawn to you because you looked so much like my friend. But...the more I got to know you, the more I saw how kind and compassionate you are. You care so much about everyone in this army, even someone as plain as me. When we’re together, my heart feels like it’s going to beat out of my chest, and when we’re apart, my mind only thinks about you. That’s why I...

D: ...

S: I think I'm in love with you.

D: What?! Y-you're...

[Blushing, Dirsteh falls silent and looks downward. After a while, Silas speaks.]

S: *gently* Dirsteh? It's all right if you don't feel the same. I know someone like you is way out of my league. I just wanted to get my feelings out before they started eating away at me.

D: N-no, it's not that. It's just... Are you sure this is how you really feel? This isn't the summoning contract speaking for you, right?

S: *nods earnestly* Yes, I’m sure. I've been in love with you since I first saw you, before you properly summoned me.

D: I-I see.

[Dirsteh absentmindedly rubs Silas's hand with her thumb.]

D: Sorry about that. I just, um...have a difficult time believing that anyone would actually be in love with me. In my world, when you look like me, you don't exactly have people lining up to date you. Even when I was younger, some people treated going out with me as a joke.

S: Dirsteh... I'm sorry you had to go through that.

D: *shakes head* It's OK. Over time, I kind of gave up on romance and just focused on my studies. I still would have crushes, but...I never acted on them because I thought that there was no way they would like me back.

D: But you... You said you love me?

D: Because I...I'm in love with you too.

S: Y-you are?

D: *nods* Ever since we went with Alfonse and the others to find those tea leaves. You were so sweet and earnest, I think I just...fell in love. You're also pretty cute, so that helped a bit. [Dirsteh laughs lightly as Silas blushes.] But you seemed so determined to be friends that I didn't want my feelings to get in the way of that.

S: Really? I was the same way. I knew I was projecting and I felt so guilty about my desire for something more.

D: I’m just glad you confessed when you did because it’s been eating away at me too.

S: *laughs incredulously* Well, how do you like that... Does this mean we can be a couple?

D: Heehee, you're so silly, Silas. Do you even have to ask?

[The two laugh as they embrace each other.]

[Dirsteh and Silas have reached support rank S.]

Confession Quote:

"To the Order of Heroes, you are the Summoner, wielder of the Breidablik and our revered tactician. But to me, you're so much more. I love you, and I am honored to be your partner in this life. On my honor, I promise to stay by your side for as long as you will have me."

[sleeeeepytea]

Could I get hcs of going on a date with linde and Eirika

[rubs hands together] sure thing anon!! both girls... deserve so much love ♡♡ enjoy!

(fun and useless fact: linde was the first 5 star I ever pulled in feh!!)

--

Linde

date plans between the two of you are frequent, but simple. Linde is quite happy doing whatever as long as it means she can spend time with you.

with that being said, markets are a no-go! Linde isn't too keen on being in crowds, even with you. she feels guilty about this, but you assure her that it's okay with a quick peck on the nose.

Linde's favourite kind of dates are the ones in quaint little cafés! you always make sure to take her to as many as you can find.

gift-giving seems to be a habit between the two of you on dates, you presenting jewellery you find on your travels and Linde giving you sweet bouquets.

"This... this is for me, y/n? Are you sure? Thank you... my gifts may not be as exquisite as yours, but I hope you enjoy them. I love you."

Eirika

Eirika likes to surprise you with dates! plans are thrown out of the window and the princess will take you wherever she deems fit.

rarely will the two of you stay around the castle; Eirika prefers to traverse Renais and go to varying places.

however! she does like having a nice break with you in the royal garden. it's tranquil there and Eirika always seems to find a way to place a flower or two in your hair.

after your dates, which can end in the middle of the day or at the very start of midnight depending on where the two of you have been, you snuggle into each other in front of a fireplace. Your head find itself resting on her shoulder as she sits in your lap reading her latest book, moving to pepper your jawline with kisses every now and again.

"Nothing calms me more than reading with you, my sweet. Will you allow me to stay by your side forever y/n?"

[scarletlotus182]

eirika, mila (whichever), wa2000 but you can't otp her with the commander

hoo boy this’ll be a long one~ 

Eirika-

Favorite Thing About Them: I really fucking love Eirika’s whole arc, I love that she’s this really kind-hearted and charismatic princess who’s the textbook definition of femininity, but also when she realizes the lives of her friends, family, and all the citizens of Renais, are on the line, she absolutely pushes back and suddenly she’s this fierce and unstoppable warrior princess and it’s fucking amazing. My girl Eirika looked Glenn, one of the mightiest warriors of Grado, in the eye and basically said, “look man, I don’t want to fight you, but if you leave us no choice I’ll send you crying back to your emperor”.

Least Favorite Thing About Them: Fandom interpretation of her and basically how IntSys actively tries to erase her role as a protagonist of the game.

Favorite Line: 

“I… We, the people of Renais, have long honored our allegiance with the Grado Empire. And you invaded without warning. You ravaged our land. You killed my father… Even then, I told myself, I must not hate Grado or her people. If I gave in to my hate, the bond between our lands would be lost forever. I refused to hate. Instead, I lived for the day our nations would know peace again. But… If this is Grado’s true face… If you could extinguish Renais without pity, without remorse… If this is the case, then there is no room in my heart for forgiveness.”

brOTP: Eirika&Tana! I never really liked them as a romantic pairing but I do love the friendship they have and how much they care about each other. I also 100% believe they would wingman for each other while looking for GFs

OTP: Self and crack shipping aside, I got two- Eirika x L’arachel is basically canon and also like, the best dynamic Eirika has in SS. Their A support is basically a marriage proposal and then there’s the scene in Rausten where in Eirika’s at her lowest point in the story and it’s L’arachel who’s there to pick her up. They’re really sweet, and really gay. 

The other pairing would be Eirika and Lyon. They have an adorable dynamic and idc what anyone says, Eirika definitely returned his feelings, Lyon just never had the self-esteem to spit it out. I definitely live for fics/content of them where Lyon can assert himself a bit.

nOTP: Literally everyone of her male supports. They range from gross to sexist to really boring. The only guy on that list that’s good is Forde and that support is like, entirely platonic imo. 

Random Headcanon: Eirika definitely gives off like, Alpha WLW vibes and has girls swooning over her across MagVel and none of it is intentional on her part/she doesn’t realize it’s happening. 

Unpopular Opinion: She is absolutely a better written and more interesting protagonist than Ephraim. 

Song I associate with them: Aside from a track within her own game, I don’t think I ever really had an ‘Eirika’ song? If I dig through what I’ve been listening to lately though I could sorta slap this one on her 

Favorite Picture of them:

Fractured Milla (’cause she needs more love)-

Favorite Thing About Them: I liked her difference in personality compared to regular Milla, I liked how she was a lot more outspoken aggressive. Xillia 2 definitely felt like it picked up a lot more once she joined the party. 

Least Favorite Thing About Them: I was really disappointed with how early she left the party and the fact that she didn’t have any mystic artes : /

Really she just felt very underutilized 

Favorite Line: ”I knew I wouldn’t like you”

brOTP: F.Milla&Elle! Their relationship is so good and wholesome in ToX2 and oH MY GOD IT BREAKS MY HEART SO MUCH, PLEASE PLAY XILLIA 2

OTP: F.Milla/Ludger- I mean, they were kinda written for each other, but still, the moments they share are really good, Milla wants to trust and like him but can’t let go of her grudge but they’re still brought together by wanting to protect Elle at all costs.

nOTP: F.Milla/Jude- Jude’s got his own Milla, and that’s really all there is to say on the matter lol

Random Headcanon: She absolutely hates the outfits Prime Milla wears and doesn’t care how many times she’s told Elle and Ludger that day about it

Unpopular Opinion: Idk if I really have any on this character, but I think she was the more interesting Milla tbh

I super don’t have a song or favorite pic but here’s more official art:

WA2000-

Favorite thing about them: her smile Her designs are always really fucking cool and absolutely gorgeous. And then personality wise I love that she’s just like- if Asuka Langley Soryu/Rin Tohsaka was a YorHa android

Least Favorite thing about them: I was gonna make a joke about how there’s nothing I could say here but then I thought about it and realized the reason there’s not much I can say is because she hasn’t been featured in a whole lot of story, but that’s more a weakness of GFL than her character. For as well written as the characters and the story are here, no dolls really get enough focus outside of AntiRain/404/DEFY

Favorite Line: ”I, of all people, am giving you my gratitude. So you better accept it from the bottom of your heart. “

brOTP: WA2000&Springfield- I feel like Springfield is just trying to be a good wingman for Wa2k and it’s really cute and nice

OTP: Since I’m banned from self-shipping here, I’ll go with the equally self-satisfying answer and say Wa2k/M16 where M16 comes in and sweeps her off her feet and Wa2k can’t handle it in the slightest. 

I also feel like there’s a decent case for Wa2k/Jill, where Wa2k saved Jill and when Jill tries to give thanks, Wa2k gets really flustered and tries to play it off like it was no big deal

nOTP: I don’t think I have one? I haven’t really seen a bad Wa2k ship

Random Headcanon: Wa2k is the subbiest sub/biggest gay disaster to ever be created in an IOP lab. When asked why anyone would make a helplessly gay combat android, Persica simply laughed before promptly removing the press from her office.

Unpopular Opinion: Apparently this is unpopular in some circles but I really do think that Wa2k is the beginner friendly SSR in the game and can work well in literally any team comp. 

Song I associate with them: Hhhhhhhh

I also feel like she’d be into Halsey

Favorite picture of them: 

[four-loose-screws]

FE8 Novelization Translation - Chapter 17, 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 17 - The Demon King's Shadow (con’t)

Frelia's pegasus knight unit was continuing to desperately defend against an overwhelmingly large enemy army.

Their entire unit had already been nearly wiped out, and the remaining soldiers were putting all of their strength into defending the bridges. If they fell here, then the enemy could invade in one fell swoop, and the people of Narube would likely be massacred without resistance.

"Those who can move, take the citizens south!" Syrene, the leader of the pegasus knight unit, shouted as loudly as she could while swinging around her lance and fending off the enemy's onslaughts.

However, she hardly had any knights left that could follow that order. Even if the knights managed to get the children atop the pegasi, their wings were damaged, and they couldn’t fly. Even the citizens who had panicked and cried at first had already lost the energy to do that any longer, and exhaustedly slipped into utter silence.

They’d made a major miscalculation. The Grado Army had lost the capital, yet still had a large number of soldiers left.

If the knights thought only about themselves, then they had the possibility to take advantage of their pegasi’s mobility and retreat, but they couldn’t abandon the people of Narube just to escape.

“We’re at our limit, Lady Syrene! We’ll buy you some time! Please do whatever it takes to get out of here!” A knight wearing armor covered in blood yelled at her.

But Syrene shook her head.

She had no intention of running away until the very end. The bodies of the Frelian soldiers who’d exhausted all of their strength lay around her. She was ready to die here in battle herself as well.

Her only regret was that she couldn’t live up to Prince Innes’ hopes for her. She remembered the day that she’d officially become the leader of the pegasus knights as if it was yesterday. The prince had personally given her a beautiful whip and said that the pegasus knight unit was the pride and joy of Frelia, and he wanted them to fight for their homeland so long as they drew breath.

His words filled her chest with deep emotions. She swore to herself that she would devote herself to Frelia… and Prince Innes and Princess Tana.

The plan was to unite her forces with the prince’s at Narube River and fight together at full strength under his orders. However, before that could happen, she would probably see her end. Regret burned in her heart.

Her younger sister was together with the prince. That was her only consolation. If her sister could protect the prince when she couldn’t… then that was all she could ask for.

“Lady Syrene, that’s…!” One of the knights shouted.

Was it more enemy reinforcements? Just how much leftover strength could the Grado Army have at this point? 

The moment Syrene was about to succumb to her despair, she looked at where her soldier was pointing, and instinctively breathed a sigh of belief.

A large army was nearing from the south. They were still a considerable distance away, so she couldn't clearly make out who they were, but the color of their armor was different from that of the Grado Army.

"Is that… the Renais Army…?" The moment Syrene whispered, a single pegasus knight appeared from the oncoming crowd, and flew straight in her direction. 

Syrene knew who it was before her eyes could even confirm the rider’s face, as she could distinguish the slight but distinct strong wing movements and neck shaking of individual pegasi.

She smiled without even thinking about it, and felt a weight be lifted off her shoulders that had been with her since the beginning of the war.

“Commander Syrene, are you alright?!” The knight riding the pegasus shouted, and swiftly threw a javelin at a Grado soldier coming at her while avoiding his own attack.

She effortlessly hit her target, showing her strength. ‘She’s gotten so much stronger in such a short amount of time.’ Syrene thought.

“Vanessa, you’re here! Meaning…”

“Yes, Prince Innes and Princess Tana are with me! They are safe as well!”

“Thank goodness…” Relief warmed her heart. 

Vanessa continued in a commanding tone, “Please stand down, Commander! We’ll take it from here.”

“No, I...”

‘...am not severely injured,’ she started to say, but thought twice about it.

Both her and her unit were already at the limits of their stamina. Even if she continued to be stubborn and fight on the front line, she would do the exact opposite of help, and get in her allies’ way. It was wiser for her to retreat for the moment, recuperate, and then pick up her weapon again.

“Understood! I will stand down for now, and let your commander take over from here. Please tell them I said so.”

“Yes Ma’am!”

“And Vanessa.”

Vanessa tried to guide her pegasus higher into the sky, but Syrene called out to her again.

Vanessa turned back around and no longer had her previous tense expression on her face, perhaps because she had finally relaxed. 

Syrene responded in a casual tone, “It looks like you’ve been playing a very big role as a soldier of Princess Eirika’s guard. I was really worried when I heard that you’d been betrayed in Carcino, but… I finally feel at ease.”

“Thank you Ma’am…!”

"Your spearmanship has improved greatly since we parted as well. And you've become a bit more beautiful too."

Vanessa’s eyes widened at suddenly being teased, and her cheeks turned red. “S-Sister…!”

No matter how good their relationship was as sisters, on the battlefield, they were commander and subordinate. To Vanessa, who was so serious it made her formal and strict, keeping that distinction was of vital importance. But right now, even she had forgotten herself.

Syrene laughed out loud and guided her pegasus to softly spread her wings.

Her pegasus had taken an enemy attack, which seriously injured her wing. She wanted her beloved pegasus to be healed as quickly as possible. To a pegasus knight, her pegasus was more than just a simple mount. They were invaluable partners whose fates were linked to each other.

“I’ll see you again later, Vanessa.” Syrene parted ways with her sister for the time being, and her pegasus flew off, leading her exhausted unit.

The Renais Army had crossed the bridge and was coming closer. Syrene stopped her pegasus and landed on the ground.

Everyone was injured and bleeding. Their uniforms had been beautiful and stunning when they left home, but now, they looked like they never could have been such dazzling garments. However, each and every one of their faces were lit up like the sun.

Syrene knelt down on one knee before Eirika and bowed her head. “Reporting, Princess Eirika of Renais! The Frelian Army was surprise attacked by the Grado Army, and we regrettably lost most of our soldiers. But only a few of the people of Narube have been killed since the beginning of the attack, and the rest are safe.”

“Good work. All of you please take whatever time you need to recuperate.” 

Eirika’s voice was soft and kind. Just her words alone healed Syrene of her exhaustion.

“Are you alright, Syrene?”

She recognized Prince Innes’ voice, and looked up.

He was standing next to Eirika. Among his dirt-covered army, he stood out as the one refined person. He of course should be tired since he had traveled on a long journey together with the soldiers, but he didn’t show it in the slightest. His clothing looked as if a tailor had just dressed him.

“Lord Innes… I am sorry. The Frelian Army is unable to merge with Renais’ Army. We’ve suffered too much damage, and…”

"Never mind that. None of you have anything you need to worry about. We’ll take it from here.”

His words were reassuring. ‘It appears that Vanessa is not the only one who’s grown up while we were apart.’ She felt that Prince Innes had also become even stronger since the last time they’d seen each other.

‘Perhaps…’ Syrene thought. ‘Vanessa has become more beautiful because of Prince Innes?’ It was difficult for her to imagine Vanessa falling in love with any ordinary man. If he wasn’t a partner that she could respect with all of her heart, then he likely wouldn’t be able to steal it. And If there was any man that Vanessa could respect, it was of course...

“Syrene, do you know any information about the enemy commander?”

Innes asked her in a harsh tone.

Syrene shook her head. “There is a fort on the other side of the river. The enemy commander is using it as a base. I heard that it appears to be Prince Lyon leading the army. I have not been able to confirm that myself, but that is what my subordinates reported.”

“Hmm… Do you know anything about Prince Lyon? ...No wait, nevermind.” In a move that was entirely unlike him, Innes hesitated and changed his words. “Asking won’t change anything. For now, Syrene, please get healed, and return quickly to the battlefront. We still need your power.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

He seemed worried about Prince Lyon for some reason, but knowing that she and her soldiers were living up to the prince’s expectations made Syrene happy. The pegasus knights had survived their long, grueling fight, retreated for the time being, and were healed by Natasha and the other healers.

“Leave the front line to us. We’ll defend the northern bridge.” Ephraim said and charged his horse straight north. 

His loyal knights Forde and Kyle led his other soldiers and followed after him.

Eirika went with Seth and the others to save the citizens. The group totaled a few dozen men and women huddling together and shaking. Eirika talked to each of them individually to encourage them, helped the injured atop her horse, and led them to a safe place.

Eirika worked as hard as she could, trying not to think about anything she did not need to. But every so often, she would remember that wicked voice. Whenever she thought about Lyon and the pain the Demon King had caused him, she couldn’t stand the feeling she felt. 

‘I ate his heart.’ Or so the Demon King said. If she accepted his words literally, then Lyon’s heart was already gone, and his body entirely controlled by the Demon King. She did not want to believe that such a terrifying thing could be reality.

It had been for only just a moment, but she'd heard Lyon scream. “Run away…” He’d pleaded with all his might. “I’ll destroy you…” There was no way that could have been the Demon King’s voice.

Lyon’s heart had yet to be completely consumed. He'd nearly suppressed the Demon King’s consciousness, and was continuing to just barely manage to fight. He was struggling as hard as he could to remain in control. And that was why they had to press forward. They had to defeat the Demon King and restore his heart.

But on the other hand of that thought, the Demon King's last words weighed heavily on her heart. Ephraim told her not to worry about them, yet she couldn't help but think about them.

Kill Prince Ephraim, and claim Princess Eirika. The Demon King said that was Lyon's desire. A kind man like Lyon shouldn't have such a twisted and ambitious desire… or so she wanted to think, but her heart was no longer sure.

As Lyon was a sickly person, Ephraim had always been the object of his admiration. In situations like when Ephraim was praised by Duessel, or he won a match against a senior knight, Lyon would cheerfully say "You really are amazing, Ephraim!" Those were words of wonder and amazement.

At the time, Eirika didn't think much of it, and just took his words at face value. ...There hadn’t been any warped feelings hiding underneath that adoration, right? He thought Ephraim was amazing… and wanted to be Ephraim… but he couldn’t. Those feelings of inferiority hadn’t turned into jealousy, had they?

“Lady Eirika, we have finished leading the people to safety.” Seth reported.

The pegasus knights had also finished receiving their treatment, and were awaiting Eirika’s orders. Now was not the time to be guessing what was within Lyon’s heart. She had orders to give as her army’s commander.

“Let’s go! We will take the fort across the river and capture Prince Lyon!” Eirika hesitated for a moment, then added, “You must not kill him! We still have a lot of questions for him.”

Syrene and her pegasus knights immediately accepted the order and all flew up into the sky at once. The pegasi had all been healed alongside their riders, and their energy was restored. They flapped their white wings at full strength.

Seth looked up at the pegasus knights and said, “Lady Eirika, I understand how you feel, but Prince Lyon is already…”

“...I know.” She cut off the rest of his sentence, not wanting to hear it.

He looked straight at her. "Our enemy introduced himself as the Demon King. We still do not know whether he truly is or not, but if he is, then this is very serious. Even if we fight him at full strength, we still might not win.”

“...You're right.”

“It’s a shame that his heart is in chaos on the outside, but…”

“I know. I’ll be fine, Seth. I’m prepared to fight him.” Eirika nodded with conviction.

She couldn’t make Seth worry, and so she spoke those words to him immediately. In truth, she still didn’t know. Would she be able to turn her sword against him?

Eirika maneuvered her horse to the front line, where Ephraim's group was fighting. She shook off her hesitation and gradually picked up speed.

A harsh battle was unfolding on the northern bridge. Grado dragon knights attacked from the sky, making the fight difficult for Ephraim and his soldiers, but the pegasus knight unit rushed to their side, and started to change their situation bit by bit.

Pegasi were of a smaller build than dragons, but were utterly fearless. They flew bravely at the enemies' chests, and threw them into confusion. Once the dragon unit's movements had broken out into a panic, Innes and Neimi shot arrows straight at them. The arrows flew through the dragon's wings. Their cries pierced the sky, and their riders lost their balance and fell into the river.

Once Eirika's army finally captured the bridge, they used that momentum to continue moving east. They could now see the fort the enemy was using as their base.

"He's in there, right?!" Ephraim asked when Eirika rode up next to him.

Eirika noticed that her brother refused to refer to Lyon by name.

Perhaps Ephraim felt just as lost as Eirika, and that was why he was purposely avoiding referring to Lyon by name. If he said it aloud, it might dull his resolve to fight, no matter what else he did.

The enemy was waiting for them outside of the fort. Eirika's army shifted into a fan formation and surrounded the Demon King.

He had a cruel smile on his face, and waited calmly for them. He no longer seemed to have any interest in pretending to be human. His facial features were clearly Lyon's, but his expressions did not feel human at all.

'That's not Lyon… such a wicked, cold stare could never be Lyon's.' Eirika told herself. But she still could not rid herself of her hesitation, rather, she tried to find if Lyon was left anywhere in his face.

"...So you intend to challenge me?" The Demon King asked. 

The chilling sound of his voice made Eirika's horse tremble so hard she could not calm her.

"You are all so lucky to not yet know my true terror…”

"Get out of Lyon's body!!" Ephraim roared.

Eirika jumped. His voice was filled with an intense anger that she had never once heard come from him in her entire life.

Ephraim did not fear the Demon King, although perhaps it was more accurate to say that he was so infuriated by someone hurting Lyon that he forgot how afraid he was. 

Ephraim's powerful voice boosted the morale of Eirika's army, but the Demon King met Ephraim's anger by laughing at him.

"It's not healthy to make your blood boil, prince of Renais. Don't you get it? Prince Lyon and everything about him is no more. I ate him. This body is no longer his.”

"Damn you…!" Ephraim raised his lance, and his soldiers each readied their own weapons. The archers and mages behind them also prepared themselves to support them.

But the Demon King’s spell was faster. Its waves rippled through the air, and a split second after, a horse collapsed.

Eirika looked over at them and felt fear send a chill down her spine. The neck of the fallen horse was turning in unnatural directions as if a huge, invisible hand was twisting it.

“Nosferatu…?!” Lute gasped. As someone so confident, it was entirely unlike her, but even she was panicking. “Please be careful! That is an extremely powerful dark magic. If you take a direct hit, then…!”

The army’s movements fell into chaos. The terrified horses burst out into a full gallop and tried to shake off their riders. Only Seth, Forde, and a few others managed to keep control of their horses, while the other knights all clung desperately to their horses’ necks.

The Demon King cast another spell. Another horse fell down. 

The army was in a panic trying to rush outside of the spell’s range, but among them, Eirika was doing the opposite, and pushing ahead. 

Seth and Ephraim noticed her and rushed over to her, flustered. They stood behind her, ready to protect her, as she faced the Demon King.

His expression changed, sharp eyes narrowing in satisfaction.

Eirika tightened her grip around her horse's reins. Her horse stopped shaking, the strength of her resolve seeming to communicate with her mount.

"Can you hear me, Lyon?" Eirika said and stared straight into the Demon King's eyes. 

"It's useless!!" Ephraim shouted and tried to stop her, but she paid him no mind and continued.

"You're in there, aren't you, Lyon? Please do not abandon hope. We will defeat the Demon King and save you… so please, don't give in…"

The Demon King's expression shook ever so slightly. He furrowed his brow and glared at Eirika. "Pitiful girl… You still believe that there is any of Lyon's heart within this body? How fascinating. Then come here. I will tear you apart limb from limb with these very hands…"

"Get away from him, Eirika!" Ephraim shouted and kicked his horse's side. Seth followed after him a second later.

Ephraim thrust his lance with a sharp battle cry. The Demon King narrowly dodged a fatal blow, but blood sprayed out from his shoulder. Seth followed up without a moment's delay, thrusting his own lance. 

The Demon King flailed his arm around wildly, but there was no power in his movements.

"Support Ephraim! Archers, step forward!" Innes ordered, and swiftly shot an arrow of his own. 

His silver arrow pierced deep into the Demon King's chest.

'Stop!' Eirika tried to scream. 'If you kill him, then Lyon's heart will die, too!!'

The Demon King staggered, but his eyes did not lose the intensity within them. "This little is too much…? The human body is so frail." He muttered in annoyance and pulled the arrow out of his chest. Blood flowed from the wound. 

He glared at Eirika with eyes burning like a blazing fire. "I have learned the extent of your power. In this case… I will hasten my resurrection. I will abandon this frail body and return to my true flesh. That is the day when this continent will once again be shrouded in darkness. There is no longer a single place any of you can run to!” He said in a tone not unlike that of one giving a curse, and disappeared.

Ephraim yelled at him, “You’re running away?! Do you really think I’ll let you desecrate Lyon’s body ever again…?!”

Ephraim ordered the soldiers to search the area and turned back towards Eirika. “Are you alright, Eirika?”

“Yes…”

"Don't do anything reckless. You know he's not Lyon. The Lyon we were friends with is already…"

"Brother, I want to believe him. The Demon King says what he does, but Lyon's heart is still alive… he's suffering and waiting for us to save him. I can feel it." Ephraim furrowed his brow. His blue eyes clouded over with hesitation.

He was still suffering, too. Just like she was.

He sighed deeply. "...I understand. Right now, finding him comes first. Eirika, you rest for a bit."

"No, I'm going to search too…"

"Your face is terribly pale. You've pushed yourself past your limit. L'Arachel, could you please take care of her?"

L'Arachel was standing near him, so he called her over. 

Eirika went into a tent with L'Arachel, deciding that she would take a short rest.

ー