#maybe pelleas will return....

[optimismxmagicism]

The number of people who are sent to trick-or-treat begins to dwindle, and so over the course of the round, it feels inevitable that the two might cross paths again. However, when Pelleas takes notice of his fellow mage, that's a marked difference that has him hesitating at first.

“ Ewan? ”  he calls out, uncertain. When the other turns, everything appears to return to as he might expect it to, but it is in that that makes him continue to pause.

At last, he asks,  “ If I am wrong and simply imagining things, you may tell me, but... are you feeling differently between the last time we spoke and now? ”

He gives the redhead his full attention, dark eyes searching for any minute shifts.

“ There's not much I can say that can't just be observed, but... I'm being given the impression that many people between the last round and this one have changed. They feel... wearier. Upset. I cannot say I blame them, given the nature of this game, but... I suppose it strikes me more if it has hit you as well. You have, for as long as I've known you, been quite optimistic. I thought a night like tonight might need you as such. ”

The night wind whistles between them. 

“ But... perhaps that was unfair of me to believe should be your duty. We all are victims of this night after all. ”

Having put his broom down for a little while, Ewan was taking a break on a nearby bench. The boy had a pensive, slightly sorrowful look as his eyes gazed down to the ground, a hand on his chest. It still bothered him, the way someone just brazenly stole from him. He tried to think back and figure out when exactly the theft occurred, but no moment stood out to him.

A soft sigh escaped his lips. He was just thinking in circles, and it was going nowhere fast. He really didn’t like all these doubts welling up, it just made him feel icky.

So lost in thought, he didn’t realize someone was calling to him. Not until he saw a shadow, as someone stood in front of him and blocked the light of one of the many candles decorating the street.

Caught slightly off guard, he turned his gaze up to notice that it was Pelleas standing there. “Huh?” He stared in silence for a moment, before his brain finally caught up again. “O-Oh, Pelleas! Hi, it’s good to see you!” Like a match being lit up, a bright and practiced smile bloomed near instantly as soon as it was able to.

The older mage was quick to voice his concern, to which Ewan gave a light laugh. He was touched at least, at the other’s care. “Ehehe, don’t worry! I’m totally fine!” His gaze shifted slightly as he spoke those last three words, suddenly finding it difficult to look Pelleas in the eyes as he spoke.

“Of course, when playing a game of suspicion things like this will happen. Nobody likes being stolen from and lied to, after all.” Hearing Pelleas’ speak, Ewan tried to suppress even further that he was among those people. “B-But like I said, I’m fine! I’m not upset at all, it’s just a part of the game.”

“It strikes me more if it has hit you as well.”

The young mage felt a sense of responsibility well up at those words. Someone was counting on him to be the life of the party, and that meant no letting himself wallow. Push back those bad thoughts, smile and keep smiling! “Aw, that’s not an unfair thing to say at all!” He spoke cheerfully. “You’re absolutely right, if anything. I’m fine, so rather than just sitting here, I should spread some cheer! The name of the game is tricking and treating, so after a trick should come a treat.” A light giggle escaped his lips.

“While I love tricks, there’s no denying treats are even more fun. Maybe then everyone’ll feel better!” Speaking it out loud like this, he was convincing himself that this truly was how he felt.

Then he opened his own candy bag, stuffed to the brim. He ruffled through it, trying to find something Pelleas might like. “Speaking of, what kind of candies do you like, Pelleas? I’ll see if I have some in my bag! Consider it a treat, and a thanks for the good advice.”

[enbyleighlines]

Leigh plays Tellius prt 28

Okay, continuing where we left off! The end of the bridge map. This time I DID look up where the holes are, and yet somehow ended up falling into more than one of them. Ugh.

Anyway, I always found this comment from Tanith so delightfully hypocritical. I won't say why because of spoilers, but yeah. This comment just ages so poorly. Honestly, even without (spoilers), it's still just a rude thing to say. I do like you Tanith, but you have no self-awareness at all.

Uh-oh, there's trouble brewing in the polycule.

In all honesty, despite the blood pact being just a little too convenient of a plot devise, I do love this scene. Pelleas is in such a rough situation here, so I understand his desperation, but at the same time, I do not blame Sothe for wanting to get the hell out of dodge.

And this is why you always read the fine print, Pelleas. Though, I'm not sure if the terms of the Blood Pact are visible. Did Lekain use some magic invisible ink or something? Because I feel like, as gullible as Pelleas is, he at least read a sentence or two, right?

Okay, here we go. I'm finally able to talk about the parallels between Naesala and Ashnard. According to this story Lekain tells Pelleas, Naesala came into power very much the same way Ashnard did. Except, we are given no reason to believe that Naesala is the one who tricked the previous King of Kilvas into signing the blood pact, and instead was thrust into the position after many of his relatives died from some mysterious plague. (Although, didn't someone say that the laguz choose their kings by strength rather than by bloodline? Or does that only apply to the beast and hawk tribes? The dragon tribe, at the very least, goes by bloodline.)

Anyway, I wonder if this story is what inspired Ashnard's plot. But then again, how would he have known about this incident? It doesn't seem like common knowledge. (Unless Sephiran gave him the idea...)

Whatever the case, I do feel for Naesala a lot. Like Elincia, he probably had no plans for inheriting the throne. Maybe he didn't even want the job. But when it came time, he nevertheless took up the mantle and devoted himself to the people of Kilvas.

Look at this clusterfuck. Luckily, this map wasn't nearly as difficult as I thought it would be, but man, it was a slog to get through. It's so hard to maneuver my units where I want them in this narrow space, especially with a bunch of unpredictable ally units rushing around. I could have given them the command to just stay still, but I honestly needed their help to whittle down the numbers. Sothe was able to dodge most attacks, and Aran was defensive enough to survive being attacked multiple times, but neither of them could really do a whole lot of damage in return.

This was such a smart move on Ike's part. (Although, I am assuming that the initial idea came from Soren.) Yes, it was a cruel trick, but this is war, and besides, Micaiah had her soldiers pouring oil down on Sanaki's Holy Knights with the intent to set them on fire. So, you know, desperate times call for desperate measures.

I feel you, Ike.

And that's it for this part. I'm getting so close to the endgame of part 3, and it's making me nervous. I desperately want to unlock all that good extra content.

Wish me luck!!

[freedomarrow]

Reunion Long Awaited || Leonardo & Edward

@justices-blade ; continued from here

Leonardo laughs - a not particularly common occurrence from him of all people - as he is pulled into a warm embrace; his arms do not stay down for very long, rising to return the gesture.

Sometimes one has to lose something and then get it back, to realize just how dearly missed it had been.

“Well, consider me successfully surprised then. I’m very glad to see you again, though.” And he certainly looks glad, smiling more than he probably ever has since arriving to Fódlan.

At Edward’s explanation, he nods. The reasoning, he has to admit, makes perfect sense.

“There sure isn’t any harm in that, yeah. Well, whenever you’re stuck on some classes, I’m always happy to help... Actually, you got assigned to Golden Deer, right? We’re in different Houses, but that shouldn’t be a problem.” It is only as he speaks these words that he realizes exactly what this means. Edward is in one class with Soren. They are going to drive each other nuts.

... Maybe he should consider transferring to keep an eye on things. Hopefully Kurthnaga can do that, though.

“That’s true. It’s not as though I want to need this knowledge.” All he has ever fought for, after all, was for the war to end. “But sometimes peace and freedom have to be defended, so if that ever happens, I want to be ready.”

Well, whatever. With Edward around, Leonardo finds it much easier to get out of doom-y and gloom-y thoughts. “Oh, sure! The place’s massive. Come on - let’s start with the monastery itself, and then the marketplace and other spots. We can chat more along the way.” With that, he motions for the other to follow him as he makes his way from where the classrooms are, and towards the training grounds. “How is Daein, by the way? I hope the restoration’s going well... Oh and - you should make sure to say hello to Micaiah and Pelleas later, as well. They’d love to see you.”

Some student they pass by gives them a slightly surprised look as they walk past. It would seem that Leonardo has never been seen this happy, relaxed and talkative before around here.

[justices-blade]

“M - made it,” she pants, running up to Edward as he and the others headed for Valentia gather themselves, near ready to head out; she steadies herself by taking his arm in one hand and smiles up at him; expression breaking when she cannot help but bemoan:

“I was all set to come with the rest of Garreg Mach’s delegation but Tauroneo and the others back home insisted I stay. That even being here is far more than what Daein needs to give internationally and it’s… I suppose this is what being queen will entail but it’s so frustrating!”

The last part is said in a whisper but with no less passion for it; seeing Edward look back at her she has to shake her head, “It’s silly though… I wouldn’t have necessarily been with you, anyway. And I know you can take care of yourself. That you will.” Her smile returns, truer now and a little mischievous: “Pelleas said you were taking Caladbolg and I’m glad, but you know I don’t think you’ve ever needed it. Though that stays between us.

She reaches into her pocket for the charm she’s made Edward; matching with Leonardo’s it has an imitation of Caladbolg’s decorative hilt circling a bird in flight that quite resembles Yune as they had known her.

"I used to sell these in Nevassa as charms for good luck. Do you remember? I always meant to make you one so..." 

The circular wood charm hangs on a simple string and Micaiah takes the chance to put it around Edward’s neck, standing up a bit taller to do so and resting her head on his shoulder once she’s done.

“When you and Leonardo come home I’ll be waiting. I promise.”

The patter of boots on wood, leading up to the docks — The rhythm of it's just as familiar as his favorite rhymes, as the syllables that make up fa-mi-ly. Edward's already grinning ear to ear when he turns around, eyes bright despite the neighbouring sea, arms spread to offer safe harbor.

"Micaiah! I'm so glad you made it!" he exclaims, and he can't help his giggle when she starts to complain, quickly mirroring her displeasure in a pout. He'd love to have Micaiah along — Duty or no, isn't it just common sense to go help your friends — But, agh, he keeps forgetting Micaiah isn't just Micaiah or the Silver-Haired Maiden anymore, and it freaking sucks! Edward himself refused any better place in Daein's courts for good reason, but the fact Micaiah can bear all of that and more just makes her that much more amazing to him. That, and Tauroneo always has such a good head on his shoulders, and it really might just be better in the long run to keep his counsel.

"I wish we could just spirit you with us. Noone would notice if I took an extra barrel, right?" he returns the whisper passed to him with more than a note of mischief anyways, only half-joking — Though, hah, their days of hiding in crates and the like should be behind them, huh? He beams right back down at her, a bit lopsided in shared mirth. "But you're right — They already split me and Leonardo up, too. Though, think about it: It would've been funny if each boat got one of the Dawn Brigade, huh? We'd've all been able to tackle anything that came our way, I know it!" he strikes a little pose with an exclamation of 'represent!', before snickering, dropping it just as fast. "It's okay though; I'll work hard enough for the both of us, and I know Leonardo's going to handle things great, no problem."

His voice drops a little, then, a hushing finger to his lips with a wink. The secret's just as safe as any other she'll ever give him. "And I'll work hard for Caladbolg, too, hehe." Hopefully it'd get a break — Maybe that's a weird wish to have for a sword, but a nice one, either way.

Micaiah shifts, then, shuffling around in her pocket. Edward cocks his head and waits, though he's curious enough to try to lean in a way that'll let him see the mystery object sooner than later — He lets out a little gasp when he does see it a-dangling, soft in recognition.

"Of course I do!" he takes a moment to admire it dangling from her hands, her handiwork, the memories; Her whittling away at tiny wooden Yunes in their off hours, the little bird charms finding homes with those who would treasure the luck she would doubtlessly bring with delight. He admires, too, the fact that this is so clearly his: The recognisable shape of Caladbolg's hilt, the nostalgic silhouette of Yune in flight. Edward tilts his head forward to give her an easier time putting it on him, feeling a bit like a knight being knighted as he does so.

He's not a knight, though, and no matter what dumb titles lie between eachother, they're family, which is what lets him rest his head on hers when they come to rest, arms coming up to squeeze in a reassuring hug. It's her that's the harbor this time, and he'll brave any storm to see everyone on firm land again.

"I better see you waving right back at us when we make land, then," he quips, patting her back. "We won't be keeping you waiting too long, after all — We'll help fix things up with all we got and be back real fast, too. Promise."

[pryings]

watching marth finally fall sends knoll's thoughts skidding to a stop. even for all the damage marth has taken thus far, there had been a layer of invincibility about him, a sort of surety that had not wavered.

losing that feels like a blow in and of itself. again: knoll is not an overly optimistic sort, and each of them that falls makes the fight feel more hopeless.

[ Seiros Shield heals Knoll for +1HP ; Knoll 6/10HP ]

but he must persevere. he sees pelleas deal another blow to the creature, looking as emotional over this whole affair as knoll feels. he watches pelleas cry out as marth falls. knoll's face shows very little, though. he is not a man of overt displays of emotion, but he sympathizes wholly with those who can manage it, envies them, maybe.

it matters little. the only thing knoll is good at is remembering the work. the task set before him, which he will at least attempt to execute with what remains of his tenacity, what this creature has not already dragged from him.

he turns to it, but it's too quick for him. it moves first. knoll has never been particularly quick on the draw, even when using his preferred weapons. why would an axe change this? he readies himself for its attack, noticing the way it seems to be growing desperate as they chip away at it.

Vantage activates! Desperation activates! [Roll: 8] Pavise does not proc! Hegemon Husk 4.5/10HP* hits and misses Knoll 6/10HP with Twin Crest Power at melee range [ Roll: 2 - 1 = 1, 7 - 1 = 6 ; - 0.5HP, Knoll 5.5/10HP ]

one attack connects, but not hard. the other misses entirely. he grimaces at the one that connects, but shakes it off. it's just another dent for this suit of armor.

Hegemon Husk 4.5/10HP* takes -2HP from Sesshoseki. Hegemon Husk 2.5/10HP*

and every blow that thing lands against him tears through its monstrous hide in return.

Knoll 5.5/10HP hits Hegemon Husk 2.5/10HP* twice with Brave Axe [ Roll: 20, 13; -1.5, -1.5, Hegemon Husk 0/10HP* ]

two more strikes collide, and watches it nearly collapse. but... no, it can never be that easy ( not that it has been easy thus far ) and so he is unsurprised to watch it get back up, good as new.

Hegemon Husk gains Wrath, clears all debuffs, loses one health bar, and heals to full! Hegemon Husk 10/10HP

he dislikes hurling himself against an obstacle and not watching it so much as budge. each time they seem to have this thing on its last legs, it surprises them with some new, horrible course of action.

this one may be his least favorite yet.

Hegemon Husk unleashes Total Destruction! [Roll: 2, 1, 1] Knoll is now caught in the terrain effect FLAMES! Knoll has lost his Avo bonus due to the forest being caught on fire!

the forest burns. knoll cannot get out of the way in time. the trees he'd been hiding within catch so quickly it almost seems like they were created only to burn, like there was never any life in this place, only the prelude to this forest fire.

he grimaces, and looks to pelleas. "we mustn't stop now. i think... its desperation means it must be weakening. if it can be defeated at all, it will be soon."

and if not, well... then the flames will likely take them fairly quickly.

@pirrhyc !

IS THAT THE FUCKING GRIM REAPER? — team ten silver round

[lit-in-thy-heart]

For the ask game, the scene in marigolds where they rescue Gwaine from the rock and Merlin summons the fucking massive dragon and Pelleas helps them and Lancelot threatens to haunt him if he double crosses them 🤣🤣🤣 ICONIC

dfghjkl ah yes the scene that would have been lancelot clutching adoption papers had his hands not been full with gwaine 🤣

ngl the merlin shouting in the background was actually partially inspired by six days but obviously in a different context (and that scene is also one that springs to mind for you because i still can't, it legitimately had me in hysterics) but merlin screaming in the background whilst other people are trying to have a conversation is something i love :D

i feel like lance haunting people would just be him appearing when they're on the toilet or something and giving them a withering glare. he's not really the type to follow them around with unholy screams and i think that's very original of him

tysm for the ask!!! 💕💕

(the scene is under the cut)

In all Gwaine’s nightmares, it had been light when he had been about to drown. Clouds had formed a shield around him, preventing any rescue, and he had been helpless as the tide had gradually crept forward like a legion, struggling against bonds that he could see but not untie. This, somehow, was worse. The moonlight ricocheted off the water’s surface and refracted in numerous directions, illuminating patches of the sea that left Gwaine completely at a loss as to the vastness of it. Even though he knew dry land was close, the rock – now at a higher level than his head – obscured his view and, wherever he looked, it was all darkness and glimmering scales where the moonlight dipped its fingers into the sea. Wherever he looked, he was alone.

The cold was digging its nails into him and trying to draw blood but instead injecting fatigue and Gwaine, knowing nothing but the certainty of his fate, closed his eyes once more. He relaxed his muscles as his mouth became submerged in the water, diluted salt trickling into his parted lips, his nose only millimetres from joining it. At least Anselm wouldn’t be able to use him to control Merlin. At least he wouldn’t be able to fail Merlin and Lancelot again. At least it would all be over.

‘Gwaine! Gwaine!’

Apparently hearing the voices of the people you loved in your final moments wasn’t just a comforting myth, because Lancelot’s voice was piercing the rolling fog in Gwaine’s head quite successfully. It was odd that he could also hear Merlin roaring spells in the distance, too, because Gwaine didn’t really associate Merlin with violence. Merlin and his voice belonged to the tentative dawn and amongst the chorus of birds that came with it, belonged with the rustling leaves in a gentle breeze and the jewelled grass, not to the furious fire that could take apart whole armies. Just like Lancelot and his voice belonged to the stark sunset and the whispers of tendrils of clouds, belonged with the constellations that covered the heavens in a thin layer of protective dust and the bleeding colours of day, not to the agonised desperation that could cause the sky itself to fissure.

Still, any last thoughts of them brought Gwaine comfort.

There was a blunt shout from behind but Gwaine didn’t react, wanting nothing more than to sleep. His nose ducked below the surface and everything around him became muffled as his ears were cushioned by the water.

It might have been for minutes or years that Gwaine was suspended there, tethered to the rock, before he was hauled from the water with someone calling his name in a strangled voice between obscene swearing.

An arm was wrapped around Gwaine’s waist to support him as he instinctively tried to inhale and began coughing, his whole body convulsing in the attempt to dispel the water. After the threat had seemingly been combated, his legs gave way but he was caught before he could fall and drawn close to a hammering heart.

Gwaine could feel the next words stir within him, transmitted by the vibrations of his rescuer’s vocal cords, as he drifted to the fringes of consciousness. ‘Merlin! Merlin, I’ve got him!’ Something angular dropped onto the top of Gwaine’s head, movement grating against his scalp. ‘It’s okay, it’s okay. We’ve got you, you’re safe.’

‘Lance…’M’sorry…’

Lancelot, feeling Gwaine’s body go limp, rested him against the rock, hand fumbling for a pulse in panic. Glancing towards the shore, he could see that Merlin was gradually advancing, his face contorted with rage in the flashes of it Lancelot could catch as flares embedded themselves in bandits. Lancelot had seen Merlin use magic before, of course, but never so violently; from the moment they had broken from the cell, Merlin had been ruthless in the damage he had dealt. The streaks of fire penetrating the atmosphere provided Lancelot with a little visual aid and, satisfied that Gwaine was still breathing, he used his own body to prop up his partner, hands groping for the shackles.

Merlin was going to kill him for discarding his sling – if the pain in his shoulder didn’t kill him first – but Lancelot gritted his teeth and focused instead on trying to free Gwaine. Which, apparently, was going to be harder than he’d first thought. The waves were slapping against higher and higher points of Lancelot’s back and he pushed one leg between both of Gwaine’s to steady him further. His fingers clawed at the iron uselessly, trying to pull apart the cuffs around Gwaine’s wrists, but it was futile. Frantically, Lancelot turned his gaze back towards the shore and latched onto Merlin’s formidable figure, who was in the middle of throwing back the bandit posted to guard Gwaine, whom Lancelot had darted past in the darkness.

‘They’re chains,’ Lancelot cried out when Merlin was close enough, voice cracking, ‘chains, not rope. I can’t get them off.’

Merlin splashed through the water as quickly as he could, fingers grazing Lancelot’s as he examined the chains. There was an explosion of light as Merlin muttered an incantation and winced, his hand going to his chest. He brushed off the twinge and checked that the tether had been severed, glancing towards Lancelot. ‘We have to get him out of the water and get him warm.’

Lancelot was already in the process of doing so; he had laid Gwaine out on the rock once more and was angling his body to drape Gwaine over his uninjured shoulder.

‘Lance, no, your shoulder—’

‘I’ll be careful,’ Lancelot replied, straightening his posture and hooking his left arm around the backs of Gwaine’s knees. ‘Unless you have a better solution?’

‘I’ll take him.’

‘Over my dead body,’ was the sharp response. ‘You’re not meant to be lifting heavy objects and I’m pretty sure a human body comes under the category of “heavy objects”. Do you still have the cloak?’ Lancelot added as he began to wade back to shore, nervously keeping an eye on the castle’s silhouette.

Following the knight, Merlin untied the cloak from his waist. ‘I can do a drying spell,’ he offered. ‘I don’t know how much it will help, but anything is better than nothing, right?’

With a nod, Lancelot spun around when his boots made contact with dry land and watched Merlin place a hand on Gwaine’s exposed back. His eyes shone and, as they faded, he arranged the cloak over Gwaine’s form. Lancelot trapped the material between his hand and Gwaine’s legs, looking towards the castle again. ‘It’s not going to take them long to figure out where we’ve gone. And Gwaine took more blows than he can probably handle back in the throne room…’

Lancelot broke off before he added to his panic by recalling the images that had shot by only moments before – of Gwaine seemingly lifeless in the water, his slurred speech, his helplessness. This was the second time in just over a fortnight that Lancelot had felt his heart contract with terror at the sight of Gwaine’s lifeless form, but he was no less used to it. Stilling for a moment, Lancelot registered the faint sound of Gwaine breathing and relaxed slightly. They had to get him to Camelot.

Merlin’s hand was resting on his uninjured shoulder. ‘It’s alright. I’ve got an idea. We need to start moving towards the mainland.’

‘It’s not something stupid or dangerous, is it?’

‘Not for us,’ Merlin assured him, giving Lancelot’s shoulder a small squeeze. He kissed him gently before dropping a kiss in the midst of Gwaine’s now-dry hair. ‘We’re going to be okay. Start moving. I’ll catch up.’

Lights – pinpricks of bronze blood against the night sky – were eddying towards them from the direction of the castle. ‘Merlin—’

Merlin pushed his shoulder. ‘I’ll be fine. Go. Get Gwaine to safety.’

Hesitating momentarily, Lancelot started forwards as the lights behind them expanded. With his right arm hanging limply by his side, he contracted the muscles in his left arm to more firmly support Gwaine and glanced over his shoulder. Merlin had turned away and stood with his legs slightly apart, his head tilted towards the sky. The words that emerged from his mouth reached Lancelot clearly, but that didn’t help him decipher their meaning.

'O drakon, e male so ftengometta tesd'hup'anankes!’

Although, picking up on the word ‘drakon’, Lancelot could hazard a guess as to what would be involved. Merlin repeated the phrase, more insistently this time, and the guttural quality to the syllables that stretched over Merlin’s tongue sent Lancelot’s skin erupting into goosebumps.

He turned his mouth towards Gwaine’s motionless body, the faint smile grazing the muscles concealed by the cloak. ‘Gwaine,’ he whispered, ‘you are going to kick yourself later for missing this.’ It might have been his imagination, but Gwaine seemed to shift slightly against him. ‘But don’t worry, my love, I’ll tell you all about it when you’re better.’ He paused before pressing a kiss to the cloak. ‘Rest well, now, my love, it’s all going to be fine, I promise you.’

Raising his head, Lancelot looked back at Merlin, who was still standing stubbornly in the place that he’d been left. He was also still shouting and didn’t notice a figure streak past until they were halfway towards Lancelot. Breaking off his call, Merlin fired a ball of flames at the figure but they swerved to the side and stumbled to a halt beside Lancelot, who had ceased all movement.

Reflexively, Lancelot reached down and removed the knife Gwaine had given him from his boot, biting down on his lip to avoid crying out, and held it out. ‘Don’t come any closer,’ he threatened.

‘Put the knife down, I’m here to help you.’

Still holding the knife, Lancelot squinted at the tangled hair. ‘You’re the one Gwaine had to fight. You were going to kill him.’

‘Anselm would have killed me.’ The bandit let out an impatient noise. ‘Look, I don’t know what batshit thing your friend is doing over there, but whatever it is, it’s only going to hold the others off for so long. And you can’t carry Gwaine by yourself.’

Desperately, Lancelot looked between the bandit and Merlin. Finally, he shoved the knife back in his boot. ‘Fine. But if you hand us over to Anselm, I will haunt you so hard—’

‘I’m not going to hand you over to Anselm. Gwaine told me to get out if I could, so I thought I’d take advantage of the chaos you caused. Give him here.’

With a grunt, Lancelot lowered Gwaine and draped one of his arms over his shoulder, motioning for the bandit to support the other side. ‘What’s your name?’

‘Pelleas.’

Lancelot took a step forward. ‘Right, Pelleas, we’re heading in the direction called as-far-the-fuck-away-from-here-as-possible. Merlin said he’d catch up with us, and I trust him—’

‘Merlin?’

Lancelot silently swore. ‘Did I say Merlin? I meant Will. Will said he’d catch up with us—’

‘Is that a dragon?’

Lifting his head, Lancelot watched as the stars were obscured by a large mass before a creature landed beside Merlin and was unable to conceal a smile. ‘A fucking massive dragon, I think.’

Pelleas frowned at him. ‘There’s a difference?’

‘Oh, yes.’ The smile on Lancelot’s face faded as a strong stream of fire issued from the dragon’s jaw, directed at the bandits approaching Merlin. ‘Thank you for your assistance, but we’ll be able to take it from here. And, if you want my advice, run as far away from here as fast as possible and don’t look back. And breathe a word about Mer—Will to anyone—’

‘I won’t,’ Pelleas hurriedly said. ‘I won’t.’ He ducked out from beneath Gwaine’s arm. ‘If—If Gwaine wakes, tell him I forgive him.’

With that, Pelleas melted into the darkness.

Lancelot tried not to think too hard about the ‘if’. Merlin was running towards them and Lancelot hoisted Gwaine up, their cheeks brushing together. ‘No pressure, my love, but it would be really helpful if you could wake up right about now. I’ve never had to mount a dragon before—’ Lancelot waited for an interjection in the form of a dick joke, but it didn’t come. ‘Well, not a real dragon, because Merlin’s magnificence doesn’t count.’ He paused again. ‘I can’t believe that I’m making dick jokes and you’re too unconscious to make note of it. Anyway, I’ve never had to mount a dragon before, let alone with an unconscious knight relying on me. So, if you could wake up…’

As he moved his ear to Gwaine’s mouth to check that breath was still hitting his cheek, weak words were shaped by the breeze. ‘’S’my method. Humour‘s a d’fense mech’nism.’

Lancelot drew his face away. ‘Yeah, well, you weren’t around to use it.’

‘Right here, ‘n’t I?’ Gwaine struggled to open his eyes: the lids flickered but remained steadfastly closed. ‘Right though. Mer’in does have a dr’gon dick.’

Laughing as tears collected in the corners of his eyes, Lancelot shook his head. ‘I can’t believe all it took was a dick joke to revive you.’ He pressed his lips to Gwaine’s forehead. ‘I fucking love you, you know that? And it’s all going to be okay. We’re going to get you back home and patched up and everything is going to be fine and no harm is ever going to come to you again and—’

‘Lance…’

Whatever Gwaine was about to say, though, was interrupted by Merlin’s arrival as he skidded to a halt in front of them, one hand on his chest with the other holding an orb of light. In the fragmented illumination, the corners of his mouth were twisted in pain and his breathless words were ragged. ‘Kil—Kilgharrah can take us to the woods just outside the citadel,’ he gasped out. ‘And he’s also helpfully offered to torch the place.’

‘Pelleas…’ murmured Gwaine.

Lancelot buried his mouth in Gwaine’s hairline. ‘Pelleas got out, my love, it’s alright. Save your strength.’ Catching the start of Pelleas’s name in Merlin’s tone, Lancelot cut him off softly. ‘Later, Merlin. There will be time then. What do we need to do?’

Sparing a moment to give Gwaine a tearful kiss, whose mouth flickered minutely in response, Merlin turned back towards Kilgharrah. ‘We just need to get on his back. We can—We can sort Gwaine out when we’re settled and secure.’

At the sound of his name, Gwaine finally managed to open his eyes. He was confronted with blazing fires and a very large shape a little way off and, blinking drowsily, he leaned closer into Lancelot. ‘’S’at the fuckin’ massive drag’n?’

‘Perhaps don’t call him that,’ Merlin fondly said, voice just carrying over Lancelot’s reminder of what he had just said to Gwaine. ‘His name is Kilgharrah and he is the last dragon.’

[theofficersacademy]

                                Ferdinand  Nina  Rafiel  Flayn  Nah                                   Kana (F)  Pelleas  Siegbert  Patty                                   Ewan  Rhys  Petra  Merric  Hilda

REGROUP [August 23rd - August 25th]

Tag: #UnlockedSouthLeicester2021

Setting: Shambhala

At first, you’re not sure if you’ve been attacked again–the way your mind is suddenly bombarded with memories and images is too sudden and overwhelming to not be an attack of some kind. You see a teenage boy with purple hair giggling at you about some “game”, and talking about creators from their own fold... 

The vision is fleeting, and soon enough you are returned to the data room. Nessie looks rattled–she shares down at her arms in horror, recognition, sadness and resignation. Laelaps clutches his head, the crystals implanted in his head and body glowing the way they do before he transforms. He stumbles, his shoulder knocking into what he calls a “microphone”, which results in high-pitched feedback.

Laelaps’ quiet curse into the microphone is amplified for all in the room to hear, “Fuck.” A robotic voice answers him coldly,

[ UNIDENTIFIED VOICE DETECTED: ADMINISTRATOR VOICE AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED ]

It could never be easy, could it?

What you know:

Bias and Kronya are dead. At Laelaps’ request, they have been brought over to one of the laboratories. 

You have memories of dozens of lifetimes now (though you can pick and choose which ones... or none at all), and muses who experienced Lock and Key have regained all of their memories from the previous year.

There’s some giant, unfathomable monster looming over Garreg Mach in another dimension. The only reason you experienced any of this was thanks to some “meddler” pulling back the curtain. 

Who the hell was that purple guy? Neither Nessie or Laelaps seem to have a clue–they didn’t even see anything like that, just the rush of memories.

The information you have fought for is locked behind one last barrier.

Things to do:

Catch up on the new development from the pinned post in unlocked_lobby

Process Everything. That is to say:

Heal your wounds, hug your friends, and maybe get a good cry in.

Shambhala seems to be empty, so you should be free to explore. Nessie, in a rare display of caution, warns you to be careful if you stray too far. Who knows what the Agarthans left for them.

When he realizes that administrator voice authorization is required, Laelaps runs to the lab where Kronya and Bias lay. You may want to follow him to know what he has going on in his head.

Talk to Mod Bren for additional information and NPC dialogue.

[four-loose-screws]

Fire Emblem 10 Drama CD Translation - Complete and Edited!

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

Hey everyone, I was lucky enough to be given a written script for this entire CD and some advice on mistranslations, so be sure to check this post out, even if you read my original posts for this CD!

———————————

Introduction

*Opens with sounds of combat: grunts, yells, weapons clashing, etc., w/ focus on Ike’s voice.*

Daein Soldier: Gaaaah!

Ike: Haaaa!

Soren: Haaa!

Ike: Hi-yaaaah!

Daein Soldier: Retreat!

Soren: After them!

*sounds of retreating Daein soldiers’ footsteps*

Ike: *walks towards Micaiah* You are... the Priestess of Dawn.

Micaiah: And you are General Ike, yes? Sothe told me about you.

Ike: You are important to him, so I do not want to fight.

Micaiah: And you took care of him, so I feel the same way. However…

Ike: Daein has no intention of withdrawing.

Micaiah: No.

Ike: Then… *unsheathes sword* We have no choice but to fight.

*sounds of combat gradually become louder once more, then fade into music*

Ike’s voice: Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn Drama CD: 

Ike & Micaiah’s voices: Clash of Heroic Ideals! 

(T/N: a more literal translation of the title: “The Unshakeable Ideals of the Rival Leaders")

Scene I

*sounds of general army camp activity: people talking, weapons clashing in sparring matches, etc.*

Soren: The Laguz troops had very high morale.

Ike: Yeah. They believe in Ranulf’s words.

Soren: I think he’s changed a bit from before, too.

Ike: *laughs* Oh, Skrimir? Do you still hate him?

Soren: Of course I do. He’s the type that I’m worst with. He thinks that battle is won by strength alone.

Ike: Don’t say that! He’s a candidate for the next king of Gallia. And King Caineghis decided to make him the general of their army, right?

Soren: *chuckles* You talk as if you’ve become his father.

Ike: Ah…? Hey, of course I haven’t! But you are one to laugh at something like that.

Soren: Ike, you’re becoming more and more like Commander Greil.

Ike: So even you’ve said that now. The people we’ve reunited with from three years ago have been telling me the same thing. Jeez… Every last one of them...

Soren: I’m just fondly watching over you as you grow.

Ike: Hey! Now you’re the one acting like you’ve become a father!

Soren: Someday… you might understand what that means.

Ike: Hm? *turns closer towards Soren* What did you just say?

Soren: Nothing. But there’s one more reason why a frontal attack is dangerous. As I mentioned earlier, I’m concerned about Daein’s movements.

Ike: Of course... However you look at it, our army is more powerful. Is the empire forcing them to fight, like you said?

Titania: *walks up* Hey you two, we’re going to get ready to deploy now.

Ike: Titania! Okay, got it.

Soren: About that, I have a suggestion based on our current situation. Ike, please tell me your thoughts about it.

Ike: Hm?

Scene II

*sounds of general army camp activity: people talking, weapons clashing in sparring matches, etc.*

Micaiah: *sigh*

Sothe: Can I say what you’re thinking, Micaiah?

Micaiah: Sothe?

Sothe: You’re wondering why Prince Pelleas is doing something like this... Or maybe about why he’s cooperating with the empire… Right?

Micaiah: *giggles* Shall I try to guess what you’re thinking about?

Sothe: W-What?

Micaiah: You respect Ike, commander of the Greil Mercenaries, so you don’t really want to fight him… Am I right?

Sothe: *gasps*

Micaiah: Well?

Sothe: You’re half right, half wrong. I don’t want to fight him, but if you’ve decided to, then it’s another story. I won’t waver. I’d make anyone my enemy.

Micaiah: You’re pushing yourself, aren’t you?

Sothe: I’m not! *sits down* Surely Commander Ike should understand, too. Like I said, he’s a hero who can face any enemy and fight them at full strength. So if I must risk my life and fight for you, then he wouldn’t be against that.

Micaiah: *giggles* Even in those words… I can hear your respect and affection for him.

Sothe: ...Ah!

Micaiah: *giggles* Sorry. I’m joking around. *draws closer to Sothe* Sothe… you’ve gotten much stronger.

Sothe: Of course! Even if you leave out the fact that I fought in the previous war, three years have passed. I’m not a child.

Micaiah: Mmm.... I’m really happy. With how you’ve grown...

Sothe: Micaiah…

*running footsteps start quiet, then get louder*

Daein Soldier #1: *panting* The enemy front line! They're here!

Sothe: *gasps*

Micaiah: Understood. Shall we go, too?

Sothe: Yes.

*army cheers for Micaiah*

Daein Soldier #2: The Priestess of Dawn has returned!

Daein Soldier #3: Victory will be ours!

Daein Soldier #4: Glory be to Daein!

Daein Soldier #5: The Priestess of Dawn!

Scene III

*sounds of combat can be faintly heard in the background throughout this scene* Ike: Teeeeh-reyah! *swings sword*

Daein Soldier: Gaaaaaahhhh! *collapses*

Ike: *takes a deep breath and sheaths his sword* They’re no doubt a small army… yet expertly commanded.

Sothe: *approaches Ike* Commander Ike…

Ike: Sothe… You’ve gotten taller. ...That’s right, you’re from Daein, aren’t you?

Sothe: You remembered!

Ike: Did you find who you were looking for?

Sothe: Yeah. She’s this army’s current general.

Ike: ...The Priestess of Dawn, huh?

Sothe: Her name is Micaiah. Stop calling her by that absurd alias. Commander… I… *turns around* didn’t want to reunite with you like this!

Ike: Yet… you have no intention of withdrawing, do you?

Sothe: No.

Ike: If you’re prepared to make her to continue on alone… then come at me! If you’re not ready yet, then don’t come near me. I’m not so soft that I’ll hold back on the battlefield! 

Sothe: Ah… Still, Commander… I have no choice but to fight you! Ahhhhhhhhhh! *runs forward*

*weapons clash*

Ike: You’ve gotten a little stronger! But… *weapons clash* do you really think such a light blow will hurt me!?

Sothe: Ah!

Ike: Hoooooooo!

Micaiah: *runs in* Oh guiding light… lead us forward, and destroy the obstacles standing in our way!

*light magic spell sounds*

Ike: Gah!

Sothe: Micaiah!

Micaiah: You attacked Ike… Perhaps it’s because I’ve heard so much about you from Sothe… but it doesn’t feel like we’re meeting for the first time.

Ike: I have nothing against either of you personally… You came before me as enemies. I won’t go easy on you!

Micaiah: Thank you… If you’ll do that for us, then we’ll fight our full strength as well!

Sothe: Let’s go, Micaiah! We’ll take him down together!

*wind blows*

Soren: I will be your opponent! Elwind!

*strong wind slices through the air*

Sothe: You! So you’re still by the commander’s side, like always!?

Soren: Of course. I will always be near him.

*Ike unsheathes sword*

*weapons clash, magic spells fly through the air*

Micaiah: Shine!

*Shine spell sounds*

Ike: Hiiiii-rrryaaaaah!

Micaiah: *gasps* But I hit him…

Ike: Sorry, but I don’t train like other people do. There’s no one to protect you here! This is your final chance! Retreat!

Micaiah: I… *pants, then collapses* can’t!

Sothe: *gasps* Micaiah! *runs towards her*

*teleporting woosh noises*

Black Knight: Ha! *swings weapon, then starts walking forwards*

Sothe: The Black Knight...!

Black Knight: Maiden, are you alright?

Micaiah: S-Sir Knight...

Sothe: Gah... Now! *runs*

Soren: Tch… Wait!

Sothe: *sits down* Micaiah!

Micaiah: Sothe… I-I’m sorry… I did it again...

Black Knight: It seems that she’s used too much of her power. Get her away from here.

Sothe: O-Okay. *picks up Micaiah and runs off*

Ike: Even if I try to run after them, you’ll get in my way, won’t you?

Black Knight: Of course. I was once one of Daein’s Four Riders.

Ike: So you did survive.

Black Knight: Did you really think you could kill me with the strength you had then?

Ike: Hm, did I? But I never thought that one victory could free my heart of need for vengeance that haunts it!

Black Knight: That’s good news. My armor lost it’s blessing after that fight.

Ike: Then I will defeat you again this time! *unsheathes sword*

Black Knight: Alright then… *readies sword* You may come at me!

Ike: Grrrrraaaaaaahhhhh!! *swings sword*

Scene IV

Sothe: *panting and running*

Micaiah: *gasps for air*

Sothe: We should be safe here for a moment… Micaiah… Hang in there!

Micaiah: Gah… *pants* Sothe… I… lost consciousness again?

Sothe: Yeah, you did... but there’s no enemies around here. You can rest easy.

Micaiah: No… I am a general of Daein… I can’t leave the front line...

Sothe: But because you’re a general, it’ll mean the end if you die first!

Micaiah: ...Sothe… I must… protect everyone…

Sothe: Daein is certainly my precious homeland. But it’s nothing to me compared to you! I will protect you! Even if it means I make an enemy of my country… or the world!

Micaiah: ...Sothe… Ah…

Sothe: Micaiah!! ...Have you fainted again…? Alright then, I’ll use this chance to get us away from the battlefield! *runs off*

Scene V

*sounds of combat between Ike and the Black Knight*

Black Knight: You’ve gotten stronger.

Ike: So have you. You’re even stronger than you were three years ago.

Black Knight: At that time, only my spirit and armor warped. Now, I am in my own body. Of course there would be a gap in my power.

Ike: I see… so that’s how you survived…

Daein Soldier #1: The Black Knight has appeared!

Daein Soldier #2: This is our only chance to attack the enemy general!

Soren: Ike, the enemy soldiers are gathering here!

Ike: Are you telling me to retreat!? It’s no use trying to talk me out of this! Tee-ryaaaaah! *swings weapon*

Black Knight: Haa-yaaaaaah!

*weapons clash*

Daein Soldier: Ready your bows! Shoot the enemy general!

*soldiers draw and fire arrows*

Ike: What!?

*arrows fall*

Black Knight: *raises weapon* This is the end for you...

Ike: Haaah!

*weapons clash*

Ike: *falls*

Black Knight: Prepare yourself! *raises weapon*

Soren: Ike! *runs* You’re the only person I won’t let be killed! *throws himself in front of Ike*

Black Knight: Are you trying to get yourself killed? Even if you try to risk your own life for him, you cannot change his death.

Soren: No matter what… I will protect Ike! Ike… I don’t think you remember… that we met once when we were young, but... At that time, I thought my life to be short… and that I couldn’t be saved, so I was only awaiting my death. But you saved me… one of the Branded, discriminated against by both Beorc and Laguz. That is why I will always be by your side and protect you… no matter what!

Black Knight: So you will go together with him...? That’s fine. Hmmmm! *swings sword*

Titania: *horse gallops into the scene* Haaaaaah! *swings weapon, horse stops and neighs* I won’t let you kill any more of the people precious to me!

Soren: Titania! You made it!?

Titania: Yes! We successfully hit the enemy from their weak spot! We overwhelmed them from behind, and I was able to bring reinforcements, too!

*reinforcements yell out battle cries in the distance*

Ike: Guh… Ah… *sits up* 

*sounds of combat begin in the distance* 

Ike: Did I… Ah... lose consciousness?

Soren: Ike! *kneels down* Are you okay!?

Ike: Yeah. *stands* Sorry for troubling you.

Soren: No… you could never… I...

Ike: ...Are you… crying?

Soren: Ah… no… I wouldn’t… It’s okay. I’m fine.

Ike: Alright then, let’s do this! *lifts sword* Fight with us, Titania!

Titania: Yes! This is an opportunity to show off the power of the Greil Mercenaries! *horse neighs and begins to gallop*

Black Knight: What are you planning…?

Titania: Heee-yah! *horse gallops up to Black Knight, Titania swings her weapon*

*weapons clash*

Black Knight: Gah! Female knight… Are you providing a distraction for them?!

Titania: Well, can you afford to get distracted!?

Black Knight: That is a foolish hope!

*weapons clash*

Soren: By the power of my wind magic… this brave soldier will be sent flying towards the heavens! *casts wind spell that propels Ike into the air*

Ike: Hoooooo-aaaaaaah!

Black Knight: Hm!?

Ike: This is… the end! *swings weapon*

Black Knight: Gah!? *falls over*

Soren: Yes! We did it, Ike!

Ike: *gasps for air* Yeah!

Black Knight: *rises* Tch... I see… You've gotten stronger. But I didn’t think you could have gotten this much stronger… Let’s stop here for now. I would hate to end our fight in one go.

Ike: I feel the same. You can challenge me any time. Whatever the circumstances, I’d accept a fight against you!

Black Knight: *steps towards Soren*

Soren: ...Um… What do you want with me…?

Black Knight: You are the same as I… You’ve found someone to live with. Though it will one day end in tragedy.

Soren: Ah!

Black Knight: And Micaiah… she, too, is on the same path.

Ike: I don’t know what you’re trying to say, but the Priestess of Dawn, Sothe, you, us… we are all simply living our lives to the fullest for what we believe in.

Titania: That’s right! Though we struggle with difficult trials and tragic fates, we have no choice but to continue on through our fears.

Ike: Yeah. All we can do... is continue on as we always have!

Black Knight: Is that so? Then let us meet again, *steps away* son of Gawain. *teleports away*

Scene VI

*cheering, sounds of combat*

Ike’s Army Soldier #1: We did it!

Ike’s Army Soldier #2: Victory is ours!

Ike’s Army Soldier #3: Long live General Ike!!

*hawk Laguz screeches*

Sothe: They have beasts and hawks among their reinforcements...!

Micaiah: Even the Bird Tribe of Phoenicis is here? Begnion didn’t tell us anything about that...

Sothe: We’ve been had…. Commander Ike’s army was a diversion.

Micaiah: At this rate, the number of sacrifices will only increase… Let’s retreat for now.

Sothe: The Daein soldiers will probably say that they still want to fight.

Micaiah: I can’t afford to let them die for no reason. At this time, we have no choice but to retreat.

Sothe: ...I understand. Let’s go relay the message to the entire army.

Micaiah: Hey, Sothe… That man… General Ike… He was just like you told me. Strong… noble… considerate of those around him… but also always able to calmly understand the state of the current battle. He’s everything a general should be...

Sothe: Micaiah…

Micaiah: I don’t have the strength, nor the virtues that he has… But I will protect Daein!

Sothe: Mm…

Micaiah: Sothe? Shall I try to guess what you are thinking right now?

Sothe: Oh…?

Micaiah: “I want there to come a day when Commander Ike and I can understand each other.” ...Right?

Sothe: *gasps* Th-That’s…

Micaiah: *giggles* I’m joking. But… thank you. It would be a good thing, if that day were to come…

*Music gradually gets louder and plays for about ~20 secs longer to conclude the CD. Bird chirping can be heard throughout the song.*

[micaiahsilverhairedmaiden]

I took the time to do more or less a translation NOT THAT ACCURATE of the Radiant Drama CD. Since I'm not an expert in Japanese at all (I only know some phrases and words, but it seems to me that many dialogues are very clear, since they're directly the same from the game). 

So I leave you summary of each part of the CD Drama, but don't forget that it ISN'T ACCURATE: ---

☀️INTRODUCTION☀️

Dialogue between Ike and Micaiah of Scene III, and then they both say the title of the Drama CD “Clash of Heroic Ideals”.

☀️SCENE II☀️

Ike and Soren are preparing for their fight. I THINK Ike mentions that although Shinon doesn't believe that he is the best leader, he will do everything possible to be as good as Greil. Soren tells him that he will be fighting by his side (but apparently he has a bad feeling or something that worries him), finally Titania arrives to tell them to prepare to leave.

☀️SCENE III☀️

Sothe questions Micaiah why she follows Pelleas's orders if she doesn't want to fight, and Micaiah questions Sothe if he really is the one who doesn't want to fight (the weird/funny thing is that she sounds like she's teasing him), as they would face Ike and the Greil Mercenaries, to which Sothe replies that although he doesn't like the idea of confronting Ike, he will always fight with Micaiah, since he promised to protect her. Micaiah tells him that he has matured a lot and Sothe says "Of course, I'm not a child anymore", and then a soldier come to warn that the enemy has arrived, so they leave with the shouts of the Daein soldiers supporting them.

☀️SCENE IV☀️

Basically this conversation between Ike and Sothe:

SOTHE: Commander Ike! IKE: Look at you Sothe. You’ve grown a lot. I almost forgot… You’re originally from Daein. SOTHE: I’m glad you remembered. I hope it helps explain why I’m here. IKE: Did you find the person you were looking for? SOTHE: Yes. She commands this army. IKE: The Maiden of Dawn? SOTHE: Please don’t call her by that ridiculous name. Her name is Micaiah. IKE: I see. SOTHE: Commander, I… I didn’t want to see you like this. IKE: But you don’t intend to retreat, do you? SOTHE: That’s right. IKE: Sothe, before you challenge me, you better be ready never to see that girl again. Can you handle that? SOTHE: Wh-what?! IKE: If you can’t, stay away from me. You’ll get no mercy, despite our past. I’m sorry, Sothe, but the choices we’ve made have brought us to this. There’s no turning back now. SOTHE: I understand, Commander. And to answer your question… Yes, sir, I can handle that. Whenever you’re ready, Commander.

Then Micaiah interrupts attacking Ike and they have basically this conversation:

MICAIAH: You must be Ike, of the Greil Mercenaries. IKE: And you’re the Maiden of Dawn, Micaiah? MICAIAH: I feel like I know you already. Maybe it’s because Sothe has told me so much about you. IKE: I hate to do this to Sothe, but if you stand before me as my enemy, you’ll get no mercy from me. MICAIAH: … Good. I prefer it that way. Prepare yourself!

Now Soren interrupts defending Ike, saying he will not let them harm him, or something like that... The two parties exchange blows, Micaiah is damaged and Ike tells her to leave, to which she responds that she can't do that. Then, before receiving a lethal blow of Ike, Black Knight arrives to protect her, and Sothe takes advantage to take Micaiah and to flee with her. Ike and BK have basically this conversation:

IKE: So, you are alive. Somehow, I knew it wasn’t over yet. BLACK KNIGHT: Of course it wasn’t over. You were a boy trying to live up to the memory of the greatest swordsman in history. IKE: And yet, I was the one who walked out of the castle that day. BLACK KNIGHT: You have your father to thank for that. When you told me that he had crippled himself, I realized that I had never fought him at all, merely his shadow. IKE: What are you getting at? BLACK KNIGHT: I saw immediately that you were not your father’s equal, but that one day you might be. So I did the only thing I could to keep you alive… I let you win. IKE: …You did, didn’t you? I’ve relived that fight so many times… How could I not have seen it before? BLACK KNIGHT: You were not yet capable of seeing it. But I had to let you live, so that you could continue to train and perhaps one day be worthy of Gawain’s legacy. My armor’s blessing is gone, let us see if that day is today. IKE: I promise you that it will be. Begin.

☀️SCENE IV☀️

Sothe flees with Micaiah and he's very worried because she's badly damaged, but she's more concerned if Daein loses the fight. She insists that it's her duty to fight and protect everyone, but Sothe tells her that if she returns to the battlefield, they will kill her. I think Sothe tells her that he cares more for her than the rest of the world, and then she faints.

☀️SCENE V☀️

BK and Ike are fighting and exchanging words like they both are stronger now, but then Daein soldiers make a joint attack on Ike hurting him, and when BK is about to give the final blow to Ike, Soren traverses to prevent it. BK tells him to move if he doesn't want to die, but Soren insists that he will protect Ike, and then he starts to think "Ike, maybe you don't remember it anymore... but you were the one who saved me as a child when I was about to die of hunger", and recalls his past vowing to himself never to leave Ike, no matter what. BK says that if he wants to die protecting that man, it will be so, and he attacks him, but now Titania comes to save them saying that she will not allow BK to kill more of her family again. Ike regains consciousness and Soren becomes so happy that he starts crying. So Ike, Titania and Soren together attack the BK and manage to damage him.

Then they have this conversation or something very similar: BLACK KNIGHT: Impressive. You have indeed begun to walk in Gawain’s footsteps. IKE: Do you admit defeat, then? BLACK KNIGHT: No, but I have finished taking your measure. You have made great progress, but still fall short. IKE: The next time we meet, it will be for the last time. I will avenge my father! BLACK KNIGHT: Continue to train, Ike, son of Gawain. We will meet again.

BK then tells Soren that the two of them are the same, and that even though he has found a partner for his life (Ike), he is going to live much less than Soren, exactly the same in the case of Micaiah with Sothe. Ike tells him that he couldn't understand, because they all have a reason to live...so the BK decides to leave promising that they will see each other again.

☀️SCENE VI☀️

Micaiah's very worried because the battle didn't turn out as expected and she fears for Daein's future, but Sothe tells her not to give up, that they can still save their country. Micaiah says something like that although she isn't as strong and imposing as Ike, she will not give up and will do anything for Daein, I also think she thanks Sothe for fighting by her side ... and I'm not sure what joke she says to Sothe that makes him somewhat uncomfortable, but something of the style "If Ike and I were to fight again, would you still choose me?" (I'm not sure about this, but I think it's something like that 😅)

[higaneion]

Pelleas has no reason to shield her from incoming attacks, but he does so anyway. He bears the brunt of the attacks from L’Arachel and Eirika, and Lilina wonders if he does the same outside of battle. 

           She shakes her head at his question. Lilina grips her tome close to her, that nagging feeling telling her she should share some of it, take some of the burden off instead of hiding like… like a coward, selfish in the act. Always needing protection, it seemed. She wanted to believe she was strong, that she could stand alongside the frontlines with the others, but maybe it was obvious to everyone but her just how inept she really was.

           Winter’s chill merely prickles her skin but knocks her partner out then. The ringing of its true source declaring her victory. Her eyes are wide as he withdraws and the sound of Leif’s voice doesn’t even register until he has already left her side. 

           Now with a clearer view of who was still standing, she looks between the pair. The obvious move was L’Arachel who was looking worse for wear, but it weighs on her conscience to attack someone when they’re already down. It was her only hope though. 

           “Nothing personal, but… it must be done!” Lilina declares. Heat returns, surging from her core through her fingertips and she casts flame L’Arachel’s way.

Lilina 4/7HP attacks L’Arachel 1/7HP with Anima [Roll: 13, -1.5HP] L’Arachel has been defeated.

           As L’Arachel and Pelleas exit the stage, she takes a moment to recollect herself. So this was it, she somehow made it this far when in the past it seemed she was the first to retreat. It was all due in part to her partner. They may have lacked the deeply rooted synergy the other pair seemed to have, but despite that, they managed to come together once again to create a spectacle of ashes and shadows.

           Beneath the darkness there is light seeping through its cracks. Kindness could not be tainted for the strong of heart, she saw that in Sara and now Pelleas. He had seemed unsure of himself, even as far as to shrink himself so he would not be a burden, but that description was erroneous, he was far from it. 

           Now, it was the real test. His words echoed in her mind: she has a strong resistance against magic. She had been interested in learning from Eirika when this was all over, but as fate would have it, it was to be an opportunity up close. She had to finish strong, for Pelleas.

@aglaean

messengers of winds, ministers of fire

[daeinsheart]

Seismic [Open]

      Fortunately, the windows were large, though in the end, it probably did not matter much anyway. Absorption into one’s study materials had the tendency to block out all other outside stimuli, including the passage of time. The sun had crossed in a full arc over the library’s stone spires, crawling up the eastern windows, and now peeked into the ones on the west side. Among those who came and went that day, one remained firmly planted at the table he had claimed earlier that morning. A stack of old books and references were piled up at one side of him, and another stack, pages open to interesting figures and columns he had not yet copied into his notes, sat on the other. Etched onto the spines in faded gold were titles like A Guide To Diplomatic Practice and The Science of Politics, and one might have easily mistaken the young man for an aspirant politician. If they did not already recognize him as the former - and false - King of Daein. Studying the ways of running a country a bit too late, some might note.       But with his abdication came a sense of relief Pelleas had not felt since he had first been “discovered” as Daein’s lost heir, and though the pressure of ruling had crippled him previously, he wished now more than ever to rebuild his homeland to its former glory. And that Micaiah had chosen him to be one of her advisors made it all the more important that he hone his skills of diplomacy. He couldn’t fail her. Not again.       A young woman came through the hall to light the candles and draw the drapes on the windows, breaking Pelleas’ concentration long enough to lift his eyes and note, for the first time all evening, that it had grown quite late, and that he remained the only other person within the hall. He caught the caretaker’s gaze lingering on his mess of books and there was a moment that he felt he could hear her thoughts: Gods, I don’t want to put those up. He flashed her a sheepish smile, and she left him with residual guilt.       However, it was near midnight when at last he decided to turn in for the night (and he had been allowed to stay so long only because he promised rather earnestly that he would return the books to their proper places), and he stood to stretch. There was always a strange surreality of finding oneself alone, in the half-lit halls of a place past its usual hours, surrounded by a curious silence and a pervasive loneliness that was as somber as it was enchanting. A space that could convince a person that, just maybe, they were the last living thing. Like the day Ashera turned the world to stone, he reflected, taking up an armfull of books.       The rumbling underfoot began gradually, metal rattled in the ceilings, and at first Pelleas thought pushing one of the heavier encyclopedias back onto the shelf had caused the whole thing to sway. But then everything pitched, as if it had been on a ship fighting a storm at sea, and the books flew from the shelves, Pelleas hardly having enough time to avoid being caught beneath them all. And then… sudden stillness.       Wildly, he sought an explanation, but with few exceptions, all the books had been knocked to the floor. An earthquake? He had never experienced one before, but surely that was what it had been. Then the rumbling began again and, without much thought, Pelleas dashed out into the center of the hall, hoping to find the library’s caretaker hanging around somewhere. Turning the corner, however, he collided with someone else - had they been here the whole time? - and nearly fell backwards.       “Oh! I—“       The world pitched again, and those large windows shattered.

[justices-blade]

Oh joy, she's landing! No longer having to crane his neck upwards, the boy casually rubs the back of his neck, not at all like he's staving off another headache via hand massage. A brow raises slightly at the pegasus' chosen snack though, before dissolving into an amused snicker as it drops to the floor with a thunk. Pity there's nothing of interest yet to any non-bookworms — He feels like Micaiah, Nolan and Leonardo would have a field day in here, maybe Soren and Pelleas too...

Edward's about to answer Farina with a whole buncha nothing in turn when her companion — Murphy, is it? Starts hassling her anew, and without much more ado the two take off again — Left a little dumbfounded, Edward shrugs to himself, picks up the discarded book and leafs through it, making a face at the horse-slobber on the pages. There's a few illustrations of familiar herbs, but the letters aren't just clustered, but completely unfamiliar to him, swimming in and out even when he tries to focus...

... Is his headache getting worse? C'mon man, get a grip. Farina comes back real quick, at least, leaving him to slot the almost-snack back into the nearest, non-miasmic gap. And, apparently, she found something! Edward's eyes light up, easily returning her forced grin with a genuine one.

"Oh, sweet!" Even if the study was a dud otherwise, any landmark in this maze of shelves is a good landmark. And, well, define weird...? There's plenty that's weird in these dream-worlds, and he wants to see this weird in person to see what kind of weird they're dealing with.

"A few, actually! My friends Micaiah and Pelleas are really good at it — I don't really know about magic myself, but maybe we'll find something together!" He leans sideways a little, eager, as if he'd be able to catch sight of it just from peering around her and Murphy.

"Can you lead me there? Or, well, take me, if Murphy doesn't mind."

mapping the library // the studies - mapping task

[laslow]

justices-blade​:

we will be free // battlefield minigame team one

A warning laid out in velvet and red greets them — A gruesome sight, no doubt purposefully so, like heads on pikes, rictus screams ringing hollow into the air. At first, Edward just winces in sympathy and concern (wait, who’s the real tyrants here?), but as his gaze lingers, the king’s face shifts; To King Dheginsea, felled in the tower, to King Ashnard, whose likeness he’d seen only in portraits, to Pelleas, a thought already making him blanch, and then —

Silver hair. Kent runs a hand over golden eyes, closing them in feigned peace. Stifling a gasp, Edward tears his gaze away.

Their goal lies beyond. Already, her face melts away like ice in his palms. Already, he can no longer recall the fallen king’s face, and that’s all he needs to carry on. It’s easier to forget on the march, anyways, even if it’s into dense forest, denser fog, and possibly a pretty dense crowd of enemies.

In between marching and searching and forgetting, though, Edward strays slightly ahead of their merry little group…

“Guh-huh?!” And that distance is all he needs to make a misstep, feet losing their hold as a sharp incline in the terrain sends him sliding down a small, abrupt slope, the snow and fog obscuring the drop from sight. The selfsame snow, though, keeps his tumble from being too rough, and when he reaches the bottom, he lets out a winded laugh of something like delight.

“I’m fine, I’m fine!” He calls back up, turning around as he does so, “I just slipped, so watch —” and the face of the little slope he’d had his tumble down catches his eye. Stones of myriad colors and shapes are embedded in the exposed dirt, perfect to make firecrackers with and Goddesses know what else.

“Oh snap, there’s a ton of rocks here! Can we take some?” The swordsman immediately sets about wrestling a hammer from his belt, poking around the frozen dirt in hopes of loosening it…

roll: 18; 2. obtained 2 rocks!

roll: 8. -2 HP. 8/10 HP!

“Ow!” While two perfectly-sized rocks fall from the wall, ripe for collecting, more dirt loosens further up, the frozen block of it sliding down the slope and beaning him in the the face, leaving him with a smarting nose, muck in his mouth and a cold forehead. “Ewww…”

@arcstral @nagavoice @laslow

No. 

All his joy for the day ahead wilts like a flower under the year’s first frost, vibrant petals leeched of all color. His own cheeks pale at the ghastly scene marking the entrance to the forest. 

Laslow blinks and it’s a different man before him, dressed in blues and silvers, branded arm on full display for all to see. (But there wasn’t snow when they found him, was there? Just a ruined castle coated in ash.) 

Another blink, and blue hair morphs into blond, black circlet knocked askew, purple cape trailing sadly in the snow behind him. A vision of the future? A glimpse into what could have been, back then? 

He can’t mourn now. When has he ever let death stop him from moving forward, from carrying out the immediate mission at hand? Laslow sniffs once. Squares his shoulders, gaze resolutely ahead. It’s not real, he reminds himself, though the mantra loses some of its reassurance every time he repeats it. 

Their march brings some comfort. Already, the corpse--or apparition, ghost, whatever you want to call it--feels miles away. His feet grow lighter with each step, smile slowing returning as he basks in again being surrounded by snow. 

“Shame we can’t stop and make a snowman, eh? Maybe for our midday br--Edward!?” Laslow shouts, running for his young friend. He peers over the small cliff, relieved to find Edward laughing in a pile of snow. 

Laslow quickly joins Edward, carefully maintaining his balance on the descent. “Oi, careful! There’s no blood, though,” dancer reassures, picking up his own hammer to scavenge a rock or two himself. 

[Roll: 1d20+2. Result: 3! Laslow I am begging!] 

“OWWW!” His cry is loud enough to rouse sleeping birds from their trees, sending them skyward in a flurry of annoyed caws. Laslow drops the hammer beside him, cradling his smarting thumb. “I hope no girls saw that....” 

we will be free // battlefield minigame team one

A warning laid out in velvet and red greets them — A gruesome sight, no doubt purposefully so, like heads on pikes, rictus screams ringing hollow into the air. At first, Edward just winces in sympathy and concern (wait, who's the real tyrants here?), but as his gaze lingers, the king's face shifts; To King Dheginsea, felled in the tower, to King Ashnard, whose likeness he'd seen only in portraits, to Pelleas, a thought already making him blanch, and then —

Silver hair. Kent runs a hand over golden eyes, closing them in feigned peace. Stifling a gasp, Edward tears his gaze away.

Their goal lies beyond. Already, her face melts away like ice in his palms. Already, he can no longer recall the fallen king's face, and that's all he needs to carry on. It's easier to forget on the march, anyways, even if it's into dense forest, denser fog, and possibly a pretty dense crowd of enemies.

In between marching and searching and forgetting, though, Edward strays slightly ahead of their merry little group...

"Guh-huh?!" And that distance is all he needs to make a misstep, feet losing their hold as a sharp incline in the terrain sends him sliding down a small, abrupt slope, the snow and fog obscuring the drop from sight. The selfsame snow, though, keeps his tumble from being too rough, and when he reaches the bottom, he lets out a winded laugh of something like delight.

"I'm fine, I'm fine!" He calls back up, turning around as he does so, "I just slipped, so watch —" and the face of the little slope he'd had his tumble down catches his eye. Stones of myriad colors and shapes are embedded in the exposed dirt, perfect to make firecrackers with and Goddesses know what else.

"Oh snap, there's a ton of rocks here! Can we take some?" The swordsman immediately sets about wrestling a hammer from his belt, poking around the frozen dirt in hopes of loosening it...

roll: 18; 2. obtained 2 rocks!

roll: 8. -2 HP. 8/10 HP!

"Ow!" While two perfectly-sized rocks fall from the wall, ripe for collecting, more dirt loosens further up, the frozen block of it sliding down the slope and beaning him in the the face, leaving him with a smarting nose, muck in his mouth and a cold forehead. "Ewww..."

@arcstral @nagavoice @laslow

[thedipster]

heart-of-dunbroch‌:

Merida frowned–  because she was thinking. 

The more she thought about it, the more it didn’t fit the normal townwide magical spells. While Dipper had started to think it must be spread farther, Merida’s thoughts were twisting the opposite direction. Because aye…weren’t those magical spells much grander than this? A whole life, and then you wake up and still feel it for an hour or so before it left you? And didn’t the whole town always talk about them, some in delight and others in horror (depending on the lot you were dealt?) But Merida heard no conversation. She was not in town often, but it was still something that would spread through the whole of Swynlake. 

And besides, it wasn’t happening over just one night. This one with Dipper, aye. But it wasn’t the first and now she knew it wouldn’t be the last. The dreams, these memories, they kept returning to Merida the way the wisps had come again and again for her, leading her to Swynlake and to her fate. 

The dreams, like those eerie jack-o-lanterns, were fate. 

Fate had chosen herself, and Dipper, and Belle. And yes, perhaps others– an Arthur and a Lancelot…

Other names appeared to her, as if she always known them. Kay. Tristan. Bors. Percival. Galahad and Gareth. 

“I haven’t seen an Arthur,” said Merida. “But I know– Gawain, he knew him, of course. There were things in the dream… needing to meet Arthur in the morning, having come from a practice with Arthur…things like that.” 

She hesitated before the next part, but then swallowed and went with her gut.

“The memories with Belle–she was Bedivere by the way– were the strongest when we were touchin’. We should try that, aye?” She reached out her hand, palm up. “Maybe if we– together, we can learn more.” 

“Okay,” said Dipper, without hesitation, because it was a sound thesis especially since Merida did have experience in recreating these dream-memories with Belle and also because, well, it reminded Dipper of a time before. A time, when Merida would throw an arm around him and punch Maui in the side.

He pressed his palm against Merida’s and –

He was leaning in the doorway of a pub. No, he was supporting Gawain, who leaned against him.

“Too much to drink?” Pelleas laughed and Dipper felt his own chest thrum with laughter, his own head a little dizzy and spinning. “You know we’ve got an early morning tomorrow.”

The voice was both Dipper and not – somehow the same tone and cadence, but also older, also British. Gawain spoke back and it was Merida, but not Merida – Merida, but a man with a beard on his face.

Pelleas knew they had to be up early. They were meeting Arthur. How did Arthur look like, Dipper thought, searching in his memory’s memory for a face –

“Ah!” Dipper yelped, shaking his head a little. “Uh. Sorry that was kinda intense. Wow, I wasn’t expecting that all in one go? Did you have the same one? We – they? We? At the pub. And an early morning after. Does that track? Do we get the same memories? Er, dreams? Memory dreams? He paused, then added shyly, “Did you and Belle have the same ones?”

May We Meet Again || Sink Demo

[justices-blade]

"Yeah, I'm Edward! I'm new here." he replies, chipper, happy someone remembered his name. He tilts his head, making an effort to return the favor — He'd heard her name in passing, he thinks, and she seemed a bit like the quiet type, like Pelleas... What was it again? Thani...? Thalia? No, wait, he has it—

"Tharja, was it? Happens to anybody. I can't count the times I stepped on the tails of my uniform coat back in the army starting out, hehe."

The bug is unharmed in his cupped hand, and he quickly gathers it up in both — He'd pretty sure this kind can fly and miiight bite, but not in an annoying or concerning way, so he quickly slips it back into its jar, before checking the ground for any more escaping bugs. There's another! He lunges again and traps the bug in a rectangle of fingers, giving it no other choice other than to crawl onto his hands. Securing this one in a single fist, too, he looks for the jar it escaped from, or another bug to catch — His unoccupied hand flits out to gingerly grasp a spider by its spindly little leg. No problem! Unless she thinks its a problem. She's not yelling at him though, or snatching the bugs back from him (but that'd hurt the bugs, right?), so he just keeps going until she tells him to stop.

He really needs a jar now, though. Should've grabbed one before the spider; Preferably separate so the spider doesn't eat the bug. He pauses, both of his hands occupied by some degree of creature until further notice, giving him some extra time to consider the situation; Maybe she's just down in the dumps after dropping everything like that? He briefly recalls his soup kitchen incident and winces.

No, yeah, he thinks he gets it now. At least bugs can be scooped back up if you're quick. Soup though... Ouugh, mud soup......

... Never mind that. He looks to her in genuine interest. "Hexes? So these are like... Ingredients, right? For dark magic?" The free fingers on the hand grasping the spider wiggle a little for emphasis. The spider's also wiggling quite animatedly in protest, but it's amazingly unharmed. "I've got a friend who does that stuff too, but I don't know a lot about it. That's a lot of ingredients, though!"

Edward's shout nearly made Tharja jump out of her skin. She quickly looked up from the mess on the floor before she realized exactly what was happening. She definitely knew this boy. She was pretty sure his name was Edward and he was right. They did share classes together. Watching him catch a bug she'd nearly lost made any real frustration melt away entirely. So he was helping her. Tharja bit back her initial reaction to snap at him for startling her.

"... Yes." She managed to hiss as she started pulling together her things. She grabbed the jar that the bug had escaped from and offered it to Edward to place the bug inside. "You're Edward, right? I recognize you well enough."

Tharja doubted Edward knew her name. She kept to the back of all of her classes and rarely spoke up. She preferred being a shadow on the wall rather than a star shining for the entire class to see. If he did recall her name she'd be pleasantly surprised.

"My... Foot got caught on my skirt when I stood up. I was hoping nobody had seen me fall. It's humiliating enough falling in the first place. Having someone to help me is even worse." Tharja said, a look of embarrassment on her face. It was clear she was just embarrassed that she was seen falling over like that.

"Collecting insects for my hexes is something I do regularly." She added, trying to reassure them both that her tumble wasn't commonplace or because she was incompetent.

[justices-blade]

Another round, another song — Edward excitedly surveys the other team, recognising the pretty boy he'd dipped earlier and his nice dress, but he needs a moment for the other guy — Oh, isn't that Leif? While one of the mice is announcing the opening of the next round, Edward peers over inquisitively, smiling and waving as he catches the pair's eyes.

Pelleas was right — Maybe he could pass as Leif's cousin passably well? Maybe he could do to loosen up a bit, actually... Even if they're still being graded, dancing's still the heart of this competition, and why dance if you weren't going to enjoy it?

It's with this lightness that he takes to the stage once more, and the music starts again — Of similar style to the round before, with a certain twang from a ukulele-like instrument filling the inbetweens with thick strums. There's a shrieking drop of the melody into a brief crush of rhythmic cacophony that makes Edward cackle in return as he drops low, practically writhing along until the mainline returns, trying to goad others into joining in all the while; The boy takes to the music like a fish to water once more, losing himself to quick footwork and silly flourishes for entertainment — His and everyone else's —

But, hmm. Maybe what he's doing is just too similar to what he did in round one, or maybe the music's gotten more avant-garde than anticipated, or maybe elementals realised that he hasn't planned a single dang step in advance and is just feeling his way through the music; When his final steps come to a halt after a criss-cross and a spin, the numbers are a good bit lower than last time — But honestly, it's still a passable score! And he had fun, that's the important part.

style 6 ✩ choreo 2 ✩ technical 7

Edward still pouts a little, just for appearance's sake. Hardly did anything too different, either — Oh, maybe that's part of the problem? He can shelve that thought until the end of this round, though.

"Do your best!" he quips to the other two, fully genuine and beaming. "I'll be cheering for you!"

one night fever ✩~ @diadic @rozyrne!!

✩ the full moon is our mirror ball! // w.h.c. round 2