Fire Emblem: Path to a New Dawn

[Lupine]

Fire Emblem

Path to a New Dawn

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Eleyvan & Syrrus

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The last lights of the day faded into the horizon. Only a faint glow of gold along the tree tops remained to claim the day was earlier than it appeared; nevertheless, soon even that would be gone and only the thick of dark silent trees would remain. Mist was curled onto a bed which was actually more a wooden plank with some cushioning to make it bearable. She laid with her face toward the wall, blanket pulled over her snug, hugged around her, in the girls attempt to give herself more comfort. Her eyes burned from the tears she’d wept, and yet they would not close. She was tired and exhausted from her grief. Even though Mist knew sleep would do her well, she didn’t think rest would find her. Not now. The girl continued to look at the wall, the grey, decayed stone, silent. At least the sobbing had stopped. Her eyes moved hazily to the medallion clutched in her hands. A medallion for her mother and a memory for her father. Could she have done more? After a moment, she stirred a little.


“I don’t want anything like that to ever happen again.” Her words were quiet but plenty loud in the silence of the room. She wouldn’t lose Ike now. He was all she had left. “Rhys.”


“Mm?” The orange-haried man replied.


Mist moved to be in a sitting position on top the bed, legs still tucked under the covers. “Teach me how to better use staves.” Her eyes meant his, unwavering, and filled with a rekindled dedication. “I’m going to help Ike. I’m going to keep him safe.” She looked from Rhys to Rolf. “Aren’t you tired of sitting around in worry as you wait, hoping Oscar and Boyd come back alright. I’d rather be out there, helping them. Wouldn’t you? … Otherwise, they might leave us.” Her eyes shifted just a little downward and she felt a slight sting. Mist needed to not think of it. Not think of Father, already taken from her. Already beyond her reach. “So… Teach me. I won’t take no for an answer.”


Rhys could not deny Mist’s conviction and more than that, he could not deny the sadness resonating from her. He hadn’t the heart not to help her. “Yes, very well. But please, be careful.”


“I will. I promise.” And maybe after that she would finally be able to get some sleep.

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How long had it been since tears had last fallen from her eyes? Titania could not recall. She bit her lip, eyes closed as she took a deep breath in. A part of her almost wished she would cry more. As if there was a chance tears would fill the gnawing emptiness in her chest. But she knew better. Nothing would ever be able to entirely make full the new expanse in her heart; time might cradle her sorrow and treat it to make it smaller and the pain more bearable, yet that did little to ease the moment. Her eyes opened, dry. Titania rose from her seated position on the edge of her bed. At such a time she imagined they would need her as much as ever, especially Mist. Mist was always so sensitive. The woman walked slowly to the door. A mirror would have been nice, she wondered if her face betrayed her. She paused only a moment to wipe her face on the cloth of her shirt before leaving her room. She knew Mist was resting with Rhys at the moment, so she would go check on Ike.

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Hesitation lingered on the mage’s fingers as his hand remained suspended in air only a short distance away from the wooden door. Soren knew he could not understand Ike’s pain and he dared not try. Yet, a part of him wondered whether or not a familiar presence might do the blue-haired boy’s mood some good. If it could, then Soren felt it was part of his responsibility to help. On the other hand, he might serve as nothing but a bother. Ike was someone who worried about others, after all. Decision made he turned from the door and started down the hall. A sharp curve around the corner and he had almost walked right into Titania.


“Oh, Soren, have you seen Ike?” The paladin asked. Earlier she had checked the castle hall, which was mostly abandoned, therefore, his room had seemed the next most likely choice.


“In his room. Unless he recently left.”


“Thank you.”


“Yes… If you’ll pardon me.” It seemed Soren had left before he’d even finished the entire sentence. Aside from a thought which wondered if he might have been in a hurry, Titania paid little attention and continued down the hall. It did not take her long to reach her destination.


“Ike?” The woman questioned as she knocked her knuckles on the door. She tried to keep it to a relatively silent knock. As there was a chance he was sleeping, however, it seemed unlikely he would rest at such a time. “Are you awake?”

 

[Syrrus]

The voice kept echoing through his head, torturing him like if someone was piercing his skin with a very small needle. In and out, in and out.


The voice of his father, telling him to be strong.


To be great.


He had covered his face with his hands. The glittering sunlight hit him too harshly in the face due to his position in one of the windows. He was sitting there because it made him feel in control, in a control he very much knew that he had none of. Ike wondered to himself why it was so hard for him to deal with what had happened, perhaps it had been normal? He didn't remember how he had reacted to this sort of thing before. He felt responsible, he hardly remember having that feeling the first time someone important had been ripped away from him. He also didn't remember this other feeling, the one that burned through him like hellish fire, the feeling which stopped the tears from coming and was the reason as to why he had to hide his expressions behind his rough palms.


Retribution.


The soldier in the night black armor. His image was still so clear in Ike's mind, almost as if he stood straight in front of him. Which was also a reason as to why he had to cover up his eyes. How many times had his tired mind thought the Knight had stood right there? Right in front of him with his devil blade in hand. Too many times to count.

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Rolf slowly looked up at Mist. He was obviously sad for her, seeing the tears they had shared. Not only had the small boy cried because his friend had lost a father but because losing their captain -losing Greil - felt like losing a bright star in the dark sky. Of course, he had his brothers. Oscar and Boyd were his safety, his security and courage but the Mercenaries were their home and family. Unfortunately, even though Rolf was very young and therefore pretty naive in comparison to his older siblings he knew for a fact that with Greil gone, their made up family, their strong bond will break - little my little.


He didn't wish to say anything, nothing in fact that could upset Mist even further. Instead he stayed, silently as she spoke to Rhys, promising himself that he would be by her side day and night to protect her. He hugged his bow, the one that he had made himself, close to his small chest. If only he was strong enough to actually keep that promise. He was far from being as capable as his brothers, he couldn't change what had happened and if it would to happen again he wouldn't be able to do anything to stop it.


Rolf admired Mist however, to be quite frank he adored her. She wanted to learn how to protect the family she had left. She was upset, of course; who wouldn't be? But she wouldn't let it stop her, she wouldn't let it bring her down. He was wondering if others felt the same way. That they now had to work hard to stay together and keep safe.


But why did he doubt it?

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The noise of a knock upon his door caused Ike to lose what little composure he had left. He looked up and once again his mind would lie to him. Not shouting, not making a noise he simply reacted upon reflex and punched the air in front of him so hard that if threw him back against the hard stone floor behind him.


Closing his eyes he felt the heavy sensation or rock against his muscled back, echoing through his bones. It woke him up, at least enough for him to be able to see the difference between reality and imagination. The shadows still lurked and poisoned his mind to believe that the Soldier who had taken his father's life stood there but he knew it to be a lie. His mind was clear enough to know that it was just a trick played by his own thoughts and the slowly growing light of the morning sun.


Getting up, the young man dusted himself off, rubbing his temple with two fingers and peered towards the door. "Yes, I am. Come in, Titania." His voice sounded strong and it surprised him, caught him off guard in a way he thought impossible. Was he even upset? He didn't feel upset. Guilt started to soar in his head and he had to sit down at the small table placed by the fire place to control himself.


Perhaps it was for the best. He needed to be strong for the mercenaries, his friends and his sister.


For himself.

 

[Syrrus]

The voice kept echoing through his head, torturing him like if someone was piercing his skin with a very small needle. In and out, in and out.


The voice of his father, telling him to be strong.


To be great.


He had covered his face with his hands. The glittering sunlight hit him too harshly in the face due to his position in one of the windows. He was sitting there because it made him feel in control, in a control he very much knew that he had none of. Ike wondered to himself why it was so hard for him to deal with what had happened, perhaps it had been normal? He didn't remember how he had reacted to this sort of thing before. He felt responsible, he hardly remember having that feeling the first time someone important had been ripped away from him. He also didn't remember this other feeling, the one that burned through him like hellish fire, the feeling which stopped the tears from coming and was the reason as to why he had to hide his expressions behind his rough palms.


Retribution.


The soldier in the night black armor. His image was still so clear in Ike's mind, almost as if he stood straight in front of him. Which was also a reason as to why he had to cover up his eyes. How many times had his tired mind thought the Knight had stood right there? Right in front of him with his devil blade in hand. Too many times to count.

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​

Rolf slowly looked up at Mist. He was obviously sad for her, seeing the tears they had shared. Not only had the small boy cried because his friend had lost a father but because losing their captain -losing Greil - felt like losing a bright star in the dark sky. Of course, he had his brothers. Oscar and Boyd were his safety, his security and courage but the Mercenaries were their home and family. Unfortunately, even though Rolf was very young and therefore pretty naive in comparison to his older siblings he knew for a fact that with Greil gone, their made up family, their strong bond will break - little my little.


He didn't wish to say anything, nothing in fact that could upset Mist even further. Instead he stayed, silently as she spoke to Rhys, promising himself that he would be by her side day and night to protect her. He hugged his bow, the one that he had made himself, close to his small chest. If only he was strong enough to actually keep that promise. He was far from being as capable as his brothers, he couldn't change what had happened and if it would to happen again he wouldn't be able to do anything to stop it.


Rolf admired Mist however, to be quite frank he adored her. She wanted to learn how to protect the family she had left. She was upset, of course; who wouldn't be? But she wouldn't let it stop her, she wouldn't let it bring her down. He was wondering if others felt the same way. That they now had to work hard to stay together and keep safe.


But why did he doubt it?

-----------​

The noise of a knock upon his door caused Ike to lose what little composure he had left. He looked up and once again his mind would lie to him. Not shouting, not making a noise he simply reacted upon reflex and punched the air in front of him so hard that if threw him back against the hard stone floor behind him.


Closing his eyes he felt the heavy sensation or rock against his muscled back, echoing through his bones. It woke him up, at least enough for him to be able to see the difference between reality and imagination. The shadows still lurked and poisoned his mind to believe that the Soldier who had taken his father's life stood there but he knew it to be a lie. His mind was clear enough to know that it was just a trick played by his own thoughts and the slowly growing light of the morning sun.


Getting up, the young man dusted himself off, rubbing his temple with two fingers and peered towards the door. "Yes, I am. Come in, Titania." His voice sounded strong and it surprised him, caught him off guard in a way he thought impossible. Was he even upset? He didn't feel upset. Guilt started to soar in his head and he had to sit down at the small table placed by the fire place to control himself.


Perhaps it was for the best. He needed to be strong for the mercenaries, his friends and his sister.


For himself.

 

[Lupine]

It came as a small relief to Titania when she heard Ike speak. A part of her was afraid he might do something reckless while caught in despair’s grasp. Yet there was almost something more discomforting about how strong and unphased his voice sounded. She didn’t want him to suffer, but it almost sounded like he didn’t care. The paladin paused a moment before she collected herself and opened the door.


“Are you alright?” Titania asked as she closed the door behind her. “Is there anything I can help with?”

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Rhys lectured about the properties and use of staves as Mist had been particularly insistent that he should teach her right now. Her mood seemed brighter when she was focused on learning. If Rhys could provide a distraction to her miseries than he would certainly try his best. As Mist listened to what Rhys was saying, she caught sight of Rolf in her peripheral vision. He looked wretched and sullen. She could feel it, again. The sting biting at her eyes and the knot solidifying in her gut. Without much thought on it, she shoved the covers off and stood up. Her sudden action caused Rhys to fall silent for and watch. Mist walked over to Rolk. “Hey,” she said as she leaned down and gave him a hug. “It’s OK.” Tears were once again damping her cheeks and she felt the overwhelming need to comfort him. “I’ll be strong. We’ll get through this. We can protect them together.”


Mist let go of Rolf and leaned back. She gave a small smile despite her tears.“We can become stronger -- Together, alright?” After she spoke she walked slowly back to her bed. Once seated, she pulled the blanket up around her. Her face briefly vanished into the thick of cloth. These were things so much easier to say. A moment later with water wiped from her eyes her face reappeared. “Please continue, Rhys.”


The cleric nodded. “Y-yes. I believe I was last mentioning variation of staff kind...”

 

[Syrrus]

Ike looked Titania straight in the face. He didn't look bothered, he did look extremely tired. Perhaps that was good enough of a sign that he cared. The young man had noticed his own reflection in a mirror hanging on the wall. He looked unfazed, it hurt him. Stabbed him in the heart. However, when he noticed something else in the mirror, something standing behind him he knew very well that he indeed did care.


The knight was still there, standing next to him, staring back at him. Ike closed his eyes but it only made it all worse. The image of his father's dying breath. Of the Black Knight cutting him down with great ease as if it had been nothing. Worth nothing.


Ike curled his hands up into fists and then turned to look at Titania. He had to know. It was important to him that he knew. "Who was he?" He asked as if Titania instantly would know what he was talking about. He feared that the obsession standing behind him, the black armor and the dead cold shell of a cruel solder wouldn't leave him until Ike had gotten what he wanted. As long as he didn't start talking to himself everything would be fine. He wasn't mad. He couldn't be.


His heart ached, he had to know.

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Rolf was a little more than surprised when Mist would lay eyes upon him. He had been standing there silently, hoping that she wouldn't have noticed the thoughts that swam around in his head but when she got up and walked towards him he swallowed.


The young boy attempted to smile, he succeeded pretty well too. At least he was better than Boyd who often ended up to look as if someone has stabbed him in the gut when he attempted to look happy when he indeed was not. At least Rolf hoped he didn't look close to that... Her words did sting a little though, she knew exactly what he had been thinking. He was afraid, for he was hardly strong enough to protect the ones he loved.

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Gatrie yawned loudly as he stepped out into the growing darkness. He couldn't by all means understand why Shinon wanted to see him now, at this time in the night. The people inside were busy moping around. Of course he understood their sadness, he himself felt like a whimpering infant by the thoughts of Greil getting cut open and killed on the spot. He wasn't one to show it though and had hoped to get some good sleep, to get this nightmare over and done with.


Shinon had told him to show up, by the forest in the late hour of night. In armor and with weapon. The bowman couldn't possibly believe that they could hunt down Greil's murderer and get the revenge they both probably - he could only assume on the accounts of Shinon - longed for. Perhaps it had something to do with Ike. Something more simple than to hunt someone who clearly would cut them down long before they even had time to insult him.


Looking around the man started to feel the biting cold of night time getting closer. Summer was a lovely time, sun stayed up a little longer than it used to but the evenings still managed to make him feel frail and small. No matter how close to Gallia they stood. "Come on Shinon, hurry up. This better not be a prank or I'll put you in armor tied to a tree in the middle of the forest so you'll know how could this metal gets." He muttered to himself. He much rather stayed indoors to comfort Titania than wait out in the night for Shinon. It wasn't even close to the romantic encounter he was longing for. Wrong shade of red.