Finally made a cover image for ReA. Now I feel complete. Bonus that it works as the image for the ReA Chapters Collection. By the way, I finally organized stuff for AHW and ReA if you all hadn't noticed yet.

Robin felt tense, as if his body was on full alert with his mind blaring excessive warnings. He inhaled deeply, looking to calm his nerves, only to realize that no air entered his lungs. Taking a few more tentative breaths, Robin's nerves did calm as the autonomic function provided him with enough information to work with. Opening his eyes, he beheld the massive, far-reaching branches of the Mila Tree from his and Tiki's shared mindscape.

The sight of the heavenly tree settled him down, though a lingering worry still gripped his heart. He didn't come here on purpose. Something forced him into this space. Working through his memories, Robin concluded that the masked figure in the temple was the cause of it.

"Let us see how strong your mind truly is," Robin quoted as he envisioned the masked figure's empty gaze on him.

"I will say, calling me an abomination was a bit much," he groused as he remembered the insult that came before the pulse of power that erupted from the Vein and had crashed into him, Scarlet, and Nyx. Closing his eyes again and working through what he knew and what he could expect, Robin pushed himself up from the ground. "Obvious connotations aside, I should be wary, even in a familiar space."

An exhausted groan from his right grabbed Robin's attention. His eyes widened in worry at the sight of Tiki laying several feet from him. Rushing over to her, Robin cradled her form in his arms before scanning the rest of his surroundings. To his surprise, both Scarlet and Nyx were also here. Before he could even consider the implications and possible ways such a thing was possible, his eyes settled onto the form of a familiar visitor to his left.

'Tiki and Corrin are here, so that gives credence that this is our shared mindscape,' Robin surmised. His purple eyes darted back to Scarlet and Nyx, working out the puzzle their presence provided. 'They must have been dragged along with me somehow.' Robin remembered flaring his magic defensively to protect him and his companions from the pulse. In his mind, doing so must have connected them to a degree, as he needed to cast a blanketed defense spell that utilized Naga's power within him.

Robin also considered that the masked figure also played a role in that as the pulse from the Vein targeted all of them, not just him. That thought only caused that seed of worry to grow in his mind.

Turning his eyes away from his unconscious companions, Robin took in the surrounding area. At the patch of grass and earth that he and the others were currently residing on, was a swirling void of shadows that devoured everything it touched. The solace Robin felt was that the Mila Tree provided a blanket of comfort for everything underneath its branches, creating a barrier that blocked the swirling void from encroaching any further.

The shadows coalesced into several fine points, like dark talons as they poked and scraped the barrier. Finding no weakness after an intense moment, the talons receded back into the swirling void, their presence still felt by Robin. A small, relieved airless breath escaped him a second later.

"Ro-bin?" The white-haired Tactician's eyes drifted down towards the divine beauty in his arms. A look of confusion donned her face as she gazed up at them, then towards the branches of the Mila Tree above him. "I don't remember taking a nap..."

"What's the last thing you can remember, Tiki?" he asked her.

Her face scrunched up in thought, the mental gears turning in her head. "Nah and I had entered Regna Ferox. We were flying above the land to reach the western capital when I felt something within our connection," she relayed to him.

Robin stood up, helping Tiki onto her feet before moving over to Scarlet and Nyx. "I think I can safely assume that happened after we encountered something inside the temple," he explained as he gently nudged Scarlet. After seeing the blonde knight begin to stir, he moved over to Nyx, checking on her as well. Turning back to look at Tiki, he continued to explain. "It either caused the three of us to enter our mindscape, and you and Corrin were dragged along as well. Something else could be at play, though I doubt it."

"Corrin? She is here as well?" Tiki asked. Robin simply pointed behind her to the slumbering Nohrian princess still lying on the soft grass. She closed her eyes, pondering on the situation as a thought came to mind. "You were investigating a Dragon Vein, yes?"

Robin nodded. "That's right. That being we stumbled upon used the Vein and sent out a powerful pulse of magic that crashed into us," he explained.

Tiki went silent for a moment, taking in her beloved's words before formulating another factor. "It must have reacted to your blood then. With the connection between you, Corrin, and I, it's the only thing that makes sense, though I still do not know why we are even here in the first place."

A serious look flashed across Robin's face. "Before the pulse, the being said it would see how strong my mind was." Looking over to the shadows still trying to engulf the bright land under the Mila Tree, his voice dropped to an edged growl. "I think it's now a battle of minds."

Tiki followed his gaze. Her senses warned her something was stirring just past the shadows, waiting for the barrier between it and them to fall. Like a predator waiting in the darkness, the presence in the darkness simply needed the right time to strike.

Their attention shifted to the source of a faint groan. Turning around, Robin and Tiki noticed that Corrin was starting to stir. Feeling a little nostalgic, Robin made his way over to Corrin, Tiki following behind him as the sleeping princess' eyes slowly opened.

"I see you're awake now," Robin stated as Corrin looked over at him in surprise.

"Greetings," Tiki said, drawing Corrin's attention to her.

Corrin's mind raced with thoughts as she struggled to determine what exactly was happening. She found it difficult to speak up at the moment, choosing instead to take in the appearance of the two people she had been wanting to see for the last few days. To see them now felt like a dream come true.

"As a good friend of mine once told me, 'There are better places to take a nap than on the ground.'" Robin remarked with a fond smile. Corrin found it hard to turn her eyes away at the warmth that smile exuded. It was only when Robin held a hand out to her that she finally did. "Here. Give me your hand."

Corrin wordlessly reached out to him, taking his hand into hers. Robin pulled her up with little effort. Unfortunately, Corrin's mind was still foggy, causing her to stumble forward and press her body up against his. Her breathing hitched as something inside her stirred at Robin's steadying touch as he held her up, that same warm smile still on his face.

"Thank you, Robin," Corrin finally said. She winced at how tiny her voice sounded as she spoke, but it just felt difficult when his vibrant purple eyes stared directly into hers. Add on the heat building up in her cheeks, and Corrin like a blushing maiden from all the stories Elise loves to read.

Finally breaking eye contact, Corrin looked around the area. She noticed the tide of shadows threatening to envelope them, only to be deterred by a powerful barrier. Something sank in the pit of her stomach as her worried red eyes lingered on the swirling shadows. There was a niggling thought scratching at the back of her mind that felt familiar to her, but for the life of her, she was unable to determine what exactly that was.

Her attention then moved to the billowing leaves above her. Craning her neck, she followed the branches, leading her to the massive tree sheltering her and the others from the darkness. The sight of it was not only relieving as she safely assumed that it was because of the tree that they were protected, but also giving credence to where she believed she was.

That thought soon turned to confusion as she had no clue as to why she was even here in the first place. Turning back to look at Robin and Tiki, she hoped that one of them had an answer for her.

Seeing the confusion on the princesses face, Robin gave her a patient smile. "I understand your confusion, Corrin. But before we continue, we should make sure my companions are awake as well. We'll talk then."

His sudden use of her name caught Corrin off guard. "W-wait! How do you know me?"

"Your sister was quite proud whenever she talked about her siblings," Robin answered as he made his way over to the messy-haired blonde lying on the grass.

Looking back at Corrin, his eyes narrowed onto her, making her feel rather small under his gaze. "The better question is how do you know me?" He countered.

Before Corrin could answer him, the blonde that Robin was checking on began to stir. Corrin watched a relieved smile formed on the blonde's face when her eyes beheld Robin, matching the one he wore. As curious as she was to their relationship, Corrin's attention moved to the green-haired beauty standing only a few steps away from her.

Tiki. The one who seemed to hold a deep connection with the man of Corrin's dreams. The same beauty who, while wearing a serene expression on her face, also held a deep curiosity within her if her gaze was anything to go by. Corrin felt as though she was being weighed and measured by a greater predator. The very thought caused her blood to stir.

Her eyes sharpened momentarily, and while she didn't wish to come off as challenging to one of the two people who could give her answers, the second princess of Nohr felt she had to stand her ground.

After a tense moment, Corrin felt her shoulders begin to relax as Tiki graced her with a small, serene smile. The sight caused Corrin's blood to react the same it had whenever she looked into Robin's eyes. There was, however, something else in Tiki's smile. To Corrin, it seemed like the woman in front of her learned something rather important, like she now held the answer to an important question only she was privy to.

"It is lovely to finally meet you, Corrin," Tiki said to the ash-blonde princess. "Robin and I were rather confused and worried that you had not visited us after your last sudden arrival."

"R-really?" Corrin was surprised by that. She had held on to the hope that she would see Robin and Tiki once more, a hope that the two in question seemed to share with her. "I-" Corrin bit her lip, wondering just how much she should share. They were strangers to her, people who somehow shared a connection with her. Or, her with them. It did feel like she intruded upon them last time.

Seeing the patient look that Tiki gave her, Corrin steeled her resolve. "I was worried it was only a dream." She looked around her, still unused to her surroundings. “That this really is just a dream…”

"In many ways, it is." Corrin looked over at the voice, seeing Robin, the blonde and a rather young girl dressed as a Nohrian Dark Mage making their way over to join her and Tiki. "At the moment, we are all in a shared dream. One forced upon us."

That caused Corrin's eyes to widen. She remembered that she and Felicia were wandering the halls of her lonely fortress, with her pink-haired friend and maid asking her about her efforts to dream of Robin and Tiki once more. Then, there was the mind-numbing headache…

Followed by silence and darkness.

"What caused it?" Corrin asked him.

"Some freaky magic shit."

"A blight on this world."

Corrin looked at the blonde knight and the cursed mage, confused by their overlapping answers. Thinking back to the magic lessons her younger brother shared with her, Corrin managed to form some understanding from it all.

Robin, upon seeing the confusion on Corrin's face, decided to elaborate. "Nyx," he said, gesturing to the  mage, "came to Scarlet and me about a corrupted Dragon Vein. When we arrived at the temple the Vein was housed in, we encountered something unnatural."

He turned to look at the swirling void that still struggled to invade the sanctity that the Mila Tree provided them. "Fortunately for us, whatever is corrupting the Vein didn't know that there was a connection shared between you, Tiki, and I. When it lashed out at us, it meant to attack my mind alone."

Nyx added in her own input, treating it both as a study and observation. "And instead of one mind, it ended up lashing out against three. Three rather powerful minds if the combined mindscape has managed to hold back any further attacks."

Scarlet's face scrunched up in confusion. "Wait wait wait. As far as I know, Robin and Tiki are connected. He’s told me as much since we started traveling together," she explained. Corrin was thankful for that, as it certainly helped give her some much needed information. Scarlet then pointed at Corrin, making the princess shrink in on herself at the sudden attention being placed on her. "How is she involved? Second question, how the hell are you and I here, Nyx?"

"Robin's magic, I surmise," the cursed mage answered. "When the pulse broke through our shields, I felt Robin overcharge the last countercurse he attempted to cast. The power behind it must have linked us together." Her dull eyes swiftly darted over to Tiki. "It feels rather similar to the energy coming from her. Tiki, was it?"

"Yes. That is correct, Nyx," Tiki replied. "As for why Corrin is here, that is because she is similar to myself and Robin." Here green eyes lingered on Corrin once more. "More so me than Robin."

While she was still confused, Corrin's mind went to the first thing that made sense to her based on Tiki's statement. Her mind then went to a conversation she had with Lilith, reminding Corrin why her blood had reacted so strangely as of late. "You mean the fact you and Robin have dragon blood."

Tiki gave Corrin a smile, "Indeed." Her smile swiftly faded as her attention drifted to the borders of their sanctuary, but not before giving Corrin a few more curious looks.

A heavy gong reverberated through the air, causing the group of five to look at the barrier. The shadows lashed out violently against the barrier, desperately trying to break through with each crashing blow. Abyssal talons bounced off the ethereal wall, leaving faint gashes that faded as quickly as they appeared.

Corrin felt a deep growl forming in her throat, her instincts warning her of a greater predator waiting for them in the darkness. Her eyes darted around, gauging the reaction of the others.

She saw Scarlet's fists tightened with each ringing gong, the blonde completely on edge as she focused on the threat ahead of her. Nyx did well to hide the subtle flinch of her eyes. When Corrin's eyes landed on Robin and Tiki, she couldn't help but feel some sense of security and courage swelling up within her.

The two were absolutely focused on the threat outside their sanctuary. There was no fear in their eyes, only a resolute determination. It helped settle the princess' heart and mind, knowing that the two seemed unaffected by the presence hiding in the veil of darkness.

With an air of confidence and control, Robin moved forward. "It looks like the source of this curse is getting rather impatient," he said. "I will say, I don't appreciate its attempts to force itself into my mind." He looked over his shoulder at the group, his violet orbs dancing with power as they met each of theirs. "I think that it has overstayed its welcome."

Scarlet strutted over to him and Tiki, the corner of her lips tugging into a cocky smirk. "Well, you know me, Robin. I'm with you on this." The cocky smirk on her face fell slightly, her sudden burst of confidence fading and being replaced by a sliver of doubt. "Buuut I gotta be honest, I think aside from you, Tiki, and Nyx, I'm outta my depth here."

"Rest assured, you have more power here than you think," came the sudden and unexpected reassurance from Nyx. "While utilizing the mind artes is extremely difficult, let alone study, you have the advantage of sharing a link with two mages and three dragons. Everything past this barrier will be determined by a collective understanding."

Scarlet quirked an inquisitive brow at Nyx's words and turned to Robin for a much clearer explanation. Robin smiled and held out his hand. Magic swirled around his open palm, stretching and expanding into a familiar axe. Once the weapon completed forming, Robin wiggled it in his hand, urging Scarlet to take a hold of it.

"We'll keep things simple. Do things that are familiar to us," Robin explained as Scarlet took the axe.

The blonde knight rapped her knuckles against the axe's head, testing just how physical the mental construct was. As she traced her fingers along the mosaic any lingering doubt was washed away from her mind. "I can work with that."

A flash of purple light appeared in the corner of Scarlet's eyes, causing her to turn to see what happened. Nyx held out a replica of her tome, flipping through its pages for a moment before bobbing her head with a content look on her face. "To keep things simple, this is a shared space. All understanding and the world around us is based on the most powerful minds connecting us." Nyx looked at Scarlet, her eyes narrowing as she stressed her next words. "While this is a shared mindscape, if your brain suffers too much stress, you will die. So don't think yourself invincible, young lady."

Like Scarlet, Corrin listened to Nyx's heavy-handed warning, a deep-seeded worry taking root in the pit of her stomach. She looked past the barrier, peering into the void behind it. That worry began to sprout into doubt as she imagined what hid in the darkness. She couldn't shake off the feeling that something familiar lay in wait in the shadows.

A part of her wanted to reach out to it, while another wanted to recoil away, wanting to defend itself from the potential danger.

A hand grasped her shoulder, breaking the Nohrian princess out of her thoughts. She looked over and saw Robin giving her concerned look.

"I know that you were dragged into this," he said understandingly, "so if you wish, you can remain here while we clean up our mess."

Corrin studied the white-haired Tactician, trying her best not to focus on the feeling of his hand on her shoulder or how it caused her turbulent blood to react to his touch. She saw no judgment in his eyes. If she wanted to simply wait for them, he understood that it would be her choice. This wasn't her fight.

"I appreciate it, Robin," she said with a thankful smile. Her hand found its way to his as she took a hold of it, giving it squeeze. Turning her body to face him, Corrin's thankful smile morphed into a determined one. "But you said you and your companions were trying to cleanse a Dragon Vein in my kingdom, right? Then as a princess of Nohr, it's my duty to protect my home."

Corrin's second hand joined the other, giving her a firm, yet gentle, grip on Robin's. "Besides, I still have questions for you and Tiki."

"And we will be more than willing to answer them to the best of our abilities," Robin replied while giving her a confident and accepting smirk. Corrin nearly melted at the sight of it. She found herself liking that smirk. "I do have a question for you, though," he said, catching her off guard. "Weapon preference?"

Corrin released her hold on Robin's hand and stepped back. "A straight sword, if you will. Something nimble enough, but with some weight to it. I'm very mobile with my style," she replied.

Robin seemed amused by her words, but Corrin could see the gears turning in his head. "I have something that should work."

As Robin held out his hand, Corrin watched as motes of energy appeared and began to take shape. After several seconds, Robin was holding a regal sword with a thin, double-edged blade. At the base of the blade was an ornate gold and white circular hand guard placed right above a thin cross-guard that had diamond-shaped points at the end. A silver wavy strip of metal curved around the hand and a half length grip, with a silver teardrop pommel capping the end.

Corrin felt reluctant to take the blade, thinking it should be treated more as a treasure than a weapon. She gingerly accepted the blade and tested its weight, giving it a few practice swings. She paused for a moment, wondering if she really had to do so, but remembered that Robin and Nyx stated that this mindscape ran on their understanding of things. If her mind felt the need to perform such actions, she wouldn't question it too much.

The situation was already beyond what she ever expected to be in, but at least her current company seemed quite confident in themselves.

As his companions were now armed, Robin took the time to arm himself as well. Holding out his hand, a familiar weight appeared in his open palm. Running his other hand across the surface of his grimoire, Robin turned to look at Tiki. They shared a look and a nod, and focused their attention on the Mila Tree at their backs. Raising their hands in unison towards the tree, a light began emanating from its branches, its leaves creating a gentle glow.

Corrin, Scarlet, and Nyx felt a wash of power wash over them, one that was both comforting and awe-inspiring. The light from the branches erupted upward, connecting the tree to the barrier. With another pulse, the barrier expanded, the swirling light making up its walls glowing brighter and brighter by the second.

The surrounding shadows recoiled violently. Every second it lost ground as the barrier pushed back against it. Inch by inch, more of the mindscape was revealed to the group. Grassy knolls blended into stony mosaics, as a shattered temple appeared. Large chunks and fragmented floors floated above stilled water that blended seamlessly into a monochromatic galaxy.

Before the group could even appreciate the surreal landscape, they were assaulted by a deafening silence. The gentle rustling of the Mila Tree's leaves were choked out, the crunching grass beneath their feet now was completely silent.

Scarlet couldn't help but shiver. "I really hate whatever is causing this." She grimaced at how muted her voice sounded. It was simply wrong to her.

Corrin didn't fare any better. The silence had a much more powerful effect on her, causing her blood to react accordingly. Her grip on her rapier tightened as the hairs on the back of her neck stood up on end. "W-what is this?"

"Silence. Beautiful silence." The group suddenly stood on guard as a hunched figure appeared across the bridge from them.

Robin, Scarlet, and Nyx narrowed their eyes as they recognized the masked, emaciated corpse from the temple. Its head suddenly snapped up, the slits of its mask lingering on Robin, Tiki, and Corrin for an uncomfortable moment before speaking again in a disjointed voice not of its own. "And you all are intruders upon my domain..."

"Forgive me if I'm a little vexed by your statement," Robin interjected with a sharp tone. "After all, you have forced yourself into our minds. I don't appreciate such actions, especially when those actions are rather hypocritical."

The masked corpse tilted its head as it focused on Robin. "A dragon does not concern itself with the opinions of its lessers, Abomination."

"And yet you hide behind a mask," Tiki remarked calmly. "I would think a dragon would have enough pride in itself to appear in all its glory."

A bestial rumble came from the masked corpse. Nyx and Scarlet unconsciously stepped back, their weapons raised, ready to defend themselves. Corrin found herself flinching slightly before giving the corpse a defiant glare. Only Robin and Tiki remained unaffected with their heads held high as they simply stared down their foe. Just the sight of the two of them standing strong helped ease some of Corrin's troubled nerves.

"Careful with your words, child," came a deep, twisted grumble from the figure, causing the calm look on Tiki's face to be replaced by anger. "You may have divine blood running through your veins, but you are still a lesser dragon compared to me. Unlike you and your fallen ilk, I do not hide behind a human visage, fearing my own power."

The hunched corpse slowly straightened out its back with sickening cracks. Standing tall, the corpse held out its hand, pointing a bony finger at Robin and Tiki. "I have seen the truth of your hearts and minds. False dragons, clawing and biting at their betters. I shall use this puppet's power to show the gap between mortal and divine. And you shall face the ghosts haunting your hearts."

A dark miasma poured out from the corpse's form, enveloping it in darkness. Once the shroud disappeared, a new form took the corpse, one that caused Robin's eyes to widen slightly in shock.

Robin found himself holding back a deep growl as he took in the shadowy appearance of his fallen father. The curse had created a perfect facsimile from his memory. From the towering height of the dark sorcerer, to the abyssal form-fitting robes he wore. Even the twisted smile was there. His sunken eyes, that once displayed a subtle, power-hungry madness, now had a sickly purple glow to them, showcasing the power behind the illusion.

"Hello again, little bird," came the disjointed, haunting voice of Validar.

"Quite the trick," Robin commented. "A rather poor choice taking the appearance of Validar, though." He took a step forward, the grip on his grimoire tightening. "After all, you should already know that I have a very strained relationship with the man."

With a flex of his magic, Robin sent out a pulse of power, laced with Naga's grace. The pulse raced outward, causing the still waters to ripple as it crossed the stone bridge towards the shadowy Validar. The specter grimaced and cut his arm through the air, blocking the pulse from striking him.

"Come then. Sharpen your claws and bare your fangs," the shadowy Validar said as dark magic swirled around his now-raised hand, forming a large mass of energy. "Struggle and suffer the silence."

Robin quickly opened his grimoire as he kept track of the spell forming in front of him. "Nyx! Support!" He called out to his fellow mage.

Nyx was already on the move, opening her own grimoire as her magic surged. "Of course," she replied coolly, though with a hint of worry laced within her voice.

The shadow Validar's smile grew wider as he threw his hand forward. The magic hovering above him lashed out as enormous tendrils of dark energy raced towards the group. Robin and Nyx combined their magic and created a dome of energy around them that was boosted by the power of the Mila Tree. Tiki, Corrin, and Scarlet were quick to group up behind Robin and Nyx as soon as Validar's dark magic crashed into the shield.

Robin dug his heels into the ground as Nyx felt her jaw clench tightly as they maintained the strength of the barrier against the unrelenting force trying desperately to break through. They stood strong, and after several more seconds, the spell ended. The two let out a relieved sigh as the pressure faded, only for their bodies to go on edge as they saw a multitude of enemies on the broken ground before them.

Scarlet clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Figures it wouldn't be easy."

Corrin found herself absent-mindedly nodding at the statement, sharing the sentiment as her red eyes scanned the landmass. All across the shattered floor emerged several shadowy figures, clawing their way through pools of dark magic. Some she recognized from her studies with Gunter, standard soldiers donning traditional Nohrian armor for Mercenaries, Fighters, Dark Mages, and Sorcerers.

"Any idea what some of those troops are?" she asked openly as she pointed to several unfamiliar figures.

"The curse is pulling from all our minds, so it makes sense that we are facing something we are familiar with," Robin answered her with an analytic tone. "I see a mix of Ylissian and Plegian forces alongside the Norhians. Archers, Dark Mages, Sorcerers, and Assassins by the looks of them. The Knights I can spot seem to be a mix of the three.."

Corrin hummed in response, her mind taking in the information Robin shared. Her lessons with Gunter and Xander came to the forefront as simple, adaptable battle plans began forming. "Any sign of our greeter?" she asked as her eyes continued to scan the battlefield.

"At the far end, on the raised dias," Tiki pointed out.

"And our obvious objective," Robin remarked with a notable growl in his voice.

Corrin narrowed her eyes as she looked down the battlefield, past the first level and towards the floating isle beyond that. Sure enough, the strikingly tall silhouette of Validar stood on the high-rising dias, overlooking the entirety of the field.

The field itself seemed like something out of a mad mind. The long bridge that connected their grassy landing to the fragmented temple grounds floating in the void. The main floor stretched on for over a hundred meters by Corrin's estimates, with two sets of small stairs rising every thirty meters. To the left and right of the front half of the main floor floated a meter or two above it, with a series of stones hovering like stepping stones in between them.

Another floating stone platform sat just north of the large platform on the left, with no clear signs on how to reach it. At the end of the path was the dias Validar claimed, peering over everything like a miniature mountain, with Validar himself claiming the very top as his perch. Corrin could practically feel his hateful gaze washing over them, watching them like a hawk.

Corrin’s fingers squeezed the hilt of her rapier, the leather of her gloves straining under the pressure. There was something familiar whenever their enemy’s eyes landed on her. It was the same feeling she got whenever her father looked at her. Shaking away her nerves, Corrin steeled herself, flourishing her rapier as she took up an unorthodox guard.

“How should we handle this?” She asked. Looking at her companions, she noticed that Tiki, Scarlet, and Nyx all turned their attention to Robin, deferring to his judgement.

“We move as a group,” Robin stated plainly. He looked at Scarlet and then at Corrin as he began vocalizing a rudimentary plan of attack. “Scarlet and Corrin, you‘ll be our front line. Nyx and I will provide you cover. We’ll soften up the enemy and you two will finish them off. If we need to split up, we pair up, one melee-fighter and one mage.”

Scarlet nodded, completely fine with the plan. Corrin did the same, putting her trust in Robin. Her eyes turned to Tiki, wondering what the divine beauty would bring to battle.

Feeling Corrin’s gaze upon her, Tiki’s smile curled into a soft smile as she held out her hands. “I know Robin’s formation already. It’s a similar formation we’ve used before,” she said, answering Corrin’s unasked question. Azure energy swirled around her open palms. In a bright flash, the energy was replaced with a resplendent gem in the shape of an egg, large enough to be cradled in Tiki’s hands. “I shall show our foe my power as a Divine Manakete.”

With everyone ready and moving into the quick formation Robin created, they turned their attention to the battle field. Their shoulders were tense, a sure sign their minds were hyper-focused on the threat ahead of them. Corrin found it difficult to steady her breathing. Even if the action was unnecessary in this space, it helped calm her nerves.

Her first battle. No intense spars with Gunter or Xander, no lessons in theoretical tactics with Leo or methods to keep your mind sharp in the thick of battle that Camilla shared with her. This, she thought, was her first real test.

“As soon as we cross the border of the Mila Tree’s protection, prepare for the worst,” Robin remarked calmly. “Our enemy is waiting for us to make the first move, so we need to start off on the right foot. Move together and don’t overreach.”

Corrin felt the tension leave her body as Robin’s muted voice filled the air. Even with the silence their foe created, Robin’s voice carried with it a sense of control and steadiness. It reminded her of Xander whenever she used to spy on him training the guards of her lonely cage. It made those around him stand a little taller, as if they were granted the strength of heroes of old.

Fighting alongside Robin felt like that. There was another feeling deep burning in her core, something that practically sang to her at the prospect. Corrin was quick to smother such feelings for now, recalling a bit of advice Camilla shared with her not too long ago.

It wouldn’t do good for her to let those burning feelings get out of hand. Not now.

“Scarlet. Corrin. By your lead,” Robin said to the pair, all while keeping his eyes forward, constantly scanning the battlefield for subtle shifts in the enemy’s positioning.

Scarlet moved first, breaking out into a light jog as Corrin quickly caught up. Robin and Nyx trailed behind them, with Tiki bringing up the rear. As soon as Scarlet and Corrin stepped out from the Mila Tree’s far-reaching branches, they felt the hard shift in the air.

The muted silence was now deafening. An oppressive force pressed down upon them at nearly every angle. They had only made it halfway across the bridge connecting the Mila Tree’s grassy knoll and the shattered temple when Robin bellowed out an urgent warning. “Close ranks! Nyx, help me prepare a shield! Validar and his Sorcerers are unleashing a barrage!”

The pages of his and Nyx’s grimoires blurred as they began channeling their magic. His eyes darted from Sorcerer to Sorcerer, watching as miasmic magic swirled into a powerful vortex hovering over their hands. His attention quickly moved to Validar, seeing the dark shade lazily raise his hand and unleash a powerful spell towards the group.

“Brace!” Robin gritted his teeth as soon as the combined spell slammed into his and Nyx’s combined barrier. A resounding gong broke through the silence, letting him know that their barrier held against the initial attack. Several softer gongs followed after, bands of energy rippling throughout the barrier with each hit. 

Even when the barrage ended, Robin and Nyx maintained their combined spell, the two mages watching as the residual magic hung heavily around them. Corrin and Scarlet shared an uneasy look as they waited. Corrin saw Scarlet’s hands tighten around the shaft of her axe, her body tensing up like a spring. She found herself mirroring the blonde knight’s actions, her instincts screaming at her to ready herself.

As the barrier dropped and the miasma dissipated, Corrin’s body moved, deflecting the blade of a Mercenary who rushed them. Her eyes caught a flash of steel to her right. A second Mercenary had targeted Scarlet, until to be met by the head of her axe digging into his collarbone, causing black blood to erupt from the wound. A blade of wind shot between Corrin and Scarlet from behind, but the Princess of Nohr kept her attention on her immediate foe.

The Mercenary recovered quickly enough and took a more defensive approach. Corrin took to the offensive, testing the Mercenary’s defense with a quick slash from hip to shoulder. The Mercenary managed to block the strike, only for Corrin to move with the grace of a dancer as she flowed with her changed momentum. Spinning to the left and out of the Mercenary’s immediate range, Corrin brought down her blade, carving a harsh, bloodless line through the Mercenary’s torso. Corrin followed through with a quick stab aimed at the Mercenary’s neck, avoiding the gambeson entirely and ending the shade’s life.

The Mercenary simply dissolved into motes of dark embers. The entire process unnerved Corrin. The Mercenaries she and Scarlet felled didn’t scream or cry out in pain, yet they still bled. The blood however, didn’t linger, already evaporating within seconds. Their bodies felt the blows and strikes of their weapons, their faces contorted into silent pain before their passing. While her mind struggled to make sense of the ease of everything that happened in the span of a minute, she repeated more and more of Camilla’s advice in order to center herself.

“Keep your mind focused on our goal, princess.” Corrin felt her body jolt at Nyx’s sudden address. She turned her head in time to watch another spell fly from Nyx’s hand, a bright, burning ball of fire soaring through the air towards an enemy Dark Mage who failed to summon a barrier in time. “We can’t have your nerves failing now.”

With a brief respite, Nyx looked at Robin. “We can’t have those Sorcerers aid this Validar of yours in his attacks,” she stated bluntly.

Robin simply nodded his head, already adjusting their plan of attack. “Agreed. I count three Sorcerers among their numbers.” He pointed over to the floating platform to their right, drawing the group’s attention to the lone Sorcerer situated there alongside a Fighter blocking the broken steps and a Dark Mage in between them. “That’s our first target.”

Looking between his companions, Robin saw the determined expressions on their faces. “We’ll need to move fast,” he added. “We don’t know how quickly the enemy can unleash another salvo. They could be charging another right now.”

With that, Corrin and Scarlet spun on their heels and led the charge forward. As soon as they reached the main section of the shattered temple, a churning ball of dark energy was lobbed at them.

“Scatter!” Corrin roared as the spell descended upon them. Corrin and Robin leaped to the left as Scarlet and Nyx moved right. Tiki pulled back with a hop as the spell slammed into the stony mosaic.

As the spell fizzled out, a shiver ran up Scarlet’s spine, alerting her to the impending danger headed her way. She brought up her axe, blocking a steel blade that threatened to cut her down. An Assassin had leaped over the fallen pillar separating her and the others from a trio of enemies. Before she could retaliate, the Assassin hopped back, landing on top of the pillar. A hint of electric air tickled her nose, a faint crackling breaking through the silence of the field.

With a smirk, Scarlet crouched down as Nyx took aim, extending her arm as a golden magic circle appeared at her fingertips. “Thunder!” The cursed mage cried out as a powerful bolt of lightning magic raced towards the Assassin.

Unable to avoid the spell in time, the Assassin was helpless as the bolt slammed into their torso, stunning them in place. They stumbled, struggling to find their balance as their body shook and trembled, arcs of golden lightning dancing across their form. Their sickly, glowing eyes, shadowed by their red hood raised in time to see Scarlet’s axe swing towards them in a wide arch.

As Scarlet and Nyx dispatched the Assassin, Robin and Corrin were busy dodging arrows from a nearby archer who used the fallen pillar as cover. The Archer nocked another arrow, aimed, and let it fly towards the pair. Corrin had already been on the move, dancing out of the arrows path before it was even fired. Her rhythm was broken when another spell from the enemy raced towards her, preventing her from pushing the Archer.

Because of the haze caused by the spell, she failed to notice the arrow aimed at her. Her ears barely picked up the snap of the bow string when Robin blurred in front of her, casting a shield that intercepted the arrow, launching it harmlessly in a new direction. He returned the Archer’s attack with one of his own, fire dancing around hand as several burning orange rings of magic formed around him.

“Elfire!” At his command, a great ball of fire swirled and formed in the palm of his hand and shot forward. The spell increased in size, threatening to engulf the Archer in flames, who was quick to duck their head behind their cover.

“Corrin,” Robin called out to his companion. “Care for a lift?”

Corrin raised a questioning brow as she watched the Tactician prepare a new spell. The wind began to pick up around them, causing her cape to flutter in the soft gusts. She quickly considered what he asked her before a smile broke out on her face. “I’d appreciate it.”

Robin nodded and aimed his hand in front of him, channeling his magic as the soft gusts of wind grew more powerful. Several rings of green, azure, and purple formed around his body as a magic circle appeared on the tiled ground. Corrin rushed forward, her feet landing in the center of the circle as Robin finished casting his spell. “ARCWIND!”

A powerful vortex lifted Corrin into the air, aiming her directly at the Archer. Using the swirling gusts to her advantage, she twisted her body, reorienting herself to have her rapier pointed right at the Archer. Before the archer was able to defend themself, Corrin’s blade pierced a gap in their gambeson, the slender blade ending the specter with one strike.

As the spectral Archer faded into dark embers, Corrin was forced back from a sudden dark spell that slammed into the ground where she stood. Her back hit the fallen pillar behind her as she dodged another spell from the Dark Mage in front of her. Sickly purple eyes glowed underneath the shadows of its skull headdress, burning with malice as they stared down the Nohrian princess.

A sudden, deafening roar filled the air. Pale green scales glistened in the dull light of the broken temple, fighting against the muted darkness around them. Powerful wings beat like a rapid drum as a massive dragon appeared above Corrin. Its head reeled back, azure flames billowing from its maw as it rained draconic fire down on its target.

The Dark Mage erected a hasty barrier. The dragon’s azure flames slammed into it, magic combating magic. While the Dark Mage’s stoney expression gave nothing away, their shield began to crack. The dragon simply pours more power into its attack, its flames growing more intense. Embers danced wildly around the shield, the stone around it seemingly melting with each passing second.

The barrier cracked and then shattered. The Dark Mage stumbled, standing on shaky legs as it recovered from the backlash. Before they could retaliate, the dragon landed, shaking the ground before it spun, slamming its powerful tail into the Dark Mage and knocking them into the abyss.

Corrin looked on in awe. The dragon was magnificent in her eyes, living up to the many dreams she had of them as a child. A powerful body made up of pale white and green scales, with wings and frills reminiscent of crystal ribbons. She was so lost in its presence she failed to notice Robin taking her arm and pulling her closer to the dragon.

“Tiki! Another salvo’s incoming!” He declared as Scarlet and Nyx joined up with them.

A bright light emanated from the dragon. As soon as it faded, Corrin saw Tiki standing in the dragon’s place. Shaking off her awe, Corrin watched as Robin and Nyx worked together to create another protective shield around their group, right as the first spell impacted. A resounded gong rang out from the force of the spell, followed by three more strikes.

Corrin and Nyx wasted no time dropping their magical shield when the danger passed. Robin was already forming an adaptation to their plan. He looked ahead, tracking the remaining troops between them and Validar. His eyes moved left, counting the number of troops on the floating platform off in the distance.

‘A Dark Mage, a Knight, and an Archer,’ he noted before focusing his attention to the platform on the right, his purple and azure eyes landing on the Sorcerer.

“Scarlet, Nyx?” He said to his companions. Feeling their eyes on him, Robin pointed to the platform the Sorcerer was on. “Do you two think you can handle those four?”

Scarlet answered him with a confident grin. “Leave it to us!” With her objective set, the crimson knight rushed ahead.

Nyx simply nodded and followed after Scarlet.

Robin turned to address his last two companions. “We’ll push ahead and split a moment later. You two head to the platforms and clear off the enemies there.” His eyes landed on Tiki, his voice growing softer as he addressed her. “I don’t suppose I need to tell you to be careful, yes?”

Tiki cupped his cheek and gave him a warm smile. “Of course not, my love. But I appreciate your concern.”

Returning her smile with one of his own, Robin’s eyes grew a steely edge to them. “Then let’s move!”

As the trio moved ahead, Scarlet and Nyx had reached a series of floating stones that led to their destination. At the top step, a Nohrian fighter stood in their path, with a Nohrian Dark Mage rushing to provide support. Knowing time was of the essence, Nyx channeled her magic, the pages of her grimoire flipping hastily before landing on her intended spell. Dark, volatile rings of energy appeared around her as a miasmic power formed at the palm of her open hand. Thrusting her hand out, she calmly declared her spell, “Flux.”

Beneath the Fighter’s feet swirled dark magic. It rose around the shadowy warrior, wrapping their body in a dark-purple mist. The mist reacted and constricted, causing the Fighter to flinch before it exploded. The Fighter stumbled backward, the grip on their axe loosening.

Taking advantage of the opening, Scarlet pushed off one of the floating steps, taking a powerful leap towards her target. Her silver axe carved through the air, its bladehead tearing through the Fighter’s exposed chest and leather girdle, As the Fighter fell to the ground and faded, Scarlet felt her body tingle, the hairs on the back of her neck raising as her combat senses blared warnings in her mind.

Moving on instinct, she spun around, swinging her axe upward in time to cut through a Fire spell that was launched at her from the Dark Mage. While it was a risky maneuver, Scarlet trusted her skills, and the inherent anti-magic qualities silver had, but it paid off as wispy smoke and tiny embers danced around her body as the spell fizzled out.

Scarlet smirked. “Next time bring some actual heat!” She mocked the shadowy mage. Her smirk fell slightly when she realized just how hollow their enemies were. It was like something was simply mimicking the look of humanity, but knew nothing about the soul. Pushing the dreadful thought to the back of her mind, she readied her axe and rushed the Dark Mage.

The silent puppet raised its arm as magic swirled around them. Scarlet saw arcs of lightning dance across their form as magic rings appeared around them. While she trusted her skills and reaction time, Scarlet knew she couldn’t cut through this next spell with her silver axe. Instead, Scarlet would move at the right time. Her ruby-red eyes sharpened as she tracked the energy swirling around the Dark Mage. She didn’t stop moving forward, each step clearing the distance between her and the mage.

It was dangerous, as she was giving herself less distance to dodge the incoming attack. But Scarlet was a Wyvern Rider, a knight who knew how to move with the flow of battle, to react within a fraction of a second.

It was with that trained skill that when the Thunder spell shot out from the Dark Mage’s hand, she had rolled forward, her crimson armor clattering against the stony floor. Moving fluidly, Scarlet stayed low, just under waist-height of the Dark Mage when she swung her silver axe horizontally, using the elongated shaft of her weapon to swipe at the Dark Mage’s legs.

Once more, Scarlet felt disturbed by the shadowy figures. The Dark Mage made no surprised grunts or pained sounds when their body slammed onto the ground. They didn’t cry out in anguish when Scarlet rose up and brought down her axe, its heavy blade carving into their body with ease.

“It shouldn’t be like this…” She muttered lowly to herself as Nyx moved to join her.

Death had a certain weight to it. Fighting warriors reminded her how easy it was to lose your life on the battlefield. It could be messy or clean. Death could be silent or loudly chilling, but always brought out a flurry of emotions on the one who met death.

But these shadowy warriors, these facsimiles of humanity showed nothing. 

Had this been any other situation, like a training exercise, such thoughts and observations wouldn’t bother her. At least she’d like to think that.

But this was a battle for survival, against a force she couldn’t understand at the moment. It was her training, her duty to her allies, the trust Robin put in her and her drive to ensure that she, him, and their comrades would awaken from this nightmare.

The sudden snap of a bowstring broke Scarlet from her thoughts. She barely registered the arrow that raced towards her, or the magical barrier that it slammed against that appeared right in front of her nose.

A relieved breath slipped past the blonde knight’s lips as a smile formed on her face. “You’re the best, Nyx.”

“I shall tell you what I told the princess,” Nyx replied, shooting her companion a stern look, “Focus on our task.”

Scarlet sent Nyx an apologetic look, feeling thoroughly chided for her lack of vigilance. “My bad. It won’t happen again.”

Another arrow slammed into the barrier, followed by a powerful dark spell that clouded the pair’s vision momentarily. “I know,” Nyx simply stated. “Now let us deal with these puppets.”

Dropping the barrier, Nyx channeled her magic into another spell. Scarlet felt the hairs on her neck stand on end again. Multiple rings of lightning and magic formed around her as her eyes narrowed on her targets. She raised her hand and spoke, her voice carrying with it power and certainty, “Prepare to leave this realm, shadows! ARCHTHUNDER!” 

Magic circles appeared above the Sorcerer and Archer that stood across from them. The Sorcerer was quick to act, summoning a powerful barrier that withstood the barrage of magical lightning that rained down on them. The archer was not as lucky. They simply took a stray bolt to their chest, knocking them back several feet, their twitching body rolling across the ground before fading away.

The Sorcerer acted quickly, dropping their barrier and drawing forth their power to create another spell. Dark magic swirled around their hands, as if they were directing the flow of water around them. As their magic reached a crescendo, they swiped their hand upward, unleashing their spell as a miasmic wave that rushed towards Scarlet and Nyx.

Scarlet moved first, her body reacting as her own magic surged. Her muscles tensed, straining with power. With a loud cry, she raised her axe high and slammed its blade into the ground in front of her, carving through the spell and stone with ease. Her messy blonde locks fluttered from the force of the dissipating magic, the ends of her hairband blowing wildly among the dark embers.

Nyx moved behind her, summoning forth a biting cold within her hands. “Excellent work, Scarlet,” Nyx said. “Allow me to show you the power that comes with age.” The ice coalesced and formed a thick, pointed spike that chilled the air around it. “Ice Spike!”

The Sorcerer was unable to react this time, as the icy missile raced through the air like an arrow. It found its mark, easily piercing the Sorcerer’s chest. Their blank face betrayed nothing, simply remaining a stoic mask that faded into nothingness.

“Impressive,” Scarlet remarked with a low whistle. “That’s one-”

Scarlet was cut off as Nyx suddenly moved between her and a powerful salvo of magic, generating a barrier in time to protect them both.

Robin dropped his barrier, wincing as a bright flash of light filled his vision. Moving on instinct, he dodged a giant furred-first that crashed into the ground where he once stood. When his vision cleared, Robin spotted Tiki already moving to the western platform. Corrin lagged behind, her blood-red eyes filled with concern for a moment as she watched Robin. The Tactician gave her a nod, silently letting her know to keep moving. Corrin gave him a hesitant one in return before rushing after Tiki.

With his two companions pushing their objective, Robin faced his opponent, taking in every important detail that he could. The beastman reminded him of a Taguel, with the earlier flash being the use of a Beast Stone. The wolfman stood several heads taller than Robin, with thick, trunk-like arms that could easily crush anything it grappled or struck, with sharp claws that could rend through plate armor. Its bulky form could possibly withstand the force of a tackling wyvern and several powerful spells. With a large, rounded head and sharp, viciously glowing eyes, it loomed over Robin, painting a terrifying silhouette.

As the wolfman rounded on Robin, the Tactician channeled his magic, green rings of energy forming around him as he thrust out his hand. “Elwind!” The spell generated two gusts of wind that pushed Robin away from the immediate danger and up the small flight of stairs leading further along the path. The hem of his large coat billowed with his momentum, his boots landing flatly on the ground as he skidded across the stony surface. Heat built up near him as the nearby Sorcerer channeled their own spell, a blazing fire gathering in the palm of their hands. Noting the number of rings and the size of the fire, Robin knew the Sorcerer was about to unleash an Arcfire. A plan formed in his mind, noting the positions of the Sorcerer himself, and the wolfman.

Angling and maneuvering his body, Robin waited for the spell to be cast, all while the wolfman rushed him from behind. Time suddenly slowed. Robin’s purple eyes glowed with power as azure embers danced within them. In an instant, Robin moved, trading his grimoire for his blade as a stream of fire cut through the air, its searing heat burning the ground below it. Out of the corner of his eye, Robin saw that the wolfman took the hit, stumbling back down the stairs with a silent howl. Refocusing his attention on the Sorcerer, Robin rushed them, closing the distance as Ignis burned within him.

His muscles tensed as he readied his blade, the shining steel singing as he took up a guard. With several powerful strides, Robin closed the distance, his sword raised high as his eyes honed in on the Sorcerer. Steel cut through the air with ease, right through the Sorcerer’s chest and thin cloth that barely protected them.

Robin was given no reprieve, being put on the defensive as a Plegian Assassin leaped through the fading Sorcerer, their dagger glinting with the dull light of the world around them. Robing deflected the blade with his own and immediately stepped back, keeping out of the Assassin’s striking range. The Assassin kept on the aggressive, doing their best to slip through Robin’s defenses. The white-haired Tactician didn’t leave any openings to exploit. He had plenty of experience facing Thieves and Assassins, and thanks to one sweet-toothed Thief, he had faced much more creative ones.

The Assassin wielding the dagger in their hands was skilled, but Robin noted that their movements were mechanical in nature. It wasn’t the mechanical skill of one who trained tirelessly for years to move fluidly in the middle of battle, it was as if something was simply puppeteering a corpse to move as it believed a human should move.

It reminded him too much of the Risen.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden appearance of the beastman, whose massive form nearly bowled into him. Even with the singed fur and charred skin marring the beastman’s body, they were still a great threat. And with the Assassin using their ally as a shield and flank, Robin was put on the back foot.

That was another similarity he noted between these shadows and the Risen. The use of numbers over human ingenuity and adaptability to overwhelm the battlefield. It was one reason he directed his group to divide and conquer, to think out the enemy’s numbers as quickly and safely as they could. 

‘Superior numbers do not mean the battle is one,’ he reminded himself. He and Chrom had led the Shepherds through plenty of skirmishes and battles where they were numerically disadvantaged. It was a testament to the skill and teamwork between the Shepherds that led to their many victories despite the odds being against them. ‘This is simply another future victory.’

While Robin didn’t like to claim victory before the battle was won, he had faith they would succeed, even now.

Switching his blade for his grimoire, Robin kept track of the Assassin’s movements while dodging the feral attacks from the beastman. Lighting danced around the Tactician, bringing forth gold and purple light in the muted world. A confident smirk broke out on Robin’s face as he tested out a theory. After gathering the appropriate magical force, Robin spun on his heel, moving his body back while thrusting out his arm. He waited until the Assassin darted behind their ally and unleashed a powerful spear of lightning upon the two.

Corrin chided herself for spending too long on the Knight in front of her. She knew where the gaps in the armor were, when the best time to strike was whenever the Knight thrusted his lance at her. Despite the many lessons that had been drilled into her head by Gunter and Xander, she was falling behind. She supposed that even though she knew she wasn’t fighting and killing living, breathing men, a part of her recoiled at the idea of doing so to something that mimicked life, even to a faulty degree.

A bright flash of lightning magic reminded her that Robin held strong, even when moving on ahead by himself and facing even greater odds than she was. She didn’t even worry about her Manakete ally. Tiki moved gracefully, both in the air and on her feet as she deftly dodged incoming arrows and spells.

Heavy rhythmic clanking forced the Nohrian princess to refocus on her current opponent. The Knight opted to keep their shield in front of them, moving at a speed that would catch many unsuspecting warriors off guard as they attempted to slam the full force of their shield into the princess.

Corrin was much more agile and faced greater warriors than the puppet in front of her, even if those were only spars. As Corrin slipped to the Knights unguarded left, her blood-red eyes narrowed on their form. She spotted a very thin gap in their armor, just under the pit of their arm. Corrin raised the thin point of her rapier and took aim. A flicker of hesitation stilled her heart only for a moment. It was enough for the Knight to react and shield their flank from attack.

Biting back a curse, Corrin narrowly avoided being stabbed by the Knight’s lance. The sharp edge nearly clipped her segmented armor. Before she could retaliate, the Knight protected themself, keeping their shield in front of them and angled, covering much of their mass as they spread their legs to lower their profile. It was a standard guard many Nohrian Knights were taught, one that was difficult to push through.

Despite her growing frustrations, Corrin relied on her training with Gunter and steeled her resolve. She was a princess of Nohr. She needed the will to do what must be done. To protect her siblings, her future troops, and the people of her land.

Her blood burned, a fire ignited within her as she moved like a blur. Slipping to the Knight’s right side, Corrin spotted her opening. Her rapier stabbed the air, slipping through the gap in the Knight’s armor and digging into their body. She stepped back, tearing the blade out with a slight twist, causing black blood to pour from the wound and onto the stone below.

The Knight struggled to stand on shaky legs, but they did not fall. Corrin backed up, raising her blade with the tip pointed at the Knight, ready to strike again. It was only when the Knight collapsed into a metal heap and began to fade in a storm of dark embers did Corrin let out a relieved breath. While not feeling physically drained, she still felt as if she suffered an overly-long training session with the combined force of Xander, Camilla, and Gunter.

Spinning on her heel, Corrin was about to move to assist Tiki, only to watch in awe as the Divine Manakete took to the air. In a bright flash, Tiki’s form shifted, revealing the lustrous glowing scales of her draconic form. Tiki’s head snapped to the Archer below her, azure flames billowing from her slender maw before unleashing a torrent of fire.

The Archer burnt to ash in an instant. Tiki wasted no time, moving through the air like she was gracefully swimming through water and directed her attention to the last enemy. The Grimlealan Dark Mage snapped into action, firing off an Elthunder spell at the Manakete. Tiki beat her wings and rose above the bolts of lightning. Reeling her head back, she readied another ball of dragonfire and launched it at the Dark Mage.

A deep purple barrier rose in time to block the attack, only to shatter a second later. While the Dark Mage swayed on unstable legs, Corrin rushed them, her rapier poised to strike the disorientated mage. With a cry, Corrin slashed at the Dark Mage, cutting a deep gash in their side, following up  with a fluid thrust that pierced their core.

As the Dark Mage dropped to their knees and faded, Tiki landed next to Corrin, already shifting from her draconic form as she addressed the princess, “Thank you for the assistance, Corrin.”

Corrin gave the green-haired beauty a smile. Her attention drifted up ahead as she spotted Robin moving to engage a pair of Knights blocking his path. When he suddenly stopped, Corrin felt a pit form in her stomach. She watched as Robin created a magical barrier to protect himself from another salvo of magic raining down on him.

Corrin heard Tiki speak up, a deep growl emanating from her throat as she did. “He’s being targeted.”

The princess found herself nodding at Tiki’s words. They weren’t targeted and she didn’t see any of their enemies’ magic being launched towards Scarlet and Nyx. If the masked entity was targeting Robin, then she and Tiki needed to regroup with him as quickly as possible. Tiki was of the same mindset as she had already shifted into her draconic form and took Corrin into her claws, all while being mindful enough not to dig those incredibly sharp claws into the princess.

As the two soared quickly over to Robin, the Tactician was on the defensive, evading spells, lances, and a flurry of arrows from the combined might of a Dark Mage on the platform above him and the pairs of Knights and Archers ahead of him. 

Robin was thankful for the physical boost his new draconic blood had granted him. An abomination he may be to the eyes of true dragons, but it was certainly a boon.

His relief came as Tiki’s Manakete form soared overhead, a burning azure fire erupted from her maw, setting the shadowy Dark Mage ablaze. With the Dark Mage dealt with, Corrin was dropped right next to Robin. He gave the ash-haired princess a nod and the two turned their attention to the pair of Knights. 

The Knights stood side by side, locking together to form a shield wall. With the limited space on the cracked and broken floor meant that Robin and Corrin wouldn’t be able to make a push. Even with their options limited, Robin already had a plan forming in his mind. As the Knights slowly pushed forward, Robin began channeling his magic, the pages of his grimoire speedily flipping to the spell he needed. 

Before he could act, the Knights shifted, lowering their bodies as the Archers behind them took aim and loosed a pair of arrows towards him and Corrin. Robin moved in front of Corrin, hastily erecting a magic barrier that deflected the incoming arrows. As the Archers reached for their quivers for their next volley, Tiki came crashing down on top of them, crushing one underneath her claws. With a quick spin, her tail slammed into the other, sending them careening into the void below.

Her eyes narrowed on an approaching Nohrian Warrior, their bulky muscular form barreling towards her with their axe raised high. Tiki was about to attack them when a stream of orange and red fire shot towards the Warrior, knocking them off their feet. She then spotted a shadow descending upon the Warrior as Scarlet soared through the air, having leaped off her and Nyx’s platform in order to rejoin the group.

The blonde knight landed into a roll, carrying her momentum forward as she rushed the Warrior. She swung her axe, only for the blade to meet the Warrior’s own weapon as they clumsily blocked the attack. Sparks flew from the violently scrapping metal. Despite their injuries, the Warrior fought on, slipping into Scarlet’s personal space in order to shoulder check her. Scarlet took a step back and swung her axe low, sweeping the Warrior off their feet before fluidly poising herself to strike. With one last swing, Scarlet brought her axe down, the blade tearing through the Warrior’s closed cassis helmet, releasing a torrent of black blood from the new hole.

Picking up the scent of crackling ozone, Tiki turned her attention behind her, watching as Robin called forth an Arcthunder spell upon the pair of Knights. The spell was effective, breaking through whatever limited magical resistance the Knights' armor might have had and stunning them. Corrin wasted no time and slipped in between the pair of heavily-armored warriors, her blade flashing with movement as she felled the pair.

With the immediate danger passed, Robin and Corrin moved to rejoin Tiki. The Divine Manakete felt a relieved smile form on her face as she took in the sight of her white-haired lover, noting that he had yet to suffer any damage from his solo-endeavor. While it was exasperating to once more experience his more reckless habits, she would be lying if she said she didn’t miss the thrill of fighting by his side once more.

“It seems luck favors us,” came the voice of Nyx as she followed Scarlet’s example and leaped off the platform overlooking their position. “Though whether or not that continues has yet to be seen. Our enemy may be holding back until we feel safe.”

“Possibly,” Robin commented. “We’re in the final stretch, so if our enemy has a plan, this would be the time to use it.”

Nyx nodded grimly. “Agreed.” Her eyes turned towards the next point they had to take. “I counted nine more combatants, not including our masked friend. The last Sorcerer is among them.” She paused for a moment, her mind pondering something before she spoke up again, “I hypothesize that the numbers we have faced might be equal to the number of bodies within the temple.”

“Great,” Scarlet grumbled. “Battling the dead again…” She looked at Robin, a tired but amused smile forming on her freckled face. “Do you think our next battle will be somewhat normal? I would like some variety.”

Robin opened his mouth to respond, only to close it before raising a combined barrier with Nyx. Once more, the enemy unleashed a salvo of magic upon the group. Without the combined power of the enemy’s Sorcerer’s and Robin and Nyx’s combined might, the salvo barely left a dent.

Right as the two were about to drop the barrier, something slammed into it. Robin and Nyx buckled under the pressure, causing Tiki, Scarlet, and Corrin to rush to their sides in concern. Tiki and Scarlet kept Robin stable as he shakily stood on his legs while Corrin supported Nyx. The three could see the strain on their pair’s faces as they maintained the barrier. For the three women, it was only a matter of seconds. For Robin and Nyx however, it felt like hours.

When the pressure faded, Robin and Nyx were allowed a chance to breathe.

“The hell was that!?” Scarlet asked as she scanned the area.

Tiki followed her example, Robin doing the same through exhausted eyes. The draconic beings spotted a moving shadow within the void, large and blending in with the darkness, with only the faint stars suddenly disappearing only to reappear a moment later giving away the shadow’s position.

“We need to finish this,” Robin stated through haggard breaths. “The real enemy is moving.”

“How should we move then?” Corrin asked him.

Robin went into thought at her question, turning to look at the platform ahead of them. It was hovering several meters above them, with the void far below them. He then looked to Tiki as a plan formed in his head. “We do what works and attack on three fronts.”

Scarlet let out a huff, one that was both amused and annoyed. “Let me guess, you’re going to take on the risk again?” She shot Robin a stern look, her ruby-red eyes narrowing on him. Robin shot her a playful smirk, doing nothing to assuage her worries. Scarlet sighed, noted the same tired, accepting look on Tiki’s face and shook her head. “Alright. What’s the plan?”

The ghost wearing Validar’s visage stared disinterestedly over the remaining battlefield. His glowing eyes tracked the remaining shadows. Not a thought of his own ran through his head, only a discontented low rumble.

The abomination was still alive. It survived the last salvo and the force of his master. The further away from the accursed tree that shined like the sun in the distance, the more power his master could bestow. Validar felt his master stir, an every looming mass of darkness swimming through the void.

Validar’s eyes widened as his master stirred, a low roar echoing through the void as if it was being challenged. The remaining shadow puppets stirred, readying for the inevitable push that the Abomination and its comrades would be making. A second roar rang out, causing Validar to scan the horizon for any movement. The only direct path to this last section was far to the left, one guarded by a Knight supported by a nearby Dark Mage. Two Mercenaries and a Fighter were not far from them, and with three more Dark Mages and a Sorcerer supporting them from the backline as well, along one last Archer. Any push the Abomination and their comrades would make would be met with heavy resistance.

The abomination proved to be rather creative however.

Instead of taking the only path forward, Validar turned to look right as a green Manakete emerged from under the floating platform, rising high into the air. Validar’s eyes narrowed on the crackling lighting from the Manakete’s back. He spotted the Abomination already casting a spell when their eyes met. Right as the Manakete stopped her ascent, the Abomination leaped from her back and let out a howl.

“MJÖLNIR!!!” Robin declared taking aim at the Plegian Sorcerer. 

A massive magic circle appeared above the Sorcerer and the two Dark Mages flanking them. Lightning crackled from its center, painting the area in gold, purple, and azure before several bolts shot to the ground, combining mid-descent to form a massive bolt. The Sorcerer felt the full force of the spell. Their face twisted and wretched in pain as lightning enveloped their body. 

Not even the Dark Mages were safe from the powerful spell as the magic spread outward towards them.

Robin landed onto the stony floor as the spell dissipated, small arcs of gold and purple dancing around him, with dark embers wafting into the air, the last remnants of the Sorcerer fading from the realm. Robin’s purple eyes narrowed onto Validar, his pupils forming thin slits as a low growl sounded from his throat. He ignored the Dark Mages and rushed towards Validar, giving them little thought as he moved. 

As the shadow mages recovered, they turned their attention to Robin, channeling their magic and taking aim at him. Before they could even complete their spells, Scarlet’s voice rang out above them. “Eyes up here!”

One of the Dark Mages was crushed under Tiki’s draconic form before they could even redirect their attack while the other was felled by Scarlet’s axe. Off in the distance, the Chevois knight spotted Corrin and Nyx ascending the broken steps, Corrin slipping past the Knight and rushing the remaining Dark Mage while Nyx trailed behind and dealt with their armored foe. She spared a glance over her shoulder, watching Robin as he traded his grimoire for his blade, expertly cutting through the dark spell that Validar launched at him as he neared the dais.

As Robin dropped his sword and resummoned his grimoire, channeling a quick fire spell to launch at the puppet Validar. The vestige coated their hand with magic and batted away the firebolt with ease. With fluid motion, Validar sent another dark spell towards Robin, halting the Tactician’s movement before he could ascend the stairs.

Robin bit back a curse and readied another spell, thanking his lucky stars that he and Nyx had yet to suffer from magical fatigue throughout the battle. Before he could channel the appropriate magic, a deep roar shook the battlefield. Several of the floating chunks of the temple floor cracked and broke apart, some pieces drifting away while others seemed to fall into the void. Robin dropped to a knee to keep himself stable. His eyes never left Validar though.

“I see you finally honor your father, little bird,” the shadowy Validar said mockingly. He raised his hand high into the air, dark miasmic magic bursting from his palm.

Robin’s instincts blared, urging him to move. He leaped back, narrowing dodging a plume of darkness that swallowed the area in which he previously stood. As he did, he channeled his magic, golden rings forming around him as he retaliated with his own spell. “There was nothing worth honoring with that mad man. Don’t think your words have meaning when you wear that specter’s face! ARCTHUNDER!”

Three magic circles appeared above Validar, raining down lightning on the shadowy puppet. Validar simply created a barrier which withstood the barrage.

A smirk formed on Robin’s face as he felt an energy swell up within him, fueling his magic further. “Get ready!” Once more, the three magic circles appeared and struck the barrier. Robin saw his opponent flinch for a moment while they maintained their barrier. Spinning on his heel, Robin summoned forth a third set of lightning. This time, the barrier cracked. A fourth set appeared, hammering the barrier, causing the cracks to spread further. “It’s over!” Robin declared as his Astra skill pushed his magic once more to create one final set of magical lightning.

As Validar’s barrier broke under the barrage, a deafening roar filled the void. The power and anger behind it pushed Robin down to his knees. Gritting his teeth, Robin stood back up defiantly, as if challenging the force behind the roar. He spotted movement ahead of him, a massive shape forming behind the dais. Even he struggled to see if the darkness was from the void or the shadow hiding within it.

Unlike the shadowy warriors Robin and his comrades had fought on their way up to this point, Validar displayed a full range of emotions, most notably a mad rage that dominated his face. “I will see you fall! You who so casually denied your birthright, true divinity! You who mock your betters by masking your blood with a filthy suit of humanity!”

Robin glared at the vestige. “I don’t mask what I am,” he replied coolly. His voice was steady as he rose back up, his eyes burning with determination. “Not like you. I believe Tiki already called you out on that. Even now, you cower from me.”

Validar’s eyes narrowed, the dark shadow behind him looming over him as Robin felt multiple eyes on him. When Validar spoke, it was with two voices, one much more guttural and booming than the other, “You dare?”

“I do,” Robin answered tersely. He moved his grimoire in front of him, ready to cast another spell as he continued to speak to his opponent. “Since you’re so keen on peering into my mind, then you should already know that I’ve already slain one dragon before. Slaying a second one will just be another victory to add to my tallies.”

His words caused Validar and the dark mass to snap. The puppet mage roared, waving his hand as several large, dark rings formed around him. Behind him, the dark mass shifted, as bright orange spots appeared along its form, giving definition to its shape. The orange spots for slit irises, each one staring down at Robin, each one full of rage and indignation.

“I am not that failed creation! I am not a mockery of divinity!” Validar and the shape roared as one. “I AM A TRUE GOD! I AM A TRUE DRAGON YOU INSOLENT ABOMINATION!”

The spell Validar was casting was suddenly amplified with power. Robin felt a pit form in his stomach and quickly worked on defending himself. A biting cold froze the air around him as multiple ice-blue rings formed around him. His right hand slammed down onto the ground, his intent driving the spell as he called out its incantation. “FIMBULVETR!” 

A thick sheet of ice formed in front of Robin. It was angled, with its sharp edge taking point, with two walls extending outward, forming a physical shield around Robin. With the physical shield created, Robin worked on enforcing a magical barrier to protect him even further.

While he worked, Validar attacked, raining down abyssal and draconic magic down on Robin. The first strike slammed into the icy barrier first, cracking the wall as the shockwave wrapped around it, knocking back Tiki, Corrin, Scarlet, and Nyx before they could even brace themselves.

Robin gritted his teeth as he maintained his barrier, pouring his magic into it as Ignis burned within him, further fueling the spell. The second strike crashed through the ice, sending large shards outward. Robin watched as several chucks of ice bounced off his barrier, the impacts causing ripples to spread out across its surface.

The dark mass bellowed out a deep roar that shook the void. The power behind it knocked Scarlet off her feet, sending her tumbling backward. It was only because of Tiki she didn’t roll over the edge as the Divine Manakete used her body to catch the blonde knight. Corrin and Nyx fared better as the cursed mage threw up a hasty barrier to protect them. The remaining shadow warriors were not as lucky, each one tumbling over the edge and into the void.

A third spell flew towards Robin, crashing into his barrier with an oppressive force that drove the Tactician to a knee. From her spot, Tiki watched on, a concerned rumble erupting from her chest as Robin struggled to withstand the attack. She tried to move forward, her limbs feeling like they were moving through tar as the dark mass’ presence bore down on her. Her claws dug into the stone, her sharp teeth grinding in her maw as she desperately wanted to reach her beloved.

Her desire resonated within the void. Past the bridge, the Mila tree shined brightly, each leaf becoming like a tiny star that lit up the dark void. Robin felt the warmth on his back. He felt Tiki’s resolve deep within his heart. When a fourth spell slammed into his defenses, Robin stood strong, his eyes glowing with power as the azure embers danced wildly within the purple orbs. He watched Validar, watched the dark mass, waiting for the right time to strike. As he did, the pages of his grimoire blurred, flying to a blank page as a new spell etched itself within its margins.

The puppet Validar readied the next salvo, his master spurring him on to stroke when Robin suddenly dropped his barrier. His eyes widened in alarm at the bright light shining within Robin’s palm, at the divine power swirling around him. His master recognized it immediately, eliciting a deep roar from the dark mass. What surprised them was the bright azure mixing with a deep, vibrant purple.

Robin smiled, feeling his blood surge with power. It sang to him, a song with three distinct voices all working in unity.  “HERE’S HOW IT’S DONE!” Thrusting his arm forward a massive magic circle appeared above him, runic arrays carving themselves within the rings in the same perfect mixture of azure and purple as the ethereal power in his hand. “EXALTED FLAMES!”

The dark mass behind Validar shrieked, its burning orange eyes clenching shut as an intense fire shot out from Robin’s spell. As the flames raced towards the puppet Validar, it soon took shape in the form of a long sword, one with the shape of a teardrop cut out in its crossguard. The burning blade pierced Validar, continuing onward until it struck the dark mass. It roared in pain as the blade carved its way into the mass’ core, detonating in a brilliant explosion of fire and power.

The air grew heavy and still. The deafening silence lingered for a moment before fading away entirely.

Tiki felt her heart beat wildly in her chest. In a bright flash, her draconic form faded revealing her human form as she took a tentative step forward, her green eyes lingering on Robin’s back.

Scarlet let out an impressed whistle at what Robin did, not entirely surprised by what he accomplished. 

Nyx’s eyes widened a fraction before returning to an impassive state, already considering the power behind the young man she chose to ally herself with. 

Corrin found herself gazing at Robin, awestruck by what she saw. She then looked at where the dark mass resided, feeling a sense of loss and confusion as her eyes lingered on the empty void left behind.

Robin took a shaky breath, feeling drained by his new attack. He chalked it up to the mental strain of this entire endeavor, believing his mind was trying to make sense of it all and defaulting to a familiar, comforting bodily action to help settle his nerves. Looking at the dais, Robin took a step forward, the feels of his boots clicking against the stony temple floor as he ascended the stairs.

To his surprise, the emaciated masked entity laid in the center, folded in on itself. He felt its empty sockets land on him as he reached the top step. It simply continued to lay there, unable to move. The closer Robin got, he managed to see deep burns seared into the entity’s torso and arms, right where his spell cut through. It was a miracle that the emaciated being even lingered after an attack like that.

“Thi-s vic-tory meansss not-hing, abom-i-nation,” the entity stated brokenly.

“A victory, no matter how small, can turn the tide of any war, dragon,” Robin replied. “What this one proves, to me and you, is that a god can be struck. It also served to remind me of one important fact.”

The entity began to float off the ground, its limps and head twitching sporadically as if it was a puppet whose strings were flayed, ready to snap at the slightest movement from its puppeteer. “O-oh?”

“Gods still bleed,” Robin simply stated. The entity let out a disgusted hiss but Robin only stared at it through narrowed eyes.

“A-a-and you ve-xing humans st-ill think y-yourselves above all else.” Robin could feel the absolute hatred and contempt the master behind the emaciated puppet held for him, for all life. “A-and yet… your kind issss so brit-tle.” The masked entity’s gaze bore into Robin’s eyes. “J-just like that f-fool-ish weakling you f-failed to ssssave.”

It took everything Robin had to hold back from equipping his sword and removing the entity’s head. His hands clenched tightly together, straining the leather of his gloves as a mixture of rage and sorrow filled his heart. It wasn’t until he felt a warm presence in the back of his mind that those feelings faded. He remembered the kind smile that always lit up a room, the melodious voice that brought everyone who heard it a feeling of deep peace and love. He felt the presence of a gentle hand on his, causing his fists to uncurl.

“She was far stronger than anyone I knew,” he responded. He closed his eyes, calming himself down before opening them again and locking on to the entity before him. “She gave everyone the strength to push for a better tomorrow. It’s an example I will continue to follow.” He took a step forward, standing face to face with the emaciated masked corpse. He knew this challenge would mark him, but he felt it needed to be done. “This realm will not have the peace it deserves while a mad dragon cowers in the darkness. I told you once, I’ve already slain a dragon. I see no difference between you and Grima, just mad power intent on burning everything around it.”

The entity did not move, did not make a sound. It simply stared at Robin for a long moment. Then, it fell limply to the ground.

As Robin stared at the corpse, the others joined him. Tiki was first up the stairs and quickly rushed over to him, wrapping her arms around his torso and burying her face in his shoulder. Scarlet crested the final step next, easily slipping herself to his other side, taking his free hand into hers without a word. Nyx followed after, sparing the trio a glance before focusing on the corpse before them, her eyes trailing over its form, studying every detail she could. When Corrin joined them, she felt slightly out of place, choosing to stand a few steps away from the group, though her eyes lingered on Robin.

“So, how do we wake up from this?” Scarlet asked the group. “Can’t believe this, but I feel like I’m going to wake up exhausted.”

“This experience has been rather draining,” Nyx commented dryly. “While a deeper look into the mind of another is something I would thoroughly enjoy, it would only be if it was for study, not immediate application and survival.” Her eyes landed on Robin before darting to Tiki and Corrin. “If one of you would be so kind as to use the Dragon Vein and wake us up, I would greatly appreciate it.”

Robin gently touched Tiki’s arms, a silent request to release him as he stepped forward. “That should probably be me then. After all, you, Scarlet and I are actually at the temple the Vein is at. Tiki is realms away and Corrin is obviously not with us physically.”

Corrin nodded along, fully agreeing with Robin’s assessment. “I’m sure I’ve probably scared my retainers half to death. Felicia would most likely be in a fit trying to wake me up.” She looked at Robin, her blood-red eyes meeting his vibrant purple ones as she bit her lip. She desperately wanted to use this time to talk with him, and Tiki as well, but she herself felt mentally drained by everything she did in this place.

While the blood had faded from her hands, she still found herself shaken.

Robin seemed to pick up on her unspoken desire and gave her a gentle smile that caused her cheeks to grow hotter. “I know we’ll get a chance to talk, Corrin.” His eyes moved away from her towards the Mila Tree still shining in the distance. “Tiki and I will be waiting under the Mila Tree for you.”

Corrin found herself smiling back at him, grateful for his words and belief in their next meeting. "I look forward to it, Robin."

With everything said between them all, Robin gave the group one last look, making sure they were all ready to awake from this shared nightmare. Seeing the four women give him a series of nods, he stepped into the light of the Dragon Vein. His blood sang, feeling the warmth of its light, the pool of power calling out to connect with him. Robin accepted the connection with his whole heart and soon, the dark void turned white.

Robin’s eyes slowly opened, adjusting to the darkness around him. He felt his muscles protest at his slightest movements, causing him to slowly loosen them with small stretches. As took in his surroundings, he realized that he stood above the emaciated masked corpse, right where the Dragon Vein sat. He could feel its power pulse within him, the putrid corruption that once gripped it completely gone.

Robin then scanned the temple’s main chamber, noting that the deafening silence and oppressive darkness that blanketed every inch of it was fading away, giving him a clear view of the entire room. He saw that Scarlet and Nyx were still near the entrance of the main chamber, right where they were all blown back to. Tia nudged a stirring Scarlet, causing the blonde to laugh at the affection her wyvern displayed.

Nyx slowly propped herself up, keeping herself steady on her hands. Her long, spiky dark locks cascaded down her form and onto the stony floor, pooling around her hips as she shook her cobwebs from her head.

Seeing that his companions were completely fine, Robin let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. He continued to study the area, noting the amount of bones littering the temple floor. It gave Nyx’s earlier hypothesis some credence and he made a mental note to count each body to see if she was correct.

His eyes then landed on a massive mural behind him, depicting several dragons, each one carved with meticulous detail. Each one also had their faces ruined, with the vandal or vandals trying to turn each dragon’s visage into an unshapely mask. Only one dragon was spared from such a fate. Robin’s eyes narrowed on a dragon, one nearly as big as the Dawn and Dusk Dragons, but depicted as existing beneath them.

Robin shook that thought away as he studied the mural further. The third dragon wasn’t beneath the other two. It was purposefully depicted as being upside down.

Nah wrung her fingers tirelessly as she kept her eyes on Tiki’s sleeping form. Ever since her lady crashed into the ground, the young Manakete was quick to gently move Tiki to safety, unwilling to let her lay in the middle of the trench her draconic body formed upon impact.

It had been hours since it happened, and Nah was unsure what to do. A part of her wanted to fly as fast to the closest Feroxian outpost she could. She and Tiki were already near the western capital. All it would have taken the young Manakete was maybe an hour or two of fast, uninterrupted flight. She had decided against that as she didn’t want to leave Tiki behind in such a vulnerable state.

Her vigil would end soon as she noticed Tiki begin to stir. Her eyes slowly fluttered open, a tired yawn escaping her soft lips as she rolled onto her side.

Nah couldn’t help but sigh at her lady’s antics. While Tiki had gotten better about her sleeping habits, she still took what felt like hours before she finally woke up.

Thankfully, it seemed Nah wouldn’t have to use any of the techniques she knew Robin used to rouse the sleepy Manakete from her attempts at extending her slumber. Tiki slowly pushed herself up, sitting on her side as she released another tired yawn. 

“Lady Tiki?” Nah called out to her mentor. “What happened?”

Tiki turned her head and laid her eyes on her student. A look of shame formed on her face when she took in Nah’s concerned expression. Pushing such emotions away, Tiki gave Nah a grateful, soft smile and reached out for the young Manakete, pulling her into a gentle embrace. She ran her fingers through Nah’s maroon-colored hair and whispered into her ridged ear, “Simply a bad dream, Nah. But one ended on a good note.”

“-alm down, Felicia.”

“Indeed. Worrying so much will not help Lady Corrin or you.”

“I know, Jakob, Flora. I’m just so worried!”

Corrin let out a groggy moan, causing the two maids and butler to stop their minor quarrel to see their lady move.

“Please slow down, Lady Corrin,” Flora said, placing a hand on Corrin’s ample bust to keep her from moving too fast.

Corrin looked around the room, seeing the concerned looks on her retainers’ faces as she looked at each of them. Her eyes then landed on Gunter, who stood at the door, his arms crossed before a relieved smile broke out on his stern face.

“You gave us quite the scare, princess,” the old knight said as he joined the group. “Felicia was quick to gather us, stating you simply fell unconscious out of nowhere.”

“The healer assured us that you are perfectly fine and you haven’t been suffering any maladies," Jakob added. “It has left us feeling rather curious as to what happened.”

Corrin gave the group a sad frown. It hurt that she worried her friends and retainers as much as she did, even with the odd situation she found herself in. Giving the group a smile that helped alleviate their worries, she spoke, “It’s a rather strange story.”

Felicia, having an inkling of what Corrin might be hinting at, opened her mouth to speak, only to stop herself by covering her mouth with her hands.

The action wasn’t lost on the others, as Flore spoke up while shooting her sister an inquisitive look, “It seems as though my sister is in the know.”

As Felicia withered under his sister’s stern gaze, Corrin found herself chuckling at their antics. She was grateful for the sense of normality of it all, something that broke up the lingering feelings in her heart. 

As Jakob sighed at the twins and moved to keep the peace, Gunter kept his eyes on Corrin. He saw the heavy weight that seemed to be pressing down on her, how her shoulders were slumped and how quickly her smile faltered. A frown formed on his face, his heart clenching at the haunting look in her eyes.

Corrin turned her head, her eyes meeting her mentor’s as she spoke in a quiet, distant voice, “Gunter… Can we talk? I-I need your advice.”

Gunter gave her a solemn nod. He raised a hand and placed it on Corrin’s shoulder, giving it a firm, comforting squeeze. “Always, Corrin,” he said as a fatherly smile appeared on his face.

Corrin smiled at that, grateful to have Gunter always willing to step up when she needed him. She blinked, noticing Lilith standing in the doorway of her room. Their eyes met briefly, but while Lilith showed signs of relief, there was something else within them that Corrin struggled to understand.

Silence filled the throne room. The candles and sconces that provided a dim light in the expansive chamber seemed even dimmer than ever. At the base of the dais where the throne sat stood King Garon, his arms held open, his head turned upward as if receiving a divine mandate. His eyes slowly opened as a deep rumble escaped his throat.

“I see. This abomination will no doubt be an interloper,” he muttered to himself. Visions flashed through his mind, viewing a battle between Robin and himself in a broken temple within a dark void. He replayed each move that Robin made, made note of the man’s companions.

“Iago will continue his vigilance. I trust him to learn something about this man,” Garon stated, reaffirming his earlier commands to not directly engage the man.

Garon closed his eyes again, replaying the battle in his mind once more. He let out a deep hum when he saw Corrin among the interloper’s ranks. A thought suddenly came to him. That thought soon turned into a plan, one that can use the young woman and no doubt force her and Robin into an unfortunate situation.

“Yes… That can work.” A ball of miasmic darkness appeared before him, taking the shape of a twisted, curved blade. Garon gripped the hilt of the weapon, resting the blade in his other hand. His eyes scanned the weapon, going over every angry, blistering red crack that appeared on its surface.

“This however, won’t.” His grip tightened, the metal of his gauntlets straining as his fingers wrapped around the hilt. “She has already met the interloper. Her mind could already be poisoned, making her question everything, even a gift.”

Darkness enveloped the blade, shifting and reforming to fit the new design in Garon’s mind. The curved blade straightened out, forming a long, thin blade with a sharp, tapered point. The crossguard reformed itself, becoming a twisted mirror of the blade Corrin wielded in the void.

Garon smiled madly at his work. The blade was remade, but the darkness it held still lingered. He would need to ask Iago to inlay several spells to help mask that darkness so as to not give away the blade’s nature to Corrin.

“Yes… This will do nicely. This will be a gift and Corrin shall be its deliverer.”

Map for Re:Awakening CH 011
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The battlefield is set for the next chapter of Re:Awakening. Just need to edit the enemy sprites so I can have an easier time tracking everything as I write.