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A scene came to Yunaka’s mind. It was a scene from not too long ago, during the brief moment of repose the army was allotted before the final fight with their final enemy—the Fell Dragon. Everyone attempted to go on with their usual days on the Somniel as before, but everything felt slightly off. Not majorly skewed, but enough for Yunaka with her perception to notice. The air was filled with a sense of ‘finality’. Like the brief moments leading up to the final sprints Etie often went on, Yunaka imagined. It was an atmosphere that was relaxed yet filled with the slightest sense of unease and a worried excitement. Was it because of the fact that even someone like Prince Fogado was busier than usual with inspecting his weapons instead of planning his next party? Was it because even someone like Anna wasn’t running around and trying to sell people stuff like usual because of the realization that the upcoming battle would be their toughest yet, and there was no sign whether anyone could make it out alive? Was it because Kagetsu wasn’t challenging everyone he saw to a fight? Everyone’s idiosyncrasies were slightly muted.
This included the Emblems too. It was especially them. Somehow, even someone like Emblem Byleth felt more low-key than usual, and that was saying something.
Yunaka realized now why the cloud of finality hung over those twelve especially. But that realization was only brought about with the power of retrospect, and even Yunaka’s observational prowess couldn’t quite place it at the time.
“Yunaka?” one of the transient Emblems approached the thief, and it was one of the ones Yunaka was more…familiar with.
It was the Emblem whose ring she found, after all.
“Oh, hi there Micaiah! Zappy! Something you need?” Yunaka responded with her ‘usual’ cheer.
Micaiah smiled pleasantly, before responding, “There is something I would like to do with you,”
“Something you wanna do with ol’ Yunaka? What could that be?”
“Maybe it is more appropriate to say it is for you more than anything else,” Micaiah corrected herself, “I would like to read your future.”
“Like Seadall’s fortune telling?”
“Well, I used to tell fortunes in my home world too, back in the day,” the reminiscence put a vague smile on Micaiah’s face, which Yunaka couldn’t tell the true nature of. The smile’s ambivalence faded, and the Dawn Maiden looked into the thief’s eyes. “So, would you like me to?”
Yunaka didn’t like it when people pried into her origins, or simply tried looking deeper than they ought to. But fortune telling...that was about the future yet-to-be-written, so was there any point to be defensive about that?
And, somehow, it felt like if she refused, the opportunity would never come again.
...
“Yeah, give it a shot! Will I come across some amazing weapons?”
“Well, we’ll see, won’t we? Put your hands over mine. As much as you’re able to at least...” Yunaka did as instructed and suspended her hands over the Emblem’s not-quite-physical hands. Micaiah then stared into Yunaka’s eyes for a brief moment, before shutting her eyes.
After the silence persisted for slightly longer, Micaiah pulled her hands away.
“And? Will I come across something precious?”
“Yes, you will come across something precious, just...make sure to stick around this place as much as possible, okay?” Micaiah said with a smile that Yunaka couldn’t quite read either.
“I see! Thank you, Micaiah!” Yunaka expressed her gratitude, even though the reading was as vague as you could get. “So are you doing this for everyone?”
“Something like that?” Micaiah smiled awkwardly.
The conversation between the two, the last personal conversation they would ever have, continued for a bit longer.
And that brought us to now. A ‘today’ without the Fell Dragon Sombron, and the Corrupted.
The war was over, and Yunaka found herself sitting on the edge of the outlook ridge.
That fact was reason enough for one who fought in the war to be overjoyed. Especially considering there were no casualties on the Divine Dragon’s side of the war. Well, the technicalities on whether or not that Divine Dragon themselves could be counted a casualty escaped Yunaka. Dying, becoming a Corrupted, and then becoming an Emblem was...a rather unique case. But the fact remained that all the people Yunaka got to meet were still alive and well on this new day. There was no one to say goodbye to.
Well.
There were the Emblems.
She did not know all of them really well, but there were two in particular Yunaka got extremely close to. As much as someone like her was able to, at least. Emblem Micaiah, of course, and Emblem Corrin. The Emblems’ departure was sudden and unexpected, so there was no time to prepare. But when was a goodbye the opposite?
The Somniel felt emptier without those twelve spirits roaming the grounds.
But it also felt emptier because there literally were less people.
In hindsight, it made sense. Their group had royalty, their retainers, and others who had connections they could back to. It was the most logical, straight-forward thing that they would go back to their nations and spread the good news of their victory against the Fell Dragon. And Yunaka was never one for crowds, so it should have been a good thing that the people on the Somniel had thinned out.
And yet, Yunaka was overcome by melancholy.
It was funny. She had a feeling that her teacher was watching her from wherever he was, laughing at her sorry display of keeping her emotions in check. Not that she particularly cared for his opinion, but that didn’t stop the ugliness she felt inside for going against the principles that were stamped into her, the assassin’s way of doing things. Even though Yunaka tried to move on from that past, those principles she lived by were hard to avoid even now.
Assassin’s Code Lesson One: Never show your emotions or intentions.
And.
Assassin’s Code Lesson Two: Don’t develop emotional attachments.
Yunaka sighed. Even if she tried to follow everyone else that left, it would be impossible. She had no connections outside of the army, and even if she joined someone else, how long would it take for her to move on from them again? It didn’t help that the bag filled with gold she received from Vander for her war efforts was substantial enough to completely drop off the face of Elyos. It wouldn’t even be hard for an assassin-turned-thief-turned-war-fighter of her caliber. Disappearing without a trace...
Truly, it was child’s play.
But she did have connections now. Connections she was able to forge despite all the fighting. She could go to Firene and visit Prince Alfred, Etie, and Louis. Or she could return to where it all started and go to Brodia to pay Citrinne a visit. Elusia wasn’t completely off the table either considering Zelkov and Goldmary would probably welcome her if she came knocking. Solm, too, was a possibility. Even if that country was not too friendly for thief work, she could always pay Merrin, Panette, and Prince Fogado a visit.
But they...
They were all royalty, or retainers of royalty.
Wouldn’t it be inconvenient if she took up their time? All of the countries had plenty of rebuilding or restructuring to do now that the war was over.
Yunaka decided to remain on the Somniel for a bit longer. The Divine Dragon mentioned that everyone would remain welcome on the flying fortress for the end of time, and they could come visit it or Lythos whenever they liked.
The doors would always be open.
Yunaka wondered if that meant that she could stay forever if she wished, but that would be...unbecoming wouldn’t it? The only ones who were still on the Somniel were of course, the Divine Dragon, the 32nd and 33rd generations of dragon stewards, Anna (for she was still searching for her family and sending off a literal eleven-year-old was irresponsible), Seadall (something about the Somniel having the best view of the stars), Veyle, Mauvier, Sommie, and of course, Yunaka herself.
The thief sighed; she was reminded of her teachings again.
Assassin’s Code Lesson Three: Do not linger after a successful job.
The thief had a reason for staying around for as long as she had, not that it has been too long since the fall of the Fell Dragon, only a day or so. Micaiah told her to linger, after all. For the sake of ‘something precious’. But what could that be? And how long did she have to wait? Her eyes lowered to the knife hanging at her hip. She unsheathed the blade, and gazed upon Cinquedea, the legendary knife granted to her by the Divine One, before deciding to idly spin it in her hands.
Really, what was she waiting for?
If only Micaiah and Corrin were still here. Yunaka suspected those two were able to see beyond the front she presented to the outside world, despite never truly asking Yunaka for all of the details regarding her true nature. The ex-assassin recalled their words of support and felt slightly lonelier because of it. She didn't necessarily need their support, just someone to talk to would be enough. The Somniel was far too quiet these days.
“Someone to talk to...”
...
Her mind drifted towards the Divine One. They were the one person still on the Somniel who knew about her and her lies. A truly special existence, and Yunaka had the honors of calling them a fellow traveler on their shared journey, but...
Yunaka stopped spinning Cinquedea.
That journey...
Has it not ended now?
And Yunaka was merely one member of their large band of misfits that somehow united behind a common goal. She couldn’t say if the Divine Dragon found her just as special as she found them.
Should she have set off into Elyos like the rest of her friends after all and heed the lessons instilled into her?
The swirling cloud of negativity almost made her want to hug her own legs for comfort, and hide her face behind her knees. What would she even be hiding from? The negativity? But that was the enemy within. There was no way to hide from that. Would it really be that upsetting if the Divine One didn’t care for her as much as she cared for them? Her entire life was led without a single soul caring about her. Not her parents, nor her teacher.
A tear started welling up beneath her eyes.
How utterly laughable.
Those lessons really didn’t stick, after all.
It was at that moment she heard footsteps approaching from behind her. She reached for her knife, before stopping midway, realizing where she was. She motioned her hand upwards to rub away the tear before turning around to face her visitor.
“Fancy meeting you here, Yunaka,” Seadall greeted.
“Oh, hey, Seadall,” Yunaka listlessly responded, forgetting to put up her façade.
“Hm… What’s wrong, Yunaka? You seem to be lacking your usual spirit,” the dancer observed.
“I was just thinking,” Yunaka began, but not quite knowing how to finish that sentence, “about...things.”
“Things, huh? Yes, I find myself troubled by things quite often too.”
...
Yunaka was about to ask if Seadall was mocking her, but knowing the dancer...
“Yeah...” Yunaka absentmindedly responded, looking back at the view adorned with a tower in front of her.
The dancer took a seat next to the thief, while gazing at the stars, wondering what it is that he could do for his friend right now, this moment. He could dance, but that didn’t seem to fit the mood. Then his next best skill would be...
“Would you like me to read your fortune? Perhaps we can figure out together what we could do to handle these ‘things’. The choice is yours.”
Yunaka looked at Seadall, who was holding out a stack of tarot cards. It was strange, both of them were gone now, but it felt as if...
As if Micaiah and Corrin were still there with her.
Almost as if Seadall was sent by them.
A gust of wind soared past the duo, stirring up the leaves of the trees, disturbing the birds and the waters of the pool. Knocking the cards on top of the deck into the wind, fluttering gracefully all over and off the Somniel, down to the world below.
“Ah,” both said in unison.
“Hm...it appears I must procure a new deck of cards. My apologies, Yunaka, it seems the winds disagreed,” Seadall turned to face Yunaka, who fell silent. “Yunaka?”
Only for her to start laughing.
“I can’t believe that just happened!” Yunaka said, her cheer restored. Seadall was glad he was able to complete his objective, even if he hadn’t quite planned it this way. The cost of a new tarot deck was nothing compared to his dear friend’s smile.
Seadall smiled in return.
Yunaka’s laughter subsided, and realized she forgot to ask the most important thing.
“What are you doing here anyway, Seadall?”
...
Seadall completely forgot his other mission.
That was right.
“The Divine One was searching for you, so we split up and searched.”
“I see,” Yunaka did not know what to do with that information, “And now that you’ve found me...?”
“You must go to Café Terrace. They will meet with you there.”
“I see... Well, I guess I should get going!” Yunaka stood up and left the outlook ridge, “Thanks, Seadall!”
“Do not mention it, Yunaka,” he waved her off, before standing up himself. “I guess I could get some steps in tonight, this sky is beautiful, after all.”
Words flickered in Yunaka’s mind while she made her way to Café Terrace.
What did the Divine One want from her? Was it something important?
Were they...
Were they going to kick her out of the Somniel?
Yunaka’s pace slowed for a brief moment, before she shook her head and returned to her former pace. She knew better than anyone that something like that was impossible. The Divine One, more than anything, was a kind and benevolent soul. So something so unkind...it wouldn’t come to pass.
How funny, normally it was the Divine Dragon that was running around everywhere, doing the rounds across the Somniel, talking to everyone. But now Yunaka was the one making her way to them. As if their roles were reversed, although most of the things the Divine One did back in the midst of the war were a little harder to do now, now that the people facilitating those activities were...gone.
The new emptiness of the plaza was something Yunaka probably could never get used to. The storekeepers also made their way off the Somniel. There were profits to be made elsewhere, and opportunities were aplenty now that the war was over. Places like Florra Port needed the extra resources, for example. It was a shame, she loved browsing the wares of the weapon’s store and the smithy.
There was no time for that, though.
The Divine Dragon was standing in the entrance of Café Terrace with their back turned towards the plaza, tending to the chairs and tables.
“Hiya papaya!” Yunaka greeted as she walked up to the Divine Dragon, who turned around to face the noise. Sommie was rolling around on the ground next to them.
“Hiya papaya to you too, Yunaka,” Alear cheerfully returned the peculiar greeting.
“A little dancer told me you were out searching for me? Wait, why are you here already anyway?”
“Ah, yes, I just came back from the stables area, and was just about to make my way to the orchard.”
“And then...?”
“I noticed the tables and chairs were a little misaligned, so I stopped to fix them up a bit!”
That saved both of them some time, was this some kind of fate?
No, fate couldn’t manifest itself for something so minor, right?
“I see, it seems the Divine One may have obtained a pair of sharper eyes like me if that’s the case!”
“Well, war does bring about the most...” Alear paused and broke eye contact opting to look at Sommie, “ interesting things.”
What was that emphasis for?
“So, Divine One, what do you want me to do now that I’m here?”
Alear looked back into Yunaka’s eyes and smiled.
“Would you like to eat something together?”
Huh.
What’s up with the sudden formality?
It’s not as if this was the first time Alear invited Yunaka or anyone else for food, they did it all the time.
There was no reason to refuse.
“Zappy! Sure thing!”
“Great! I’ll go get...uh... someone to cook for us...? What would you like?”
“Hmm, some meat would be nice...”
“Got it! Please have a seat while I find someone,” Alear said as they set off and Sommie followed.
It took a bit to find someone, but Alear managed to find Vander after a little while. Yunaka felt a bit of relief, while he might not have been Bunet, he was probably the most capable cook out of everyone still remaining on the Somniel. Although Yunaka wondered whether Mauvier had any cooking chops, as she never saw him on kitchen duty...
“Here you go, braised beef in grape sauce. I hope it is to your liking,” Vander said awkwardly as he put the dishes on the table.
“Thank you, Vander,” Alear expressed their gratitude, only for the old knight to wave it away, stating something about it simply being him performing his duty as the 32nd…you get the point. Yunaka also expressed her gratitude, before he left to resume his other duties, leaving the two alone.
“Eating one on one is a little different, isn’t it,” Alear began, as they cut into their beef.
True, usually it was with somebody else...
But this wasn’t bad.
“I could get used to it,” Yunaka playfully expressed, as she cut into her own food, with the deadliest precision imaginable. The food was...fantastic! The meat was nice and tender, and the sauce was rich. Yunaka knew she could trust Vander on this. Edible food on the Somniel wasn’t always taken for granted, especially if a certain prince was on kitchen duty.
“Are you enjoying it?” Alear asked, seemingly enjoying it themselves, as it was painted all over their face.
“Yes, it’s great. Commendations to the chef.”
“I’ll tell Vander you said that later.”
The eating resumed for a bit in silence. It was weird, were things always this awkward between them? Yunaka glanced up at Alear, observing the type of expression people usually carried when they wanted to say something.
Might as well barge straight through that door.
“Was there something you wanted to discuss with me over this delicious food, Divine One?”
“Oh, yes!” Alear interrupted their eating. “I wanted to ask whether you had any plans for the future, now that the war was over and everything.”
Well, not really.
“Not in particular...” the thief said with a rather melancholic smile.
“Nowhere to go to...?”
“Well, remember when you guys encountered me for the first time?” Yunaka recalled that eventful night, one that changed her life forever. “I was just a thief, and our kind never really stays in one place for too long,” Alear nodded as response.
But what was she doing on the Somniel, then?
Micaiah’s words came to mind.
“What about you, Divine One? What are your plans?”
“There’s my coronation on the horizon, following in the footsteps of my mother, Divine Dragon Monarch business, you know?”
“Duty-bound as always, huh?” Yunaka teased.
“Well, yeah, but I’ll do it gladly,” Alear said resolutely.
The duo continued with their food, before Yunaka spoke, all of a sudden.
“Divine One, make sure to help those orphaned due to this horrific war,” the thief said, without her usual ‘Yunaka’ tone. In fact, the tone was more like...
“Huh? Yeah, I will,” Alear nodded. “But where’s this coming from suddenly?”
Where was it coming from? Yunaka didn’t even know why she said it. Well, Yunaka did know the root of that statement, the underlying reason... There were others she told the sad tale of Larimar to, like Citrinne. The Divine One didn’t know of that story, and Yunaka wondered if they ever would. The part of her that hated being people digging into her past detested the idea, but the part that wanted her to be present within this moment, all of her, wished to tell the story. So that her totality could remain with the Divine Dragon. So that, if she ever were to disappear into obscurity, the one person most important to her now, in this moment, could remember her...properly.
She didn’t know when the last opportunity would be, after all.
Assassin’s Code Lesson Four: Take any opportunity without hesitation.
“So we don’t end up with more drifters like me,” Yunaka responded, after a brief silence.
“Yunaka?” Alear didn’t understand.
“I never told you the full story, did I?”
“Yes, but I wouldn’t ever try to pry it out of you, and that you may keep your secrets a secret.”
Those words were fondly familiar, that conversation...it felt like it has been so long since that day. That day where the two of them set off on their shared adventure, and the day where Yunaka was confidently able to say she had a friend in this world, and a place where a drifter like her belonged.
It was right here. By their side.
Was that why she was upset earlier?
“I want to tell you,” Yunaka looked the Divine One directly in their eyes.
“If you are ready, then I will listen,” Alear returned the gaze.
If she wasn’t ready now, then when would she ever be? This literally was the epilogue of the war, the denouement of the entire story.
“The truth is that my name used to be something different. It used to be Larimar. I changed it because...I wanted a fresh start. Get away from that life as...an assassin,” Yunaka began recounting her story, as she was looking at something far, far away.
“I see, go on.”
“But it wasn’t like I was too attached, to that name I mean. Nor was I too attached to the parents that left her at a young age, or the man who taught her how to kill.”
“So that’s where the comment came from,” Alear nodded.
“Yeah. The past...it never dies. It will always live within you, even if you try to forget about it. It will always remain part of you, as the path that led you to ‘now’. And because of that, if you want to fully know Yunaka, then you must know about Larimar. For she is me just as much as I am her, even if I’ve moved on from that life,” Yunaka closed her eyes, before reopening them and getting one final word in. “And that’s it~ Must be a real shocker that someone as charming as me has a past like that, huh?”
“No, it wasn’t that much of a surprise, Yunaka,” Alear retorted. “I’ve seen you in battle, you know. I can even notice how the way you fight is just slightly different from everyone else...not unlike Zelkov actually. Not to mention the way you walk or carry yourself.”
“You were looking at me that intently?”
“Ever since we met on that day.”
A slight sense of embarrassment washed over the thief.
“But you know, Yunaka? It was brave of you to tell me your story, and I did want to know everything about you, so really...” Alear smiled in the most heartwarming way possible, which Yunaka couldn’t quite tell whether that was intentional or if their smile was always that warm. “Thank you, Yunaka. For telling me and allowing me to know the real you.”
The embarrassment turned into something completely different the thief couldn’t quite place. A sensation so foreign and new, even her teachings didn’t help her cope. But it was...pleasant? It was warm, exciting, but a little scary. Was this...lo—
“I guess now that you have shared that secret, it might be best I share one of mine,” Alear spoke, interrupting the thief’s line of thought.
“You have secrets, Divine One?”
“Doesn’t everyone?”
“I guess that’s true.”
Though not everyone has a collection of skeletons in their closet.
“Remember when you said you were glad to fight for me?”
“Yes I remember, I’m really grateful to you, you know?” Yunaka called on the memory.
“That...really made me happy. So happy, I was about to jump for joy on the spot.”
“Divine One?”
“But then I wondered, what about after the war? You, me, everyone else, we wouldn’t have to fight anymore. Peace didn’t require bloodshed, and especially not in my name...” Alear’s tone shifted from something joyful to something more worried; more concerned. “And at that point, I thought, was there any reason for you to stay around at that point? You only joined as some sort of punishment, too...”
“Do you want me to stay?”
“Very much so.”
But...
“But why?”
“Because I can’t imagine my life without you, Yunaka,” the Divine Dragon-turned-Emblem locked gazes at the thief. The foreign sensation only grew more intense. “You’re the most important person to me, Yunaka. And if possible, I want you to stay by my side just like this, forever. That’s my secret.”
...
Yunaka did not know what to say. Was there no catch? No condition? Or was her assassin-level paranoia acting up when it really shouldn't be?
“So that’s why, I want you to have this,” Alear said, as they placed a small, shining object on the table. A shining object that Yunaka immediately recognized as the Pact Ring. A ring that was to be given to the one person a Divine Dragon found most precious, most special, and one they simply...wanted to be with, until the end of time.
“Isn’t this ring too precious to you?”
“And you are the most precious person to me, so wouldn’t you say that’s the perfect fit? Please, accept it.”
“I thought you were going to give it to someone else in our group.”
“If I was going to, then I would be very late with it now, given most of our friends all returned home for the time being. And I don’t have to tell you about the people still on the Somniel...they’re either children, my sister, or old veterans.”
“Poor Seadall,” Yunaka joked.
“Oh, and Seadall,” Alear smirked, before returning to the more important topic at hand, “really Yunaka, I cherish all of you. Your past self, and your current self, it doesn’t matter to me, as long as it’s you.”
Yunaka fell silent, as the foreign sensation was working in overdrive, and Yunaka realized what kind of feeling it was. She read about it before, in books.
It was love.
A love for the person who she felt most comfortable with, and was most appreciative of.
And now, for the person that told her they cherished her.
For the person, no, Divine Dragon, no, Emblem? Yunaka shook her head, the most appropriate moniker would be that.
A love for her fellow traveler named Alear.
“Yunaka? How do you feel?”
“You really are amazing, Divine One. Saying something like that,” Yunaka broke her silence, struggling to articulate her feelings but trying her hardest, “I want to know all that there is to know about you too. And then I want to accept all of that—all of you, like you’ve accepted me.”
Yunaka didn’t know whether she was saying the proper things. It felt more like she was imitating Alear, given how many of their sentiments she was echoing.
But Yunaka was stellar at impressions.
“So, no more secrets, no more lies, and no more half-truths,” Yunaka said, before vocalizing her heart’s singular desire, previously shrouded but now painfully obvious, “I want to be here, with you, for the remainder of my life. That’s...how I feel. Truly.”
“I feel the same way. So, let’s be true to each other, okay? No more hiding. What do you say...partner?”
The answer was simple.
“Happily, Alear. It seems our adventure will continue for a while longer.”
“It’s a new chapter for that journey,” Alear commented. “Give me your hand.”
As requested, Yunaka extended her hand outwards, resolutely, without hesitation. Not even dreaming of pulling her hand away, as Alear slid the Pact Ring on her finger.
“It suits you.”
“You think?”
“Yeah, I think so,” Alear assured her. “And I also think we should finish our food, lest it grow cold.”
“Oh, good one! It would be a shame if it did.”
The duo continued eating, engaging themselves with idle chatter.
“But to think the Divine Dragon would be so awkward when it came to love...”
“Awkward?”
“I mean, you waited this long for it, how long has it been since we recovered that ring?”
“Don’t tease me. Who was I supposed to learn this kind of stuff from? Vander? Not to mention I was asleep for a thousand years not that long ago!” Alear exclaimed.
“I’m kinda glad he didn’t teach you, now that you mention it,” Yunaka felt like she dodged a bullet.
“Yeah...”
“We can learn this kind of thing together. No one’s taught me either.”
“Yes, let’s.”
How many times had she defied her teacher’s lessons in the past twenty-four hours? It didn’t matter. All of that...was useless now. She didn’t need them anymore, not for her new future with the most precious person in the world.
Precious?
Was this what Micaiah meant?
Yunaka made a mental note to polish the ring that once housed her dear friend. If she was going to be staying in Lythos and the Somniel for the rest of time, she might as well, right?
“Why don’t we have a toast?” Alear suggested.
“Sure, but to what exactly?”
“Why not keep it simple, and just toast to ourselves?”
Then...
Yunaka raised her glass, “To us!”
Alear followed suit, “To us!”
…and to say hello to tomorrow.