Chapter Text
She thought she would take this secret to her grave, among other things. After all, it was silly. She was a human with a very human lifespan.
And Emblems were immortal ghosts.
A relationship with an Emblem—if they even reciprocated—would only lead to disappointment and heartbreak. Dying early, for one. Not being able to touch or interact with the physical world, for another. And then, their sense of duty to the world and tendency for self-sacrifice—the things that made many of them heroes. How long could anything between them last with so many barriers in their way?
That’s why it was better to simply give up. To give up and ride these feelings out until they eventually went away. They had to.
…Except they didn’t.
She had hoped the time apart would loosen the tangled knot of feelings inside of her, but as the months marched on, they only grew. Their army had gained more allies and taken back old ones, but they were still missing the one she wanted to see most again.
It was frustrating, every time they faced the Hounds. Every time she would almost land the final blow to Mauvier and—
“Ow!”
Yunaka hissed, jerking her hand away from the whetstone. The sword she had been sharpening clattered to the floor, a drop of her blood marring its polished edge. From the other side of the cabin, Fogado jolted awake and immediately sat up on the couch.
“You okay, Yunaka?” he asked, rubbing the remnants of his nap from his eyes and kneeling beside her. “What happened?”
She tore a strip from the drying cloth to press against her finger, fighting back her mortification. “Just nicked myself, is all. No biggie!”
It was a biggie. The last time she had made a rookie mistake like this was back in her training days as a child. She may have retired from the business now, but even she still had her pride as a professional, and as a weapons aficionado.
This is so embarrassing.
“It’s not like you to slip up like this. Something on your mind?” Fogado repositioned himself to sit cross-legged on the ship’s wooden floor, flashing her one of his brilliant smiles. “Since you’re doing me a favor by sharpening my gear for me, the least I can do is lend an ear if you’re troubled. Whaddaya say?”
“Whoa, slow down there, buddy! I may have let some walls down, but not all of them!” Yunaka said, her voice pitching slightly from her nervous laugh.
He moved to prop his elbow on his knee, chin resting on his palm. “Come on, now—you can be real with me. I promise I won’t tell anyone, if that’s what you’re worried about. Sentinel’s honor.”
It was tempting, for sure.
After a moment of silence, Fogado continued, “Okay, how about this? I tell you something that’s on my mind, and you tell me what’s on yours. That way, we’ll be even. We can try to match the scale of it too, if you’d like. So no pudding cravings versus…a family member dying, or something.”
“Pudding cravings? Really?”
“Hey there, Real Yunaka. Been a while since you popped up.”
Damn it, Fogado! Yunaka groaned, running a hand down her face. “You didn’t hear that!”
“Why not? If she’s who you’re most comfortable as, I’d love to be her friend too sometime.”
“ She is enjoying her retirement, thank you very much. And the me now is just as real as her…even though it isn’t easy a lot of the time,” Yunaka sighed, taking the cloth away from her finger to assess the damage. “Look, I’m trying to change for the better. And it’s thanks to Micaiah that I even had the chance to do so. If I hadn’t heard her voice from the ring that day, who knows where I’d be?”
The cut wasn’t too bad, but she could almost imagine Micaiah’s healing magic enveloping her in its warmth anyway. She had a tendency to worry.
“One of the rings still lost to Sombron, yeah?” The laidback cheer in Fogado’s voice ebbed a bit into something more serious and reassuring. “We got Leif and Sigurd back recently, at least. I’m sure we’ll get the rest soon enough.”
Not soon enough, for my liking.
But…she couldn’t complain much. Not when Alear and the others were still waiting, too. She wasn’t the only one missing her first Emblem partner.
“Still, it’s just…all so frustrating,” Yunaka admitted, lifting her gaze to see Fogado patiently watching her. “I could’ve taken Mauvier down sooooo many times and gotten her back, yet there was always something in the way. Then again, I suppose death is a pretty big something…”
He chuckled. “Yeah, I’d bet. Kind of hard to savor the victory when you’re dead.”
“Exactly!”
It was strange, how… okay it felt, getting things off of her chest, however little. Or maybe Fogado just made it easy, being his friendly self.
“Guess it’s my turn, then?” he said, shifting to place both hands on his knees. “Seeing as you got the jump on me and went first.”
“Huh?”
“Micaiah,” Fogado clarified, lips tugging into a faint smirk. “Her safety’s on your mind, right? Since you’ve been trying so desperately to get her back, and all.”
Her heart had nearly stopped when he said her name, but Yunaka recovered quickly. Barking out a laugh that hopefully didn’t sound as panicked as she felt, she said, “Yup! Totally! It’s soooo dang frustrating that Mauvier keeps ringblocking any attempt, y’know? And I guess the other Hounds, too. And Veyle.”
‘Ringblocking?’ Seriously?
She would have continued on with her rambling, if not for the hint of hesitation in Fogado’s eyes and the slight tensing of his hands, at odds with his relaxed smile. He was internally bracing himself for something—like she had, whenever Citrinne had approached her those first few times. Unease scratched at her spine, forcing her to speak.
“Fogado, you don’t have to—”
“I’m in love with Corrin.”
The world stilled. Even the faintest throbbing in her finger ceased.
The ambient sounds of the sea and creaking ship faded away to bring Fogado’s voice into greater clarity. “I’ve…been in love with her for a while now, actually. And after finally meeting her and talking with her, the feeling’s only grown. She’s more than I ever dreamed of.”
“Wait, wait, wait! How? ” Even her own voice sounded muted to her ears.
“I’ve been sneaking out to visit her fortress ever since I was a kid. Between all the stories our mother and Queen Lumera shared, it was hard not to imagine what she’d be like,” Fogado said, chuckling ruefully. “You know, I honestly didn’t think I’d ever get to meet her in my lifetime. I was fine with letting it fade eventually. It never would’ve worked out, y’know?”
“Except now she’s been summoned.”
“Yeah… Definitely changed some things.”
The world began to turn again as Fogado breathed an enormous sigh of relief. He fell back until he was laying on the floor, staring at the ceiling with his arms spread. All of the tension had faded completely, giving way to an almost enviable peace.
“Haha! Man, that felt nice to get off my chest!” he said, laughing. “I thought for sure it would be worse, but it’s not bad at all! Confessing feels great!”
Maybe…it could be okay. Maybe I could tell him…?
“Listen, Fogado—”
The intended words lodged in her throat as her self-defense kicked in. Don’t you dare, the part of her that was still Larimar hissed. Don’t you dare give him something to hold over you. He’ll use it; just you wait.
Fogado isn’t like that. He showed me a lot of trust—it isn’t fair to him if I don’t make it even.
Besides, it wasn’t her only secret. It was just…her most embarrassing one.
“I haven’t been…entirely honest, with what’s on my mind,” Yunaka forced herself to continue. “I mean, earlier was only part of it, but there’s…more. Some more. Maybe even a lot more.”
“I know.” Fogado sat up, favoring her with one of his dazzling smiles again. “You not being entirely honest? That’s part of the package in being your friend. And that’s okay. Everyone has their own baggage; some more than others. And you, my friend, seem to be carrying a whole caravan’s worth.”
“But your feelings for Corrin—”
“—aren’t the heaviest thing I have on me, don’t worry. I still have pleeeenty of other secrets and troubles that are worth more. Scale, remember? You and I value different things.”
An assassin wasn’t allowed to have anything that would compromise a job. Feelings of any sort—especially romantic ones—ranked pretty high on that list. And as for Fogado, it made sense as the prince of a nation that he had other matters to prioritize compared to a crush. He was responsible for so much more. The individual versus the many—at least Yunaka had the option to leave her life behind.
“Okay.” She took a deep breath, wrapping her finger in the cloth again and moving to stand up. “Okay. I guess we’ll leave it at that, for now.”
“Great! Well, then…why don’t you go find Jean and get that cut looked at? I can take over finishing my gear from here,” Fogado said, reaching for his fallen sword and a spare cloth.
Yunaka tilted her head. “Are you sure? I’ll be back in a flash, y’know? A zap, even!”
“I’m sure. You, on the other hand, look like you could use a breather. Think about stuff some more, yeah?” His smile grew. “And once your head’s a bit clearer, go have a spar on deck or something. Next time you meet Mauvier again, you’ll be even better at kicking his ass.”
“Hehe… Zappy! Fourth time’s the charm, right?” She punched the air, hoping her voice had reached its ‘usual’ level of cheer. “Micaiah’ll ditch him for me in no time!”
Stupid! Idiot! You were in the clear!
Fogado simply laughed at that. Before she could shove her foot further into her mouth, Yunaka waved a hasty goodbye and made her tactical retreat. A flush had spread from her cheeks to her ears, burning hotter with every step she took down the ship’s halls. Briefly, she considered hiding her face with her equally-red hair.
“Stupid! So stupid!” she groaned. “‘Ditch him for me?’ What do I sound like, a jilted ex-lover?”
Maybe she was.
“Aaaarrgghhh! Stupid! ”
This time, Yunaka did hide her face with her hair.
“Will you join with Emblem Micaiah?”
Their gazes, so warm with expectations and trust. The ring, gleaming and pure and perfect on her finger.
“Yunaka has shown me nothing but kindness. Fighting by her side, I saw a bright path ahead.”
Micaiah had been more beautiful than she had expected. Under the shadow of night, no one had noticed the flush on her cheeks or her stolen glances.
“When I sensed Sombron’s return, I called out in the dark. It was she who answered.”
That same feeling from the hidden shrine; the small voice of her conscience that had urged her to help in spite of the risk and absurdity.
“I’m glad you were the one to find me.”
Their meeting had been pure happenstance, but it had shifted the course of her new life entirely. If she had decided to toughen it out and head for the nearest town for a better chance at gold, she wouldn’t need to visit the shrine. If she hadn’t glanced at the foot of that hill in the distance, she wouldn’t have seen its entrance at all. If she had booked passage to Solm instead, she wouldn’t have been involved with…anything, really.
So many ifs. Perhaps there was a Yunaka in some other life who was fully enjoying her retirement on one of Solm’s many beaches. Or freezing her ass off in some remote Elusian town.
She envied those other lives. Neither of them would have to deal with these feelings—the cycle of guilt and longing consuming her like an ouroboros its tail.
But on the other hand…neither of them would have known Micaiah. Neither of them would have gone on this insane journey. Neither of them would have met everyone here, in the Divine Dragon’s army.
“There’s no way to win this, huh?” Yunaka muttered, squinting at the sea as if its waters could reveal the answer like some magic mirror.
Instead, they only waved.
“...Should I be concerned that you might jump?” Light, dainty steps of a Firenese cadence. “You have been rather careless with your life lately.”
Yunaka idly drummed her fingers along the ship’s railing, pushing away thoughts of burning windmills and too many close calls. She turned her head as the scent of flowers and camomile won out over the salty tang of the sea. “Hey! I’ll have you know I’m nowhere near ready to kick the bucket yet!”
“I suppose I’ll take your word for it,” Princess Celine said, offering her a guarded smile.
More than once, she had wondered how much Celine knew. Her work as Larimar had taken her all over Elyos, even if most of her contracts had been in Brodia. Citrinne at least had the advantage of living in Brodia and lending an ear to its court. Diamant and Alcryst seemed unaware, along with their other retainers. The Elusian and Solmic royals in this merry band of misfits also seemed ignorant to her true reputation.
And as for the Firenese, Alfred was a whole new breed of bird. His retainers, too. Which left…
“If you stare at me like that, a girl does start to wonder,” Celine said, her voice toeing the line between coy and threatening. Her gaze, however, remained sharp and alert.
Yunaka chuckled in spite of the metaphorical blade held at her throat. “Louis seems to be rubbing off on you, huh? I mean, you’re pretty, but—”
Micaiah’s prettier.
“—even I know better than to go after a friend’s dear younger sister. Let alone a princess like yourself! Think of the scandals! The geopolitical ramifications!”
“‘Geopolitical?’ You never did mention where you’re from, Yunaka,” Celine delivered with newly-forged smoothness.
Ack.
“In your dreams~?” Yunaka parried with a wink and a snap of her fingers.
She had expected Celine to double down on her veiled threat from earlier. Instead, the princess of Firene giggled, hiding an amused smile behind her hand. “Goodness, that was terrible! No wonder you and Alfred have become such good friends.”
“Like two weird bird-peas in a nest-pod, right?” Yunaka said, a strained smile tugging at her lips. “So…is there something you need? Besides trying to get me to flirt with you? Not that I’d mind, usually, but you are Alfred’s sister. I wouldn’t want to make things weird for him.”
“If anything, I can see him wholeheartedly encouraging your efforts,” Celine sighed, lowering her hand. The edge in her gaze softened somewhat. “I do have other related matters I’d like to discuss with you someday, but that isn’t the reason I called out to you.”
Had she assumed too much earlier? If her unease over her identity hadn’t slipped through… Uggghhh, this is the trouble with Celine. It’s hard to tell when she is or isn’t acting in her capacity as princess. Her roles are so close, they might as well be one and the same!
Even so, Celine was still Alfred’s sister. And he trusted her, probably more than anyone else in their ragtag army.
“Try showing people a little trust,” Fogado had said, weeks back. “If you always keep your walls up, you might miss out on making new friends.”
“Before you go on, I…do want to say that I have no intention of hurting Alfred. In any way. If you were worried about that,” Yunaka said, exhaling a shaky breath. “...Or Firene, for that matter.”
Celine’s shoulders relaxed by a fraction. Were it anyone else watching, they probably wouldn’t have noticed at all. The same guarded smile from before briefly returned to her lips as she asked, “What ever do you mean?”
This really is the trouble with you! Yunaka inwardly fumed. But I’ll take what I can get, damn it!
“All the same…I appreciate that you value your friendship with my brother. Thank you, Yunaka.” Celine paused, clearing her throat. “But again, that isn’t why I’m here. Alear has informed me that I am to assist you in fighting Mauvier, should we encounter him in Elusia. I’m afraid at this point, you’ll need more power to breach his defenses. And with only four rings left to them, the Hounds might attempt to compensate through other means.”
That was a scary thought. They were already threatening enough with the remaining Emblems still on their side. Especially with Micaiah.
For all of their time spent together, Engaged or not, Yunaka hadn’t realized just how much of Micaiah’s potential had gone untapped until now. Mauvier had wielded her with more efficiency and understanding than anyone in their army thus far, warping multiple units at once to impede their efforts, healing entire groups, and casting spells with terrifying precision.
…Okay, maybe that last one is just his skill with magic.
“Yunaka?”
Ah. She should have said something by now. “Sorry, sorry, I was just…thinking. Kiiiinda came at me from out of nowhere, you know? But are you okay with this?”
Celine tilted her head inquisitively. “Why wouldn’t I be? If it will lead us to victory, then I’ll assist wherever I can.”
“But if we run into Griss and Celica instead—” Yunaka began to say, only to pause. Is it too presumptuous? I can’t just assume she’s in the same boat as me, but… “If we run into them, wouldn’t it be better for you to help there? Because of…um, magic defense and all that jazz. Magic-y stuff.”
Celine’s eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. “Those versed in magic are better equipped to fight against magic, I agree. I suppose we shall see which Hounds we encounter first and adapt from there accordingly.”
The metaphorical sword had been aimed at her throat again, but it withdrew at Celine’s last words. Yeesh. Note to self: don’t poke at that hornet’s nest again.
“Great!” Yunaka said with forced cheer, holding out a hand. “Looking forward to working with you to kick Mauvier’s butt, then!”
Celine shook her hand without hesitation, a polite smile playing on her lips. “Likewise.”
If only it were so simple.
“Watch out for the miasma, everyone!” she heard Alear shout. “Lindon, can you use that flame cannon to clear a path for us? Kagetsu and Goldmary will lead our vanguard!”
The rest of her orders grew muted and distant to her ears, her gaze already focused on the armored knight astride his horse. A dense group of Corrupted stood between them on the ruined town’s thoroughfare—jostling impatiently, and too many for her to take down on her own.
“Your calculating look is back, Yunaka,” Corrin said as she materialized beside her, sword at the ready. And, in a quieter voice, “Do you see her?”
Movement from Marni, further back. Mauvier’s stoic face shifted to one of incredulity and mild anger. A ring, reluctantly slid on his finger.
Micaiah.
“...Corrin. We’re circling around to attack him from the rooftops,” Yunaka—Larimar—said, soft and low. “We’ll have a height advantage this time instead of taking him on the ground.”
From her periphery, Corrin’s lips dipped into a concerned frown. “Can you dodge in mid-air, if need be? Do you have an exit plan? With the miasma and all of these Corrupted around, I don’t think this is a good idea, Yunaka. You could die.”
“In addition to that, I’m sure Mauvier is aware of your tactics by now. If he has any sense, he’ll be wary of fog even with this miasma,” another voice added.
Yunaka turned her head, just in time to see Celine come to a stop on Corrin’s other side. Were it not for her flower motifs and Firenese colors, the steely glint in her eyes and hardened jaw would have been distinctly Brodian.
“I know that I am to assist you,” Celine continued, “however, I refuse to be party to any suicidal plans. I’m afraid you’ll have to consider a different angle of attack.”
Corrin hovered more into view, her silver eyes still shining with concern. “She’s right—you and I don’t have to do this alone. Didn’t you hear what Alear said? Kagetsu and Goldmary will start our push forward. If they and the others can thin out the ranks enough, we’ll have an easier time reaching Mauvier.”
And what if someone reaches him first?
“Yunaka.” Corrin’s hand phased through hers, but she kept it in place anyway to maintain the illusion. “ Please. No one will think badly of you if you aren’t the one to get her ring back. No one’s blamed you for losing her, either.”
There were plenty of other things that would be damning for her if everyone knew. And…she understood very well that trying to get the ring back on her own was simply a matter of pride. The only one to lose in either situation should she fail would be her, and her alone.
Can’t you be less weird about this? For one damn second or battle? Yunaka scolded herself, endeavoring not to shy away from Corrin’s imploring gaze. She clenched her other hand, nails digging deep into her palm. It’s a good thing if Micaiah returns. It doesn’t have to be me. It…
It never had to be me.
Alear had entrusted her with Micaiah because the rest of the army had been on the other side of the settlement. She had been the only other one around, but that didn’t mean it had to be her , specifically. If they had brought even one more person for their small strike team, she definitely wouldn’t have asked her.
That was it. That’s all it was: convenience. Just like she had conveniently constructed this messy narrative of responsibility to soothe her own wounded ego.
“...Okay.”
The tangled knot inside of her twisted further, whispering the true reason.
“Okay,” Yunaka repeated, sighing heavily. “Our orders from Alear have always been to disrupt the enemy however we can, so we’ll do that… Unless he had new orders for us? I wasn’t exactly paying attention.”
Her voice had regained a bit of its ‘usual’ energy at the end, along with a somewhat awkward smile. Celine tactfully returned it with a polite one as both Yunaka and Corrin looked to her for an answer.
“If it were really important, she would have stayed behind to repeat it. Given how the battle has already begun, I don’t think anything has changed. …Aside from the both of you lacking gravitas for the lives of our allies,” she said with more sharpness than a Killing Edge. “Now…shall we head out?”
They both flinched, mumbling in unison, “Yes, ma’am…”
By now, half of their forces had already crossed the gangplanks to enter the town. But even with Lindon and the other mages trying to burn away what miasma they could, progress remained slow and dangerous—the waves of Corrupted saw to that. Every part of her itched with impatience, but she managed to keep it at bay with Larimar-like will.
“I’d say it’s about time to help even the odds, wouldn’t you agree?” Yunaka finally said after their forces had gained more ground, deflecting an arrow meant for Celine. “Corrin!”
“Leave it to me!”
Engaging always felt strange, no matter how many times she had done it by now. Corrin’s otherworldly power wrapped around her like armor, her mind brushing against hers as they synced. Memories briefly flashed before her eyes—a harsh landscape, a blue-haired woman in white, an army rallying to face an evil dragon.
Corrin’s intentions rang clear, tugging her forward: they would not lose hope here.
“Kagetsu, Goldmary!” Celine shouted from her left, casting Bolganone on an armored Corrupted poised to throw its spear. Her green eyes shone fiercely with understanding. “If you wish to keep your heads, duck!”
Kagetsu obeyed at once, pushing Goldmary down before she could complain about the sudden order. They had three seconds before the enemy would take advantage of them in their vulnerable state. That was more than enough.
Yunaka’s left arm transformed into a draconic monstrosity, power gathering where her palm would have been. On the other side of the throng of Corrupted, Mauvier narrowed his eyes.
“We won’t give up!” she roared—or was it Corrin?—firing a torrential blast of water straight down the thoroughfare. Her attack soared over their vanguard, slamming bodily into the line of Corrupted and clearing a path. Their allies moved to deal with the stragglers from the blast, Alear rallying them all to take the chance to push forward.
And yet, Mauvier still hadn’t moved.
“Celine… Can I trust you?” Her throat felt dry; the ashes of Florra Port settled on her tongue with their memory. Perhaps it was her imagination, but she could almost feel Corrin grasp her hand, now normal again. Synced together like this, surely she understood the plan as well.
“Of course.”
Celine’s words always seemed to carry a double edge whenever they spoke together. But here, they felt genuine—here, she heard a shadow of Alfred and his stupid kindness.
Celine brandished her tome, fire already crackling from its pages as she glanced over, her gaze colored with something she couldn’t quite place. “But are you sure about this?”
“Weren’t you and Corrin trying to persuade me otherwise, before? I’m getting some mixed messages over here!” Yunaka said, barking out a laugh that fell short of its usual zappiness. I know. I have a better shot this time, compared to before.
“Only if it seemed likely you would be unnecessarily killed in the process. With this, however…” Celine’s gaze hardened as she pivoted on her heel, thrusting out her tome for another Bolganone spell. The Corrupted that had tried to attack burned away, along with the nearby miasma. From the next street over, Louis announced the arrival of enemy reinforcements.
If Mauvier’s going to make a move, it would have to be now. Yunaka dismissed Corrin’s Yato, calling her dagger to her hand instead. “The hero life isn’t for me. I’ve realized that now. It…”
Here goes nothing.
“...It doesn’t matter who Micaiah wakes up to. It doesn’t matter who she thanks first.”
It really didn’t. And it hurt, but she couldn’t afford to let her feelings get in the way now. Veyle and the other two Hounds weren’t here—if they wanted to bring Micaiah and Roy back to their side, it would have to be settled with this battle. She couldn’t ruin this chance for everyone, just to play at being a hero, or to have a sappy reunion straight out of Boucheron’s novels.
Corrin nudged at her mind, concern and sympathy all rolled into one. “Are you okay?” she managed to convey, without voice or body.
“I’ll be fine,” Yunaka said, watching as Mauvier raised a staff. “All you have to worry your pretty little head over is when to hit him while he’s distracted. It’ll be obvious when. I hope.”
She heard Celine sigh. “Very well.”
Green light flared from Mauvier’s staff, fully healing the last row of Corrupted that stood between him and their own forces. Saphir and Louis ran over to switch with Kagetsu and Goldmary, shields raised to give them time to heal and prepare. Mauvier dismissed his staff, only to call a new one to his hand.
Yunaka darted forward, wisps of Corrin’s fog already trailing from her hand. Up ahead, Fogado galloped around on his horse, taking potshots here and there with his radiant bow. “Fogado, Celine needs a ride!”
“Is it disruption time?” he asked, managing a brilliant smile even amidst the chaos. “Oh, it’s disruption time! Let’s get your girl, yeah?”
“Yes,” Celine diplomatically answered for her. She took Fogado’s offered hand as he passed, smoothly swinging onto the horse to sit behind him. With her other hand, she cast Thoron on one of the Corrupted, immobilizing them long enough for Fogado’s horse to leap through and break their formation.
Yunaka followed close behind, throwing a dagger to finish off the downed Corrupted. The fog around her grew with every second. I sure hope this works…
Light flashed from Mauvier’s staff. From further behind him, Marni and a group of Corrupted disappeared.
“Finally, time for some act— Hey!”
The fog blossomed in full force the moment Marni warped in front of them, thick and nearly impossible to see for someone who wasn’t prepared. That moment of disorientation allowed her to slip past Marni, bolting straight for Mauvier’s position. Alear and the others could deal with her.
“Look what you made me do,” Yunaka muttered, allowing her killing intent to radiate forward without restraint. She poured out all of her frustrations and anger; her indignation and disgust. Every ugly emotion she held for her past and present came together, honed into a fine edge of Death.
Look at me. Look at me!
She closed her eyes just as a bright light banished away the fog, the spell that had caused it grazing her cheek to draw blood. Her momentum didn’t falter as she opened her eyes, meeting Mauvier’s alarmed gaze.
And Micaiah’s impassive stare.
Yunaka threw a dagger before her thoughts could distract her, stopping herself just short of the range for Mauvier’s flame lance. Micaiah deflected it with another Nosferatu, her movements still graceful even in her darkened state.
“You. Again ,” Mauvier greeted her with less emotion than she had hoped. Come on now, weren’t they rivals at this point?
Yunaka grinned, using her thumb to wipe the blood from her cheek. “Me. Again! But not really.”
Mauvier narrowed his eyes, only for them to widen as Celine’s Excalibur spell slammed into him from behind, knocking him from his horse. His flame lance flew out of his hand, clattering across the ruined road. Fogado fired his magic-imbued arrows a beat later, although only half of them seemed to deal any damage, with Micaiah moving to take the shots.
“Forgive me, Emblem,” Mauvier coughed as he endeavored to stand, manifesting a tome in his hand. “I know this…imposes a burden upon you.”
Micaiah said nothing as she reappeared, merely hovering protectively in front of him.
A burden, huh? Ideally, they’d avoid putting the darkened Emblems through any more pain, but they didn’t have much of a choice on the battlefield. Pushing past her hesitation, Yunaka threw another dagger at Mauvier just as Fogado fired another barrage. Micaiah moved to defend him—deflecting Fogado’s arrows with her tome and blocking Yunaka’s dagger with her own body—but even she couldn’t be in three places at once.
Yes, three.
Mauvier cried out as Celine’s Elthunder struck from above, his heavy armor conducting its electricity and amplifying the damage. He slumped to the ground again, limbs spasming from the shock running through his body. At the same time, Micaiah vanished in a flash of red from Yunaka’s attack. With this, they had precious few seconds before either could recover.
Even so…something like that couldn’t kill him? That sturdy bastard — just how tough can one person be?!
Yunaka dashed forward, hastily grabbing Mauvier’s twitching hand to yank Micaiah’s ring from his finger. So thin, so intricate—the ring felt like it would break if she gripped it any harder. But she had to, now that they had made it this far. Alear wouldn’t mind if some of the ornamentation broke off, right…?
If not for her Engage form’s levitation, she would have fallen on her bum as the ring came loose. Spinning once through the air, she triumphantly held the ring up, Corrin’s own relief augmenting her own. “Aha! Eat that, Mauvier!”
“Eat…what?” he groaned.
She would have retorted with something else, were it not for the familiar, gentle warmth radiating from the ring. Her mind flashed back to that day in the hidden shrine, when Micaiah first called out to her.
“Please, take me to the Divine Dragon.”
Micaiah materialized before her now, ethereal and silent. Although still darkened with Fell Dragon power, her impassive gaze felt…softer, somehow.
Or maybe that’s just wishful thinking. Yunaka swallowed down all of the words she wanted to say, all of the things she wanted to do, all of the things she wanted to feel, and turned away. While not as sharp as her eyes, her ears had already caught the sound of something massive barreling their way. “Celine, catch!”
“Must you really— Oh!” Celine had dismounted earlier for their combination attack, and now she hastily moved to catch the ring in time. “Shouldn’t you handle her with more care?”
“We don’t have time. Seems like that light earlier attracted one of the wyrms over, and Eirika’s on the other side of town with Merrin,” Fogado said, readying his bow. “Princess Celine, you have to go! Now!”
A building near them exploded into dust and debris. Yunaka called Corrin’s Yato to her hand just in time to block a swipe from the wyrm’s large tail, but the force still sent her flying backwards. She painfully slammed through wall after wall, with Corrin’s power protecting her from what would have been more than one broken bone or a snapped spine.
Yunaka groaned as the last wall collapsed, kicking up more dust to mix with the miasma. Her Engage form dispersed—both from time running out, and from absorbing the worst of the impact. Black spots danced at the edge of her vision. “Ugh… This is why I’m no good with beasts.”
“I’m sure it would’ve been cuter if it wasn’t corrupted,” Corrin shakily said. “Are you all right?”
“I feel like some poor ragdoll that’s been dragged all over Elyos, but I’ll manage,” Yunaka answered, raising her head to see Corrin hovering in front of the massive hole in the building they were in. She held Yato defensively, stance wary as the wyrm used its fire breath on something out of sight.
“Good to hear. I’ll protect you while you catch your breath.”
“No, no, hold on a second.” Yunaka pushed herself to stand, wincing at the ache in her…everywhere. “Is anyone else hurt? You should protect them first if they’re in range.”
“If you mean Celine, she already left to regroup with Alear,” Corrin said, a faint smile in her voice.
Busted. Yunaka reached into the small pouch at her waist, fingers brushing past broken vials and damp fabric. “Damn it… I’ll have to see if I can catch Hortensia’s attention. Shouldn’t be too hard with my wily charms, right?”
Corrin chuckled, drifting to the right to make room as Yunaka joined her outside. “Maybe she noticed the light, too. Still…that was pretty reckless of you. What if Mauvier had been more accurate?”
That wouldn’t have happened. After all, he still had someone to protect and return to. With Death suddenly staring straight at him, even a stoic knight like Mauvier could panic and miss, driven by the urge to stay alive. He hadn’t fully discarded his emotions or the weight of his life for the sake of the job—he still had things he valued.
Not like Larimar, back then.
Yunaka’s keen gaze swept over the ruined thoroughfare, searching for the armored knight in question. More buildings had been destroyed as their allies continued fighting the wyrm. Under the rubble? No, not there… Did he retreat already, after all that damage?
Beside her, Corrin tensed. “More Corrupted are on their way, and our friends are still fighting that thing. Think you can hold on for a little bit longer?”
“I’m down to only one knife, but it’ll have to do!” Perhaps it was the knowledge that Micaiah was back in safe hands—it felt like she could take on anything now. Even with her battered form and a single blade, the Corrupted wouldn’t be a problem. Larimar had faced worse odds before for ‘training.’
“I appreciate the energy you have going on there, but that ain’t it,” came Fogado’s light—albeit weary—voice. He limped over to them, sword in hand, quiver empty, and horse nowhere to be seen. “She means it’s time to play a hard game of keep-away. Isn’t that right?”
“More or less.” Corrin’s voice grew sheepish, an apology in her eyes as she glanced at Yunaka. “You might not like this.”
Yunaka gestured to the battlefield around them, a wry smile playing at her lips. “We’re surrounded on all sides, with everyone dancing around in some way. It’s a party . Of course I don’t like any of this.”
Fogado laughed in spite of his injuries, only to cough right after. Flecks of blood further dirtied his dusty sleeve.
And Yunaka understood. Slipping off Corrin’s ring, she marched up to Fogado, all but jamming the ring onto his finger.
“Ow! Easy, there—I’m a delicate desert flower, you know?”
“Yeah, yeah, and I’m a Firenese blossom,” Yunaka said, stepping back. “Try not to run around too fast, okay? Serving as a distraction for the Corrupted will only work if I can keep up with the fog, and I’m not exactly at the top of my game right now.”
None of them were, save for the Emblems. Over Fogado’s shoulder, she could see Panette’s rampage already slower than usual, even while Engaged with Ike. Lucina covered for Lapis’ tired swings; Pandreo could barely hold up his staff. The miasma continued to press close all around them, heavy and suffocating as it sapped away their energy.
To the west, Roy’s flames erupted in a dramatic blaze, collapsing more buildings. With Marni resorting to his powers, they likely wouldn’t be able to count on reinforcements from Alear’s side right now.
Fogado took that as his cue to start, stumbling forward and calling on Corrin to Engage. Her draconic armor wrapped around him as she disappeared, his steel sword shifting into her Yato. Fog began to gather around him as he shouted, “Yunaka, you got this!”
If only.
A flash of silver and black caught her eye, followed by the fiery streak of a red lance, augmented by wind magic. Her body moved before she could call out, muscles screaming at her to make it in time. A dagger by itself couldn’t throw off a lance of that size, even with the perfect angle. Fortunately, she had something else to save Fogado with—a weapon honed through years of pain and toil.
“Yunaka!”
She could almost hear Corrin in Fogado’s horrified voice. It was a wonder she could hear anything at all over the persistent pounding of her heart, desperately trying to keep her alive. Silly heart. The more blood you try to make, the more I lose.
She would have lost more if Mauvier had thrown his lance a little more to the left. Thankfully, her body had been enough to halt and alter its course, piercing through her left shoulder to shatter bone and burn flesh. Adrenaline and her hellish life as an assassin kept her from falling completely, only sinking down to one knee as she endeavored to bite back the pain.
The lance felt heavy enough. Her tongue felt heavier as Yunaka managed to hiss, “Go, now! Don’t let him…take the ring…!”
Her voice slipped into Larimar there, but she couldn’t afford to care. Although just as battered as she was, Mauvier didn’t have a damn lance sticking out of his body. A tome manifested in his open hand, light gathering from its pages as his steely gaze focused on Fogado’s fleeing form through the fog.
“Oh no, you…don’t…!” Yunaka threw her knife, knocking the book from his hand and impaling it against the rubble. Bereft of his tome and lance, Mauvier would have nothing left to harm her friends with.
“...You are persistent.”
Yeesh, so matter-of-factly! “Is that all…you have to say…? Aren’t we rivals…at this point?” Yunaka wheezed, flashing a goading grin.
“Being rivals implies a competition for superiority. I do not think you are competing with me to be the better knight to Lady Veyle.” Even with the battles raging around them, Mauvier still answered her so seriously. In a flash of light, a Freeze staff appeared in his open hand. “Now, if you will excuse me.”
He had only ever used a healing or warp staff before. She had assumed it was the perk of wearing Micaiah’s ring, but clearly that wasn’t the case here. Tanking, healing, attacking, supporting…isn’t this guy the total package?!
Mauvier began to stagger away, eyes searching for Fogado amidst the growing miasma and chaos of battle. Out of knives and left with a lance that would only weaken her if she were to yank it out, Yunaka fell back on her new life’s modus operandi: words.
“‘Better knight…?’” she called after him, fighting to keep her breathing under control. “I don’t know about you, but…where I’m from, knights don’t…attack from behind!”
Mauvier stopped in place, his hand visibly tightening its grip on the Freeze staff. Hook, line, and sinker.
“I’d say that attack earlier was rather cowardly…wouldn’t you think?”
“I am well aware of the sins I carry with me.”
“Then you could just stop, you know?” Yunaka pressed, her own eyes scanning for Fogado, hoping he had gotten away. “You could turn over a new leaf somewhere else. Hell, it doesn’t even have to be a leaf!”
“I cannot. Surely you understand this, as well.” Mauvier glanced at her over his shoulder, frowning. “I cannot leave Lady Veyle behind, just as you cannot leave your Emblem behind.”
Your Emblem.
“S-She isn’t—”
The remaining words lodged in her throat at the growing killing intent from behind. She didn’t need to look to confirm the approaching Corrupted, with their manic cries and frenzied steps.
Mauvier turned away, resuming his march. “Goodbye.”
Is that really all you have to say?! “Wait— Damn it!”
Trying to stand so quickly was a mistake. A fresh wave of pain rattled her body, sending her back to her knees and driving the lance deeper. Sweat dripped from her brow as Yunaka grabbed the shaft with her right hand for support, biting her lip hard enough to draw blood.
There was a real possibility she could die here. Death had always been a risk that came with the job as an assassin, but things were…different now. She had friends. She had people to return to.
Even if said people were on the same battlefield.
“Damn it… And I gave Mauvier flack for it, too,” Yunaka hissed, fighting to stand back on her feet. Pain pulsed incessantly with every movement, but she managed to do so, slowly. Her left arm was all but useless—she would have to make this last chance count.
The nearest Corrupted screeched as it leapt, eager to strike at a weakened foe. Yunaka whirled around to meet it, yanking the lance out of her shoulder with what strength she had left. Momentum impaled the Corrupted on its fiery point, its dying cry drowning out her own from the blinding pain.
Get it…together…! The Corrupted’s body faded away, revealing the rest of its pack charging straight for her. Black spots danced before her eyes. Each one you kill…is one less for your friends to deal with…!
A lucky thrust to the throat. A hasty kick to the groin. The lance, finally too heavy in her hand. Missed. A rusted blade pierced her lung. A club to her head. Another to her face.
Dizzy. Miasma. Ringing. Cold stone. A draconic roar. Panicked screeches. Had the wyrm returned?
“Only…two…” Yunaka wheezed, iron on her tongue. “Two… Too… Too close…”
Warmth amidst the growing coldness in her body. Someone’s hand had brushed her cheek.
“Cutting it…too…close…”
Black began to fill her vision, all sound now muffled to her ears. Her eyelids felt so heavy, but Yunaka managed to shift her aching head just enough for a final, bleary glimpse at her ally. Is that purple…?
“Fogado…? Listen, I… wasn’t…honest… I’m…sorry…” The world spun and every word hurt to say, but this could be her last chance. “We’re…the same… I…love…”
Yunaka’s eyes tugged closed as a bright light shone from above, breathing a name on her bloodied lips as darkness took her.
“...Farewell, Larimar.”
A man and a woman gleefully clutched their papers, their brown and amber eyes gleaming with greed behind matted, filthy hair.
“This man is your new family.”
The hand around her bony wrist was too big, too rough, as he dragged her away. That same hand soon weakly grasped for hers, one coin—with the promise of many more—pressed to her palm.
“One last job.”
One last job. It was always one last job. One last job before she could stop killing, for good. Because to kill was to eventually be killed in return. The rotting, corrupted corpses of the murdered, stabbing and bludgeoning her to death—it was a fitting end for someone who could only kill, even in her new life.
One last job for her teacher. One last job for the Divine Dragon. One last job for—
“I’m glad you were the one to find me.”
Micaiah floated before her now, brow furrowed and silver eyes alight with worry. Unlike her memory of this moment, a small frown adorned her face instead. Micaiah extended a hand, futile as it was. As an Emblem, she should know she can’t touch her. Especially now.
“Yunaka.”
How long has it been since she last heard her speak her name?
“Yunaka, please… I can’t pull you back from the brink if you don’t wish to return. Is this what you truly want?”
Nothing hurt anymore, she wouldn’t have to hide her past, and she wouldn’t have to kill again. All things considered, it wasn’t that bad.
“Yunaka…” Micaiah’s frown twitched into a half-smile, fondness coloring over the worry in her gaze. “Please, be serious. You’re dying, and I’d rather not lose you. And neither would your friends—we’re all waiting for you.”
Friends… That’s right, she had friends now. She had people to return to. Dying would be pretty selfish, wouldn’t it? Goldmary still had things she wanted to teach her, Celine had wanted to talk sometime, and she had to wingwoman for Fogado now. There was…so much she needed to tell him.
Micaiah’s smile grew, warm and soft. She gestured once more with her hand…
“... Ow! Easy with that grip, Yunaka!”
Her eyes slowly blinked open, taking in the gloomy skies of Elusia and its lazy dance of snowflakes. She could no longer hear the sounds of battle—only the murmur of their army going about their business, the crashing of waves against the shore, and someone’s painful efforts to do…something.
“Hand! My hand!”
Belatedly, she realized her right hand had caught something in a death grip. She immediately let go, turning her head to see Alfred gingerly flexing his fingers. Bereft of his usual blue cape, ash and various bloodstained cuts marred his Firenese finery. But for all of the wounds he seemed to have, they appeared to have been healed already.
“I have got to ask you to arm wrestle with me sometime… No, not the point right now! How are you feeling, Yunaka? You suddenly grabbed on and wouldn’t let go.”
“What happened…?” Yunaka sat up, one hand raised to her head to feel for wounds that no longer seemed to be there. “I remember holding off the Corrupted… And I think someone saved me at the end there.”
Alfred tapped at his chin in thought. “Might have been one of our allies after Micaiah healed everyone. You were already here by the time I made it back, and I was one of the few cavalry that still had a horse with me.”
Micaiah. Something tickled at the edge of her mind, before vanishing like morning fog.
“Soooo…mission accomplished, then? Rings retrieved and Hounds beaten with their tails between their legs?” Yunaka asked, a little too quickly.
“Yup! I have a meeting soon with Alear and the others to talk about our plans moving forward, but I wanted to check up on you again,” Alfred said, smiling in that sunny, goofy way. That smile soon fell into a pensive frown. “Celine and Prince Fogado also stopped by earlier, before they had other duties to attend to. Corrin’s been worried, too. You did something risky again, didn’t you?”
“Who, me~?”
“Yunaka…” Leave it to Alfred for even his disapproval to feel far too kind for her. His green eyes softened as he placed his hand on her shoulder. “Hey… I know you’ve been bottling this up inside, but no one’s mad at you for what happened at the cathedral. You don’t have to make up for it with your life. I was there too, remember? So if someone should be blamed, it should be me—for standing around like a goof instead of letting my muscles do the talking.”
A tired laugh bubbled out of her before she could stop it. “You’re always a goof.”
“The goofiest! But you’re not mad at this goof for losing Sigurd, are you?”
Damn it, Alfred! “I…guess not. Honestly, Veyle’s a big, stinkin’ cheater for using time magic.”
“That’s right! And when I talked with Sigurd again, he wasn’t mad either.” Alfred’s smile returned as he patted her shoulder. “So…chin up, okay? I don’t think Micaiah’s mad at you. Worried, maybe, but not mad. She said she never lost faith that we’d get the Emblems back.”
The tickle against her mind turned into more of an insistent jab. Something both hot and cold gripped at her spine, tensing her muscles and flaring her nerves. Yunaka’s lips felt too dry as she asked, “Did she…say anything about me?”
Alfred tilted his head slightly, a hint of confusion in his gaze. “Er…not you, specifically. But I’m sure she’s still grateful for your efforts to get her back. Were you expecting her to say something?”
“That’s even worse than if she was mad! It’s gotta be disappointment, right?”
“Nah, I think she just has a lot on her mind.”
Alfred…! She’d grab his shoulders and shake him silly if there weren’t so many eyes to possibly watch them. One pair of said eyes belonged to Boucheron, jogging over to retrieve his prince for the meeting.
“Prince Alfred!”
“Ah, I suppose that’s my cue…” Alfred said, standing up and offering her a hand. “We can talk more some other time, okay? Sounds like you have a lot on your mind, too.”
“W-What? Noooo, no thoughts here!” Yunaka chuckled weakly, accepting his hand and jumping to her own feet. “I have so little on my mind, that I’ll just…skedaddle for a bit. Scout ahead, and all that. These peepers aren’t just for show, as you already know!”
Alfred’s smile dipped into a slight frown. “Are you sure? Your wounds seemed pretty bad—whatever traces there were of it, I mean. No one would blame you if you got more rest.”
“Zappy! I’ve never felt better!” Yunaka said, bounding past him and raising her hand. A confused Boucheron slowed to a stop beside her, tentatively raising his own hand in a half-wave. She slapped his palm for a high-five, ignoring the yelp of surprise that followed. “I’m leaving Alfred to you, Boucheron! Make sure to hype him up at the meeting, okay?”
Her voice, just a little too high. Her grin, just a little too tight.
“I’m not sure if I ca— Huh? Where did Yunaka go?”
A trick of the eye here, opportune timing there—it didn’t take much for her to slip away, as all top assassins do. Perhaps it was reckless to use her skills as Larimar so brazenly, out in the open and away from the chaos of combat, but the residual fog over her memories had slowly lifted.
Purple. She had seen purple, at the end. And in her beaten up, dying state, she had mistaken its hue for another’s.
A wyvern’s roar. Elusian purple.
Stupid, stupid, stupid! Yunaka darted along the fringes of their army’s makeshift camp, heartbeat picking up speed and blood pounding in her ears. Her eyes frantically scanned the clusters of people and tents for a certain somebody. “Damn it…!”
A certain somebody who now held a secret she had almost taken to her grave.