Chapter 3, Respite

[HIT POINTS: 28 / 28]

That was the first thing I saw when I regained consciousness. Where was I? How did I get here? Where was Anna? Was she okay? Just what the hell happened after I blacked out?

Knowing I wouldn't get answers lying about, I sat up, ignoring the heavy feeling in my chest. Stretching my limbs, I felt no lingering pain. I took stock of my surroundings. I was in a quaint room with plain wooden walls and a single window allowing sunshine to pour in. I sat atop a rough straw bed with a patchy linen sheet for a blanket. Having lived and slept in the wilds for the past year, it was as comfortable as a cloud.

The lone door to my room suddenly squeaked open, and my flight-or-fight instincts kicked in. I grabbed the intruder by their arm, flipped them over my shoulder, and slammed them against the bed before Tracing a short axe and pinning it against their exposed throat.

Then I saw exactly who was underneath me. Although she was younger than I expected, there was no mistaking the owner of that white hair braided into a pair of neat twintails, and the six-eyed Mark of Grima on the back of her right hand.

"H-Hello, I'm Robin. I-I come in peace?" Robin tried to laugh, her onyx eyes alit with curiosity, tension, and smidgens of fear.

I immediately shot off her. How the hell did I wind up meeting Awakening's second main protagonist? Was this her home? I didn't even know she had a home before meeting Chrom! I mean, because of her amnesia at the start of the game, I didn't know anything about Robin's life before she met the Prince of Ylisse.

"It's okay, you're safe here," Robin said slowly, like I was a frightened animal; an apt comparison. "Your friend brought you here, Anna. I'm also a friend of Anna's. Well, an Anna. Turns out there's way more than one. Who knew?"

She was babbling, trying to avoid any awkward silences. She also wasn't wearing her iconic Plegian tactician's coat, instead donning a simple shirt with trousers. Best guess, she looked like a teenager; younger than the game's default avatar.

I used [Structural Analysis].

NAME: Robin, the Heart of Grima

AGE: 14

CLASS: Villager

LEVEL: 2

EXP: 5 / 100

HIT POINTS: 15 / 15

STRENGTH: 3

MAGIC: 7

SKILL: 3

SPEED: 4

LUCK: 11

DEFENSE: 4

RESISTANCE: 4

STATUS: Curious, Wary

Her Class was Villager? She wasn't a Tactician? Not yet, I'm guessing. It made sense, seeing how there were X-amount of years before cannon started.

Then I heard someone storming towards this room, and my tension shot back up. I raised my short axe, preparing to defend myself as a woman burst in, holding a jagged sword shaped like a bolt of lightning directly at me. Her long night-black hair spilled over her baggy eyes that raged with caution born from excess paranoia and absolute concern for a loved one.

"Robin, did this brute harm you?" the stranger demanded, looking like she wanted nothing more than to run me through with her Levin Sword.

I readied my short axe, daring her to try.

"N-No, he didn't! It's alright, mother! I'm fine!" Robin assured.

I could almost hear the freeze-frame sound effect knocking my thoughts out of alignment. Did Robin say … mother? Robin had a mother?

I checked her identity, just to be sure.

NAME: Morgan Nirvid, Mother of Robin

AGE: 30

CLASS: Sorcerer

LEVEL: 1

EXP: 1 / 100

HIT POINTS: 23 / 23

STRENGTH: 4

MAGIC: 15

SKILL: 12

SPEED: 11

LUCK: 5

DEFENSE: 7

RESISTANCE: 12

STATUS: Extremely Cautious, Mortally Terrified

Holy moly, she really was Robin's mother. Wait, why was this so surprising? Of course Robin had a mom, it's not like she was born from a peach or something. I guess I found it shocking because Robin's mom, Morgan, was barely mentioned in the game.

Ah, and I didn't forget to add her Levin Sword to my Catalogue.

[Levin Sword, Rank: C]

A magic sword imbued with the power of lightning. Can unleashed deadly bolts of electricity with a simple swing, but requires a true master of the arcane to utilizing this enchanted blade's full potential.

Might: 10

Hit Rate: 80%

Critical: 0%

Durability: 25/25

Magic Cost: 1

[<Levin Sword, Rank C> has been added to the SYSTEM's Catalogue!]

I tried to speak, but my parched throat sent me into a fit of dry coughs.

Thankfully, Robin rushed out of the room before returning with a filled waterskin. "Here, drink this."

I carefully accepted the receptacle, while keeping a close eye on Morgan, who had yet to lower her weapon. I didn't think Robin would try to poison me, but my time in this world made me develop a healthy sense of caution.

[Waterskin]

A container made from tanned goat skin to hold liquids. Currently holds water that has been coal-filtered and boiled for safety purposes.

Magic Cost: 1

[<Waterskin> has been added to the SYSTEM's Catalogue!]

Huh, how about that? I didn't know I could Project items other than weapons, having never bothered to try before. I wanted to slap myself for such an oversight, but quenching my thirst came first. I popped open the waterskin with my thumb and gratefully drank its contents. The lukewarm water was ambrosia to my desert-dry throat.

"Thank you," I murmured after drinking the last drop.

Robin nodded as she took back the empty waterskin, but was observing me studiously. I could see the glint of barely-restrained inquisitiveness in her shining eyes.

"Where am I?" I asked.

"Nowhere that concerns you," Morgan snapped.

"Mother," Robin groaned, exasperated.

"Tell him nothing, child. His allegiances are unknown. Return to your room, where it's safer."

Robin immediately protested. "Mother, I'm not—!"

"Now, girl!"

Robin pouted, but wound up slumping her shoulders before trudging away, mumbling about unfairness all the while.

"You." Morgan leveled her glare at me, strong enough to cow a lesser man. 16 year old me would've crapped himself, but I was too jaded. "Who are you?"

"Nobody," I grunted, and I meant it. In this world, Chrom, Robin, and Lucina were the main protagonists, the heroes destined to defeat the big bad: the Fell Dragon, Grima. Me? I was nothing. "Where's Anna?"

My answer didn't satisfy the woman, worsening her scowl.

"Your companion is recovering," Morgan grunted, the tip of her Levin Sword never leaving my face.

"How did we get here?"

"… my daughter. She discovered you and your companion while foraging for food. Both of you were badly wounded, and she … begged me to provide healing."

"Something you disagree with."

Morgan snarled. "Were it up to me, I would have swiftly ended your suffering!"

I frowned. "What's your problem?"

"My problem? My problem is that you've seen me, and my daughter! That information, in the wrong hands, will jeopardize her life! The only reason I considered healing you was because of my daughter's insistence! Even now, I've half a mind to complete what was left unfinished!"

I spread my stance, readying for a fight. "You can try."

We glowered at one another, each waiting for the other to make a move. Morgan was gripping her Levin Sword until her knuckles were white, while I prepared to do my best to disarm her. She was Robin's mother, of course I didn't want to kill her, no matter how crazy she was acting.

Yet we didn't get a chance to come to blows, not when a familiar redhead limped between us both shouting, "Everybody drop your purses and freeze!"

Morgan and I stared at Anna, who was wobbling on her crutch that helped keep her weight off her mending leg. The merchant was looking a lot better, and wore spare clothes Robin must've lent her. Half her face was still bandaged, her bruises were still vaguely visible, but even so she was much livelier overall.

A quick [Structural Analysis] showed me her hit points were at 18 out of 26.

An unwitting smile worked its way to my lips. "Drop your purses and freeze? How often does that work?"

"More often than you'd think!" Anna said proudly. Then she spoke to Robin's mother. "Lady Nirvid?" Morgan flinched at the mention of her last name. "I give you my personal assurance that my husband and I hold no allegiance towards Plegia. If anything, our recent honeymoon ended with us giving them something of a black eye!"

Morgan's blazing glare locked onto the shopkeeper. "How do you know that name?!"

"You underestimate the Anna Family's intelligence network, Lady Morgan Nirvid, firstborn daughter of Zegis Nirvid, the current head of the Nirvid Family, one of the major noble families of Plegia," Anna revealed with a smug smile.

Morgan was positively horrified at the deluge of information, although that fear soured into hatred potent enough to ignite a star. "You … you know too much!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Anna quickly backpedalled into me. "I'm just saying, the Anna Family's known about you for a while, and none of us sold you out to Plegia, or more specifically: the Grimleal. And I swear on my nest egg, after what you've done for us it'll stay that way."

"There's an Anna Family intelligence network?" I asked, genuinely curious.

Anna poked her chin sheepishly. "Ahh … okay, I might've oversold that. It's actually more like a gossip group."

I snorted. "And since when were we married?"

"Oh darling, don't you remember?" Anna wept in faux sorrow as she wrapped her arms around my neck. "We had a wonderful ceremony atop of the Mila Tree, with the Voice of the Divine Dragon officiating our wedding! Ah, woe is me! Could our terrible ordeal at Border Pass have stricken you with amnesia? Fret not, my love, for your beautiful and brilliant wife will always remain by your side, no matter what you may or may not remember!"

I rolled my eyes. "Hilarious. You sure you're not a con artist?"

"Oh darling, you wound me so!"

"Enough!" Morgan snapped, interrupting our byplay. "Nothing you've said has allayed any of my fears! If anything, you've all but validated them!"

"So what?" I stepped in. There was no arguing with the paranoid. If we tried, we'd only be talking in circles. "Are you going to kill us then? Slit our throats while we sleep? How'll your daughter feel about that? Her mother callously killing the very people she brought to you to save?"

"Don't you dare bring my child into this!" Morgan seethed.

"Whether you believe it or not, neither of us"—I gestured at Anna and myself—"mean you or Robin any harm. If anything, we're grateful for the aid you've given us. If you want us gone, we'll leave without a fuss, but we'd prefer it if we could recuperate for a few more days."

I didn't need it. My hit points were already fully restored. Anna, on the other hand, was still recovering. Hitting the road now wouldn't be doing her any favors.

We watched as Morgan struggled to come to a decision, her Levin Sword wavering all the while. Finally, she grunted, "Three days, and three nights. With my current expertise, that's how long it'll take for your wife to fully recover. I expect both of you to be well and truly gone afterwards."

"Yes ma'am!" Anna said with a salute. "Three days, and three nights! An Anna's only as good as her word, and you have mine!"

Morgan glowered at us both, but ultimately lowered her Levin Sword. "And should either of you threaten or harm my child in any way, I will kill you both."

Anna nodded frantically. "Understood, ma'am!"

With a huff Morgan left, slamming the door shut behind her.

Once Robin's mother was gone, Anna collapsed onto my bed, fresh perspiration beading her forehead. "Naga's shiny scales, that was intense! You'd think we stole her coin purse or something! Almost reminds me of that one time I tried to scam—uh, I mean—negotiate the sale of the First Exalt's portrait to this hoarder living in Ylisstol."

"She's just a worried mother," I said, sitting beside Anna.

"Worried mother? I've seen mama bears less aggressive than her!"

"I wager she's had a hard life." In fact, I had several guesses as to why Morgan acted the way she did, but nothing I wanted to share. It was a matter I'd mull more over later. "How're you doing?"

"Can't you tell? I feel like freshly polished bullion!" Anna said, winking. "Ah, now only if my beloved husband could recall our amorous life together."

"Funny you should mention that," I chuckled, scratching my cheek. I was surprise to discover it was still covered in strips of cloth, leftovers from my disguise. "I was hoping you could fill in some blanks for me."

Anna bolted right up, staring into the windows of my soul. "Hold up, are you saying you actually have amnesia?"

I swore I saw her eyes flash into $$$ signs, though I didn't know why.

"Not entirely. I'm just drawing a blank after I …" it came rushing back to me, nearly choking me up "… I put on that mask."

"Ah. Oh. That." Anna's voice was monotone. "Well, the short version? You did more than save my cute tush. You remember that army of bandits? All gone. The mountain they were on? Also gone. It's. All. Gone."

I tensed, struggling to conceal my panic. Exactly what the hell had happened?

"I think … I'm going to need you to start from the beginning."

"Well, if you're sure."

~

Anna didn't know which was worse: the tortured screaming tearing its way from her rescuer's mouth the instant he put on that weird mask, or the sudden explosion of dark magic that speared into the night sky, reaching high enough to pierce and corrupt Naga's domain.

She went with the evil hocus-pocus, because accompanying it was an overwhelming pressure so suffocating it felt like it was squeezing the life out of her just by being in proximity of it. She tried to breathe, but the fear suffusing the air was so potent it was like she was sucking in a noxious fume, one that wrapped its clawed vice around her heart and squeezed until it nearly exploded from her chest.

Anna had never been so terrified in her entire life, and she didn't know why. Not even the horror she felt when her mother threatened to tax her allowance could compare.

If it was bad for her, the explosion of dread was downright lethal to the bandits. Scores of them had soiled themselves; others simply passed out on the spot. The more cowardly (and wisest, as it would turn out) turned tail and ran.

The Plegian, who'd been leading this army of crooks in the belief that they'd be claiming the Silent Fiend's head, had gone as white as his facial hair.

"I-It ca-cannot be … Lord Grima?" the Plegia choked past the heavy atmosphere strangling his throat.

Then it vanished.

The column of dark magic ceased, leaving behind a lone figure in its epicenter.

But it wasn't the Fiend, at least not the one Anna remembered.

No, this … this BEING stood with the poise of a higher entity, as if the ground he stood on should be considered sacrosanct because he deigned to grace it with his deific presence.

His hair was now ashen-white, and despite his blank eyes lacking any pupils Anna could tell he viewed the rabble of bandits with the same disinterest a human showed a colony of ants. His ears were elongated like knives, and his face was marked with scarlet and azure tribal marks that made his expressionless face radiate unrelenting ferocity. The armor and gauntlets he wore were forged from a metal Anna couldn't identity—and boy did that rankled her pride as an Anna—but she had a sinking feeling it wasn't any material found on this world.

Then there was the weapon hanging off his back: a MASSIVE two-handed sword unlike anything Anna could claim to have seen. It was shaped like a double helix, and was nearly as tall as its bearer, who was already towering over 6 feet. Like his armor, Anna hadn't the foggiest idea what material the strangely shaped blade could've been composed of, yet the way it shone underneath the moonlight instinctively made her fear for her mortal soul.

"L-Lord Grima? I-Is that you, oh almighty one?" the Plegian spoke again, this time daring to take a step forward. He was a second away from prostrating like his life depended on it.

The … the god (because Anna didn't know what else to call this horrifically imposing figure) didn't reply. He didn't speak a word. Instead, he reached for his helix sword, raised it with one hand like it weighed nothing … then brought it down on the Plegian.

For an instant, nothing happened. Anna stared, the Plegian froze, and the onlooking bandits held their breath like they worried the god might take insult at the slightest noise they made.

Then the Plegian fell apart, split right down the middle (from head to dick) and giving everyone on Border Pass an impromptu anatomy lesson.

Someone screamed. Anna almost thought it was her; it wasn't. The bandit responsible for the shrill cry abruptly broke from the crowd and ran towards the god with his sword flailing about, and was followed closely by more than a dozen of his buddies. They must've gone mad from fear.

The deity didn't even bother to face the oncoming bandits, instead choosing to lazily swipe his giant sword in their general direction. The alien blade passed through flesh and bone like they weren't even there, reaping at least 20 human beings with horrifically contemptuous ease.

As the butchered bodies hit the ground, this casual act of slaughter was the final straw. The army of bandits broke as pandemonium consumed them. It didn't matter that they literally outnumbered the god 1,000 to 1, because they all knew what the end result would be: an absolute massacre. The pack of terrified outlaws practically ran over one another trying to get away, causing a domino effect that ended up with most of the army tumbling down the mountain's slope in a avalanche of human bodies.

Yet the god wasn't feeling merciful today.

Grasping his helix sword with both hands, he pointed his otherworldly blade straight up at the overhead moon.

And darkness enveloped Ylisse.

Anna wasn't spewing metaphors; the world around her was literally dimming before her very eyes! Her head shot up, and she felt her jaw hit the ground as she witnessed black thunderclouds manifesting in the sky, the crackling cumulonimbi blotting out the moon as they swallowed the world.

Lightning fell, heavy bolts of brilliant cerulean electricity that hammered the god's sword, every strike thundering with a deafening BOOM. Anna covered her ears to try and block out symphony of thunder, to little effect. Yet the helix sword didn't bend nor break beneath the onslaught, instead glowing brighter and brighter as it absorbed all the heavenly powers being bestowed upon it.

Soon, the divine weapon shone with such intensity it was as though the god was wielding a sapphire sun in his very hands.

Then, he finally spoke.

"Sunder."

He stabbed his radiant sword into the mountain beneath his feet, and the world was remade.

…

…

…

Anna didn't know how long she'd been unconscious for. A minute? A day? A week? Okay, maybe a week was pushing it, but that's how it felt. Her head was ringing something fierce, and her body felt like it'd been tenderized by that brute of a Berserker all over again. The last thing she could remember was being captured, getting threatened with death (nothing new there), being saved, and then … an explosion?

Groaning, she sat up, causing a shower of loose rubble to slip off her. She looked around, and wondered if someone had hit her with a Warp spell, because she didn't recognize her surroundings. Wasn't she atop of the Border Pass, the only traversable mountain of the sierra serving as Ylisse and Plegia's divider? But from what she could tell, she was currently sitting in the middle of … a crater?

That's when the horrible realization struck her. She hadn't moved at all; she was still at Border Pass. It was the mountain itself that was missing, obliterated into nothingness by an act of the divine.

And the culprit of said geographical redecoration was right in front of her, his helix sword sticking out of the leveled land while his hands rest atop of its pommel. Noticing she was awake, the god tilted his head towards her.

Anna didn't move, didn't breathe. She was in the presence of something only Naga herself could contend with. Unless he was suddenly interested in perusing her non-existent wares, she didn't dare utter a sound.

Then, in a flash of light, the god's face fell off. No, it was that strange mask, leaving behind her rescuer, the Silent Fiend.

For several uncomfortable seconds, they stared at one another.

Finally, Anna mustered up the guts to say, "You know … when I asked for a miracle … I sure wasn't expecting that."

Her savior didn't reply, which she found a little rude. But she quickly found it in herself to forgive him, especially when blood suddenly burst from every pore on his body.

~

"… and I couldn't just leave you there. So I gathered all our stuff, or what little I could find—blowing up a mountain leaves a lot of rubble, you know—and tried to carry you to a nearby village or town. Instead, we bumped into dear sweet Robin, who somehow convinced her obsessively mistrustful mother to patch us up."

I think I was going to freak out.

Holy shit, I did WHAT?! My internal screaming reverberated within the confines of my skull so loudly I was afraid someone might be able to hear it. I knew the Fierce Deity was powerful, but this? I literally didn't know what to say. What could I say? Oops, sorry about your mountain, I'll try not to do it again?

Shit, the worst part was I didn't remember doing any of that. Had I been moving on auto-pilot? Or worse: in that small moment, did the Fierce Deity overwrite my soul and take complete control of our body?

The thought scared the bajeezus out of me.

Oh God, what happened to the mask now? Was it lost? Did Anna leave it behind for someone else to find?!

"Where's …" I struggled to stop myself from freaking the fuck out "… where's the mask now?"

"In my room," Anna told me, and I heaved a massive breath of relief. "No matter how much the big guy freaked me out, it's not exactly something I could risk leaving behind. Here, I'll go get it."

Anna hobbled off with her crutch, returning with the mask in question; the mask that shared an eerie likeness to the body I was currently using.

I needed to know more, so I scanned the Fierce Deity's Mask with [Structural Analysis].

[Fierce Deity's Mask, Rank: SSS]

The remains of a legendary warrior whose achievements and merits attained him godhood. Their regrets were eventually put to rest, and their might and memories sealed within a mask through the sacrifice of an unnamed hero. Wearing it will bestow the power and shape of the Dark God to its wearer, but not without cost. Use at your own risk!

Durability: ∞

Magic Cost: ERROR

[ERROR! <Fierce Deity's Mask, Rank: SSS> exceeds the SYSTEM's current scope of computation! Registration into the Catalogue DENIED!]

I was actually a little glad I couldn't Trace the Fierce Deity's Mask, at least not yet. I didn't want to imagine what would become of the world if that power could be passed out like cheap hotcakes.

Still, it sounded like using the Fierce Deity's Mask came with its own risks, which—according to Anna—were hazardous to my health.

Speaking of Anna, she was still here. After hearing her retelling of the Fierce Deity, I would've thought she'd flee at the sight of me while screaming bloody murder.

"What's up?" Anna asked when she noticed me staring. "Reconsidering your marital status?" She waggled her eyebrows in a manner she thought was seductive, but came off closer to dorky.

"You're not scared of me?" I asked bluntly.

"The other guy? Absolutely," Anna casually confessed. "I don't even know where to begin with him. He isn't human, I'll tell you that much. But you? You're the courageous idiot who dared to face an entire army of bandits just to save me. Heck, I thought you died for me. That's why I could never be scared of you, silly. Oh, and before I forget …" Anna lurched on her good foot, almost falling in the process. I caught her before she did, her dainty arms wrapping around me as she buried her face in my chest, "… thank you. Thank you so much for saving me. I … hic … I put on a brave face because I didn't want to give those bastards the pleasure of seeing me scared, but I … I was …"

She didn't say anymore; couldn't. Anna broke down into quiet sobs, the stress of recent events having caught up to her.

And she didn't have to. I let her softly vent all the cloying emotions she'd been holding off. I even gave her a few pats on the back, awkward as they were. I'd spent the last year doing nothing but killing bandits, okay? My social skills were kind of rusty.

That's when it hit me too. I saved her; I'd saved her. She didn't die like Chelsea did. Anna was still here, safe and sound …

… all because of me.

I felt … something blossom in my chest, something warm, something that soothed the frayed edges of the hole in my heart like a gentle balm. It comforted me far more than the lives of a thousand dead bandits ever did.

Eventually, Anna let me go while wearing a 12-carat smile. "Thanks, hubby. I needed that."

"Not your husband," I chortled.

"Aw, let a girl dream."

"I'm sure you do plenty of that while you're asleep. Hey, when you said you gathered our stuff from the Border Pass, does that mean you still have …?"

"Oh, that! You bet, just wait a sec!" Anna said as she stumbled off again and returned with the yellow Keaton Mask. "Here you go!" She began handing the mask to me, but then drew away when I reached for it. "There any chance that wearing this transforms you into a ginormous killer fox?"

"No, this one's just a simple mask," I assured her.

Anna sighed in relief as she tossed me the Keaton Mask. I caught it, but just in case I used [Structural Analysis].

[Keaton Mask, Rank: D]

A mask resembling that of a Keaton, a 3-tailed fox-like creature that stars in many popular Hylian children's stories. Keaton love playing tricks on unsuspecting travelers, and enjoy asking riddles and quizzes to those fortunate enough to find them; winners are often offered a rare reward for their troubles. This mask will allow its wearer to communicate amicably with these mischievous foxes, and has been cared for by a mysterious mask salesman to be very difficult to break.

Durability: ∞

Magic Cost: 1

[<Keaton Mask, Rank: D> has been added to the SYSTEM's Catalogue!]

Nothing there about transforming me into a fuzzy yellow fox, although that might've been cool. Curious to see how well it fit, I unwrapped the strips of cloth bandaged around my head.

When Anna saw my bare face for the first time, she couldn't stop the dopey smile spreading across her blushing cheeks. "Hubba-Hubba … if I can't be your wife can I at least be your girlfriend?"

"Down, girl," I chided as I wore the Keaton Mask. There was no strap or band to hold it in place, yet somehow it latched itself to my face without falling off. On top of that, I could still see with perfect clarity, as if the whole mask were a one-way mirror; probably due to magic.

"Aw, you sure you want to hide that gorgeous face?" Anna whined.

"It's something of a habit."

"A terrible one. I volunteer to help you break it."

"Good luck. What about my wallet?"

Anna tensed, then poked her chin like she had no idea what I was talking about. "Wallet? What wallet do you mean?"

I gave her a flat look, one obscured by my Keaton Mask. Still, I perfectly conveyed my deadpan as I said, "The one filled with rup—gems."

"Hmm, I'm not sure what you mean. Maybe you are having a few memory problems."

"Anna," I warned testily.

Anna patted her fist in her palm as if she had an epiphany. "Oh, that wallet! Why didn't you say so? Be right back!" She fled into her room for the third time, but actually took a few minutes coming back out. With immense reluctance, she handed me the Colossal Wallet, which was a little larger than Robin's waterskin.

"You weren't planning on keeping this, were you?" I asked.

"No, not really," Anna admitted with a slouch. "If you'd actually forgotten by the time our stay was over, I was going to remind you … for a fee."

… there really was no bridge an Anna wouldn't cross for money.

Still, that's what made her an Anna.

I reached into the Colossal Wallet and procured a single red rupee; the hexagonal gem was the size of my fist, and immediately garnered Anna's undivided attention. From its size alone, I could tell the wallet was bigger on the inside.

I moved the red rupee to the left, and Anna's eyes followed it with unerring accuracy. A shift to the right, and her unblinking gaze never once left it. It felt like that one time I was tempting my adorable husky, Samwise, with a slice of fried bacon.

Out of curiosity, I used [Structural Analysis] on it.

[Red Rupee, Rank: B]

The common unit of currency in Hyrule. Rupees are formed when dense clusters of magic infuse veins of gemstones deep within the ground. The richer the magical content, the more valuable the rupee. A red rupee is worth 20 green rupees, which are the lowest common denomination.

Magic Cost: 1

[<Red Rupee, Rank: B> has been added to the SYSTEM's Catalogue!]

I was starting to think there was very little I couldn't scan and Trace. This might be because my Projection wasn't as restricted as Shirou's was, as he was most proficient at Tracing swords because of his skewed Origin and Elemental Affinity. So while I wouldn't be Projecting Noble Phantasms anytime soon, my range of Traceable objects was much broader.

Then I noticed Anna drooling over my rupee.

Well, I did owe her for dragging my nearly-dead body to safety, so why not? I tossed her the rupee, which she barely caught in her stunned hands.

"Wh-Wh-Whut?" Anna stammered, clutching the gem like she was afraid I was going to make her return it.

"A thank you gift," I said as I tied my Colossal Wallet to my belt.

"Yo-You're sure?" Anna asked/demanded, her face almost splitting due to her smile. "No take backs?"

"I'm sure."

Anna surprised me by hopping forward and kissing me on my Keaton Mask. If I hadn't been wearing it, she would've pecked me on the lips. When she broke away, she cradled the red rupee like it was her newborn baby.

"Just look at you! Aren't you absolutely gorgeous?" Anna cooed, admiring her reflection on the ruby's perfectly cut surface. "These angles! That luster! Ooh, momma could sell you for at least 3,500 gold! No! 4,000! If I pull out all the stops, I can squeeze out at least 4,250!"

"Please stop that. It's disturbing."

"Hush, you! You simply can't appreciate this baby's splendor! I bet you treat all these darlings like common rocks, seeing how you can magic them out of thin air!"

"Hmm, you've got a point there," I said humorously as I Traced a red rupee, and another, and another, and another, and another, and another. Anna could only gap like a suffocating fish as she watched me conjure wealth like a cheap parlor trick.

"… are you sure marriage is out of the question? I'll even throw in a few of my sisters! They'd be more than happy to share!"

"Begone, wench."

"How rude! Do you really think we're all so shallow?"

"Yes."

Anna paused to consider that. "Okay, you've got me there."

I couldn't help myself. For the first time in a long time, a small laugh escaped my lips.

~

The day passed peacefully, something I never knew I craved until now. It was like an invisible weight, one that'd been building up so gradually over the past year, was slowly shedding itself from my shoulders.

Anna's recovery was coming along slowly, which confused me. From what I'd heard, I'd fully recovered after a single healing session with Morgan, who possessed some training as a cleric and had a few Heal Staves lying around for emergencies. Anna, on the other hand, needed several sessions.

The sorcerer explained why. "Healing magic is dependent on several factors. First would be the user's proficiency. If two clerics were to heal the same individual, the more skilled cleric would accomplish far more than their lesser peer. Second would be the quality of the stave used. Do you know the different types of staves that exist?"

I searched my memories for the relevant Fire Emblem knowledge, all while helping Robin's mother air out their blankets. "Heal, Mend … and Recover?"

"Those are the basics," Morgan confirmed. "A Mend can restore more than a Heal Stave, and a Recover is far superior to a Mend Stave. The final aspect would be the recipient's vitality. Healing not only relies on the user's talent and knowledge to fix what has been damaged, but also boosts the receiver's natural healing. I am not a dedicated cleric, thus my knowledge of the art is minimal at best. The staves I have in storage are the most basic ones readily available. At best, I can patch a few cuts and quell some bruising before exhausting myself. Yet when I healed you, your natural healing accelerated to a rate I've never see before. It was, dare I say, monstrous."

~

I spent the evening of the second day hunting wild game with Robin. In the beginning, I tried to limit my exposure to her, not wanting to subconsciously influence the Shepard's future tactician in any way that might affect her decisions when the main storyline of Awakening began.

But it was not to be, because when Robin wasn't keeping up with her studies or doing chores for her mother, she was following me. I'd come to understand why. Robin and Morgan were still being hunted by the Grimleal, cultists based in Plegia. In order to keep her daughter safe, Morgan was forcing them to live a life of isolation, cutting off nearly all contact with the outside world. The only time Morgan interacted with others was when she slipped into sparely populated villages to purchase much needed supplies, all while Robin remained hidden away. It's how she lived her entire life.

But Robin was a social animal. Despite being deprived of it her whole life, she naturally craved contact with others, going so far as to befriend a wandering Anna against her mother's behest. So now that two new people were introduced to her sparse life, she was doing her damnedest to get to know them.

Initially, I found her irritating. She wouldn't. Leave. Me. Alone. I didn't want anything to do with Awakening's second protagonist, while Robin was determined to make me her best friend. She was seriously pulling out every trick in the book: starting random conversations; showing interest in my magic; smiling constantly; sharing information about herself; doing me small favors, and she just kept at it.

I wanted to hate her for intruding where she didn't belong … but I couldn't. She was just so damn earnest. I kept pulling the silent card, sometimes ignoring her outright, but Robin didn't know how to give up.

The worst part … the worst part was that I was coming to appreciate her company. I'd spent so much of the last year alone that I never noticed how badly I missed having a friend. It felt … normal.

"Over there," Robin whispered, waking me from my musing.

I swiftly identified our target: a wandering deer, grazing in an open meadow. Distance, maybe 80 yards.

I'd lost Chelsea's bow back at Border Pass, and while its absence hurt at least I always had a copy within me.

"Trace, on." I Projected my friend's iron bow, along with an arrow. I drew the bowstring taunt, aimed, and fired in the span of a breath. My aim was true, penetrating my mark an inch past the base of its forelegs; right in the heart.

"It's impossible for me to tire of seeing your magic," Robin said, the awe evident in her tone.

I said nothing as we jogged over towards tonight's dinner.

"My mother's been teaching me all she knows about the arcane," Robin rambled on, always talking enough for the both of us. Her shorter legs made keeping up with me difficult, so I slowed my pace. "How have you accomplished such a feat? I can't begin to fathom how your spell works to produce such a result."

I don't respond. I never do. Besides, I doubt it'd be possible for her to learn [Projection, Trace Version] even if she tried. The only reason I could use it was because of the SYSTEM. Basically, I was a cheater; a fake of the Faker.

"The sheer number of tactical advantages your magic presents is mind boggling. Weapons you can conjure whenever you require them? And more than one at once? What are your limitation? Could you supply an entire army with armaments? The amount you'd save an army on logistics alone would be staggering. Oh, are you only limited to weapons, or can you manifest other objects? Staves for healing? Clothes for warmth? Armor or protection? Dear Naga, could you manifest food?"

I actually did try Tracing food. While I could summon a duplicate of an apple, eating it gave me no benefits as the Projection would shatter once my teeth sunk into it.

"I myself an more inclined towards the arcane than the physical. Mother's been trying to get me up to par with the blade, but she herself has no aptitude towards such weaponry. It's hard to teach someone swordsmanship when you yourself have no proficiency for it. Ah, perhaps you'd be willing to give me a few pointers? I know you and Anna are only staying for another day or so, but I promise to be an attentive student. Mother says I'm quite gifted when it comes to learning, but it's hard to accept her word as certainty when I have no peers to compare myself to."

We reached the deer. I allowed the Traced arrow to disappear before picking the carcass up and slinging it over my shoulders with ease. With dinner secured, we made our way back to Robin and Morgan's abode.

"Have you read any recent works of literature? Mother only buys books relevant to sharpening my skills, such as volumes pertaining to tactical warfare, new tomes for spells, and manuscripts detailing sword forms and such. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy reading. Love it, even. However, I feel there's nothing wrong with appreciating works of fiction every now and then. The only one I've ever read is Stars of the Desert Sea, a riveting romantic tale featuring two star-crossed Plegian lovers battling to overcome the divide between their social class and—"

"Robin," I spoke.

Robin froze, never having expected me to speak after disregarding her for so long.

"Y-Yes?" She almost bit her tongue in her eagerness.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you keep talking to me?"

Robin's feet came to a stop, forcing me to do the same lest I leave her behind. I could see her mulling over something, but didn't know what.

"I … I'm sorry if I'm being presumptuous," Robin began, kneading her hands nervously, "but I … I thought … well, you … you always look so lonely, and I … I thought you could use a friend. You know, just … just someone to talk to. Maybe someone to, uh … you know, just be there for you."

I stared at Robin, not knowing how to respond. All this time, I thought Robin had been pestering me to deal with her own loneliness, when in actuality ... she'd been doing it for me?

"I-I'm bad at this, I know," Robin babbled on, becoming more and more flustered. "I don't really get a chance to talk to people who aren't my mother, and I don't know why but I was getting a similar feeling from you so I thought … I thought … ooh, never mind!"

Burying her face in her hands from mortification, Robin sped back home, leaving me behind with our dinner and my tumultuous thoughts.

~

The dawn of our third morning, and Robin wasn't there to pester me. I … missed it. But I didn't dwell on my irrational emotions, instead asking for Morgan's permission to peruse her used spell tomes. She was immediately suspicious of my motivations, likely thinking I was going to sabotage her tomes and leave her and Robin vulnerable to the Grimleal cultists doubtlessly lurking in the nearby shadows. I told her I merely wanted the opportunity to learn. With immeasurable reluctance, she accepted; provided she watch my every move like a hawk.

I didn't mind, because the rewards were completely worth it.

[<Tome of Fire, Rank: E> has been added to the SYSTEM's Catalogue!]

[<Tome of Thunder, Rank: E> has been added to the SYSTEM's Catalogue!]

[<Tome of Elthunder, Rank: D> has been added to the SYSTEM's Catalogue!]

[<Tome of Arcthunder, Rank: C> has been added to the SYSTEM's Catalogue!]

[<Tome of Wind, Rank: E> has been added to the SYSTEM's Catalogue!]

[<Tome of Elwind, Rank: D> has been added to the SYSTEM's Catalogue!]

[<Tome of Flux, Rank: E> has been added to the SYSTEM's Catalogue!]

[<Tome of Nosferatu, Rank: D> has been added to the SYSTEM's Catalogue!]

[<Tome of Ruin, Rank: C> has been added to the SYSTEM's Catalogue!]

[<Tome of Waste, Rank: B> has been added to the SYSTEM's Catalogue!]

[You've learned the basics of wielding the fundamental forces of lightning! +1 to Magic!]

[You've learned the basics of wielding the fundamental forces of wind! +1 to Magic!]

[You've learned the basics of wielding the fundamental forces of darkness! +1 to Magic!]

[You've advanced your studies of darkness and almost achieved mastery! +1 to Magic! +1 to Resistance!]

As expected of a sorcerer and former-noble of Plegia. Her collection of tomes was impressive, and the history imbued within each advanced my understanding of the arcane to an exceptionally high level. Morgan's proficiency in magic outstripped the bandit-mage's by such an unbelievable margin that it was almost pointless to compare the two; one was artist who chiseled marble masterpieces, while the other was only good at making mud sculptures.

It made me wish I'd bumped into Morgan before the Border Pass fiasco. This much firepower would've come in handy.

I also couldn't forget to scan her sole Heal Stave.

[Heal Stave, Rank: E]

A common healing staff. Capable of curing minor wounds; the stronger the caster's magic the better the results.

Durability: 26/30

Magic Cost: 1

[<Heal Stave, Rank: E> has been added to the SYSTEM's Catalogue!]

[You've learned the basics of wielding healing magic! +1 to Magic!]

I learned I could heal myself with my own stave, which was hugely beneficial. Take that, video game logic! Now I no longer needed to worry about carrying a vulnerary or two everywhere I went. Accidentally stub my toe? Bam, Trace a Heal Stave.

However, Morgan's skills at healing were paltry compared to how masterfully she wielded offensive magic. As such, my own proficiency at restoration was equally pitiful. So I practiced a bit on Anna, patching up the rest of the shopkeeper's fading injuries. Broken bones were notoriously difficult to mend, but I did the best I could. While she no longer needed her crutch, she did still walk with a slight limp.

~

It was the night of our final day with Robin and Morgan. Tomorrow, once I saw Anna off at a nearby town, all of us would be going our separate ways.

Tomorrow, I'd be alone again … and I didn't realize how much the idea bothered me until now. As I lied on the chilled grass, gazing up into the night sky's endless expanse, I wondered what I'd do next. Continue putting the maggots of Ylisse where they rightfully belonged? It … it no longer felt like the right thing to do, just something I had to do.

"Hey." Robin found me, claiming the spot beside me while maintaining a respectable distance.

"Hey," I quietly replied.

We sat in silence, which was odd considering it was Robin. Normally, she was bursting with things to say, ideas to share, and horrible jokes that were about as funny as a road rash.

"I wanted to apologize," Robin started, nervously playing with a strand of her white hair. "I … I overstepped. My boundaries, I mean. You wanted to be left alone, and I just barged right in and—"

"I'm not from around here."

Robin was surprised by my sudden confession, yet no one was more startled than myself. What was I doing? Did I really admit to that? But no matter how much I tried to hold it in, the dam inside had already burst, weathered down by Robin's innocent persistence.

"I'm not from Ylisse, Plegia, Regna Ferox, or Valm," my mouth kept going despite my best efforts. "I've no idea how I wound up here, in Ylisse, but it was definitely against my will. I simply woke up one day, an impossible distance away from everyone and everything I called home. If it hadn't been for … if I hadn't met …"

I was forced to swallow the knot in my throat.

"A year ago …" my voice was monotone, unable to fully convey the storm raging from the hole in my heart "… I met her, my first friend in Ylisse: Chelsea. I was a stranger in a strange land and she … she made me feel welcome, made me feel like everything would be alright. We only knew each other for two weeks, barely 14 days, but I'd never hesitate to call her my friend. I owed her so much and yet … and yet I got her killed."

I sat up, allowing my masked face to sink into my arms.

"Bandits. There were bandits. Her village, her home, was attacked by these fucking bandits. I was there. I fought. But I … back then, I was a coward. I couldn't bring myself to kill a pack of wild animals that deserved their deaths. I defeated scores of them … but didn't put down a single one. That was my mistake, because one of the bandits I'd chosen to let go killed Chelsea. Stabbed her in the back, right through the heart."

I still remembered that moment with painful clarity. I doubted I'd ever be able to forget.

"That's when I started … the killing. My friend had to die so I could learn that some beasts needed to be slain. I got my revenge. I killed the bastard who murdered Chelsea, along with every other piece of shit that laid a foot in her village. But it wasn't enough, it wasn't nearly enough. So I kept killing … and killing, and killing, and killing. Ha … you know, I'm just now realizing: I'm a mass murderer. I must've killed thousands over the last year, and even more at Border Pass. Why? For Chelsea? At the time … yes. I wanted revenge, so very much, but the one who took her life was the first bandit I ever killed. So I just kept killing."

My memories played out before my eyes like a scratchy highlight reel. I watched myself shamble from one bandit den to another, leaving nothing but bodies in my wake.

"But killing them did nothing for me. No joy, no sorrow, no vengeance. I kept telling myself I was doing it for Chelsea's sake, so her spirit could rest in peace … but that was nothing but the most convenient excuse I could come up with."

So why? Why did I keep risking my life removing the trash of Ylisse? Why did I feel a measure of joy, of excitement, when I saw so many bandits gathered at Border Pass? Why was I so at peace when Victor killed me? Why was it, when I awoke in Robin's home for the first time, I felt … disappointed?

And then it hit me, and I couldn't help but throw back my head and laugh in maniacal self-derision.

"Because I wanted to die," I whispered, gazing at the stars while something wet spilled down my cheeks underneath my mask: tears. "I wanted to die, but I couldn't bear the thought of wasting the life Chelsea sacrificed herself for. So I blinded myself to the truth. Deluding myself into thinking I was killing for Chelsea's sake, when in fact I was searching for someone to kill me.

"I wanted to die … because a part of me believes … it's the only way I can wake up." And return home from this nightmare.

I was wracked with shudders as my revelation forced me to shed silent tears. Why? Why was I even here? What was the point of all this? I didn't want to be in this medieval world of pillage and murder. I couldn't give a rat's ass about the SYSTEM and the power it gave me. Right now, at this moment, I simply wanted to fall into an endless pit and never see the light of this world's accursed sun ever again.

But I couldn't, not when a pair of soft arms wouldn't let me, wrapping around my torso to keep me fro falling.

Robin held me tight, held me together, as she pressed herself against my back.

"I'm … so sorry for your loss," she whispered, her own voice cracking with emotion. "I swear to you, it's going to be alright. Everything's going to be alright."

Words. They were such simple words. On anyone else's tongue, they would've felt hollow and cheap. But not from Robin, because I knew she sincerely meant them.

I didn't know whether she was right or not, but for now, in this instant, I chose to believe her, and let myself freely shed the tears I should've cried a year ago.

~

The following morning, Anna and I stood aside and watched as Robin and Morgan stored away their bare essentials. With practiced motions, their travel bags were expertly packed with their tomes, staves, spare clothes, blankets for cold nights, and other simple necessities.

Everything else? It was tossed into their single-story home, right before Morgan razed the whole building with a blast of Dark magic. When she was done, the only thing left was a patch of dead earth where no life would grow again, erasing all signs that they'd lived here.

"Was that really necessary?" I asked.

"Yes," was Morgan's curt response. "I will not risk the chance that one of you will reveal our location to unwanted ears. Thus, my daughter and I will be leaving. We will settle down elsewhere, far away from watchful eyes."

"Not like this is the first time she's made us move," Robin grumbled.

"This happen often?"

"More times than I care to count."

"Any chance we get a sneak peak to where you're headed?" Anna asked.

"Elsewhere," Morgan said simply, refusing to elaborate further.

Fair enough. She hadn't avoided the Grimleal this long without her rampant paranoia.

"I'm going to miss you so much!" Anna wailed as she hugged Robin, who returned the gesture. "If you ever come across an Anna during your travels, mention me and they'll treat you like family! Well, maybe like distant cousins from the adopted dad's side of the family, but family nonetheless!"

"I'd much rather see you again, Anna," Robin said, rubbing Anna's back.

"And I'd love to see you too, but who knows where the future will take us."

As the two broke apart, Robin turned to me. Her gaze was gentle as she asked, "What'll you do?"

"I don't know," I admitted. While last night had been a revelation, it didn't exactly pave a bright path going forward. Noticing Robin nervously shuffling from foot to foot, I asked, "What is it?"

"If you're uncertain …"

"He's not coming with us," Morgan cut in.

Robin sulked. "I know, mother. That's not what I was going to say. I just … this might not be your home, but I want to believe Ylisse has a lot to offer. So please, find something that makes you happy."

Happy. Happy? When was the last time I ever felt that?

"I'll try," I conceded, earning me Robin's brilliant smile. "Hey, before I forget, is that Levin Sword"—I pointed to the magic blade hanging from Morgan's side—"the only weapon you have between the two of you?"

"The only decent weapon," Morgan replied, albeit cautiously. "Why do you ask?"

"Then I hope you'll accept this gift from me. Trace, on." I Projected a fresh copy of the Levin Sword and handed it to Robin hilt first. She accepted it giddily. "Better to have two, should the situation call for it."

Morgan, who wasn't used to accepting charity, struggled to muster up a valid reason to reject my present. In the end, it was her daughter's pleading puppy eyes that won her over.

"Thank you … for your thoughtful gift," her mother grounded out.

"Yes, thank you so much!" Robin added happily, giving me a hug. Almost stabbed me with her new Levin Sword on accident, too.

"Hey, hey! Anything for me?" Anna asked eagerly.

"Didn't I already give you a ruby?"

"Yeah, but I sold it already."

My eyebrows shot up underneath my Keaton Mask. "The hell? When?"

"Details, details," Anna waved my inquiry off. "So? You got anything for your favorite Anna?"

I snorted. "Yeah, advice: try not to get captured again."

"Aw, but how else am I supposed to reunite with my favorite hero?"

"I'm not … ugh, you know what? Forget it. Just get out of here."

"You know you love me!" Anna teased as she sauntered off.

Now it was just me, Robin, and Morgan. To my surprise, I didn't want to say goodbye. It was too final; too permanent.

So instead …

"Hey, Robin?"

"Yes?"

"I'll see you later."

Robin's eyes widened, before a pure smile warmed her expression as she clutched my Projected Levin Sword even tighter. "Y-Yes! See you later!"

With that, I gave her and Morgan one last wave before turning away and letting my feet choose my destination.

~Current Stats~

NAME: ???

AGE: 17

CLASS: ???

LEVEL: 5

EXP: 2 / 100

HIT POINTS: 28 / 28

STRENGTH:15

MAGIC: 10­ (+5) (-1, Projection)

SKILL: 13

SPEED: 11

LUCK: 0

DEFENSE: 10

RESISTANCE: 11­ (+1)

~Current Skills~

PERSONAL SKILL 1: Projection, Trace Version

PERSONAL SKILL 2: N/A

PERSONAL SKILL 3: N/A

SKILL 1: Too Angry To Die!

SKILL 2: N/A

SKILL 3: N/A

SKILL 4: N/A

SKILL 5: N/A