With each soldier that fell, it felt as if I should've fallen in their place.

You led them here.

When Panne was slashed across her hindleg and let out a screech that nearly deafened me, it felt as if I should've been the one torn apart by swords.

She saved you.

With each motion of my own sword, glimmering in the light available as if it was made of gold, I felt as if I was cutting myself down.

That's the true enemy.

When the battle began with Excellus' Bolganone, we were immediately at a disadvantage. I had more troops, but Excellus clearly gathered the cream of the crop of the Valmese to guard him. For every man or woman that fell on the Valmese side, two of mine fell. Panne and I were able to hold our own, even against them, but they did not go down easily. They did things normal conscripts wouldn't do; parrying, feinting, all the usual tactics in one-on-one combat. I'd been too used to fighting people with barely any combat training; I was unprepared and under-armed.

Soon enough, my forces were decimated, with only a few men clinging to life along with Panne and I. We were beaten and wounded. Sol was still healing my wounds and restoring my stamina, but Panne didn't have that luxury. I looked down at the bodies of my men.

Panne's words from days prior echoed in my skull.

The lives of those under you rest on your shoulders.

All the while, since the first Bolganone, Excellus hadn't lifted a finger. I overestimated myself, and it was likely to lead to mine and Panne's deaths.

"My, my, my!" Excellus tittered. "What a conundrum you all seem to find yourselves in! How could this have happened? You were so full of righteous anger just a moment ago. How did you not reach me, I wonder? Ha! Even if you had, you wouldn't have survived more than a second. I am above you, all of you." I saw him un-sling the staff on his back as he stood up, smiling down at us. "I think I'll let my guards deal with you. I'm sure they'll be more than enough to send you to Lord Grima. Do be good and tell him who sent you, please."

The staff glowed a bright yellow, as intricate circles spun themselves around the sage. He waved goodbye to us.

There was nothing I could do.

An arrow shot from the entrance of the keep, striking Excellus in the shoulder. He cried out, the staff dropping from his grasp as he stared furiously at the doors. "W-Who dares!?"

"The Archest of Archers dares!" A flamboyant voice replied. Out of the entrance walked Virion, Astra in hand. "Did you really believe you could leave us so soon, Excellus? Nay, you shall not be going anywhere. Even a worm such as you must see justice!"

"Justice? Justice!?" Excellus parroted incredulously, using his good arm to swing Bolganone up. "I'll show you justice, you pompous rat!"

Red light emanated from both the tomb and himself as he readied Bolganone, only to be blasted back by a bolt of pure, yellow lightning.

Thoron.

The fat tactician slammed against his own throne, and he fell to the floor, coughing.

"I believe this is where I make my entrance," Robin drawled, walking in beside Virion. "I don't have anything witty to say, unfortunately." He turned to me, red eyes, staring at me. An unspoken message passed between us.

We'll talk later.

"Excellus, Tactician of Valm and Grimleal Priest," A man intoned. A blood-covered Falchion was the first thing I saw, followed by Chrom, his cape flowing behind him. With Falchion's point aimed towards Excellus, Chrom continued: "Surrender now and spare both you and your men."

Between coughs, Excellus laughed. "Surrender? Yes, I just might. What would you like to know? Actually, nevermind. I don't think I want to surrender. Kill them! Kill all of them, I command it!"

Excellus' guards and our reinforcements clashed. I didn't feel anything watching it, though. All I felt was numbness. Complete nothingness. It was like watching a moving painting or studying a historic battle that happened centuries ago. There was just an emptiness.

I didn't think Excellus would be surviving the battle, but at that point, I didn't care. I didn't really care much about anything at that point. I watched Chrom cut a bloody swath through the enemies we had problems with just a moment before. I saw Robin reduced several to piles or charred bones and meat. I stared as Virion turned more into pincushions. Half-heartedly, I joined in to do something, anything. Anything but stare dispassionately.

Sol cut through several people before all that was left were the bodies, laying upon the ground. Excellus was still crouched near his throne, having not recovered from his assault. He looked on, his expression blank, as we closed in on him.

"Surrender, Excellus!" Chrom demanded. "You've lost!"

"…Lord Grima would punish failure with a fate far worse than death," Excellus replied slowly, his tome glowing one more time. "Even now, his power grows, corrupting what you love most. I'll take my chances with you!"

He extended his hand forward just as Chrom thrust Falchion forward, piercing him straight through the chest. A dry puff of fire, barely enough to light a candle, flew from Excellus' hand as he fell to the ground for the last time, blood dribbling from his mouth. I could almost swear he had a smile on his face.

"…I would have preferred that he'd lived," Robin lamented, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Those last words, Gods, but he had a flair for the dramatic. One to rival Virion's."

"W-What is that supposed to mean? I'll have you know that you are referring to the reigning duke of a neighboring nation!" Virion replied pompously. "To even compare me to this worm is an insult, my friend."

"What matters is that he's dead and the fort is ours," Chrom said, sheathing Falchion. "There were some losses, but I'd consider it a success."

I looked at the bodies of the men I led to die and frowned.

"There'll still be soldiers we need to clean up," Robin said. "But overall, I'm happy with the outcome of this battle. Although… Alex? Speak with me later."

I nodded silently.

The battle afterward was apparently a breeze. I wouldn't know; I didn't fight after my disastrous assault on the keep. Before I left the keep, though, I attempted to apologize to Panne. She was one of the few to survive, after all. I had to apologize to someone.

The gash to the side of her leg was noticeable, even in her human form.

"What do you want, manspawn? I have little patience for you." Panne growled, limping.

It was definitely selfish of me to talk to her when she obviously needed a healer, yet I tried anyway.

"Panne, I'm just…" I shook my head, wiping at my forehead. "I'm sorry that I led you in there."

"You discarded my words so easily before. Why should I accept yours?" Panne snapped at me. "I allowed you to command me, and you failed me. You failed your own men. You allowed anger and vengeance to cloud your mind, just as it had mine, but you learned nothing. I have nothing to say to you."

The taguel stalked off. I didn't pursue her. I didn't have that right. Not after what I did.

…Cordelia, I'm…

I left the fort immediately after that and didn't look back. I couldn't bear to. I made my way to our mostly deserted camp, feeling truly lost for the first time in years.

With the bulk of our soldiers in surrounding camps and in the fort, it left the Shepherd's camp vacant beyond a few holdbacks. Cordelia and I's shared tent stood nearby, almost seeming to tower over me when I got close. I was too much of a coward, though. If I were to face her then, I'd completely break down. What right had I to do what I did, after all? Why did I brush her off? Why did I leave her when all she wanted was what was best for me? For us? What kind of moron, what kind of monster, would do that to the woman he loves? To the woman he proposed to and intended to spend the rest of his life with?

In the end, I stood ineffectually outside the flap inside our tent. I was like a statue: frozen in-place, expression unmoving.

"I thought I might find you here."

Slowly, my head turned to see Robin standing nearby, his hands behind his back.

"…Robin," I grunted quietly, turning back to look at my tent. "If you've come to shout at me, do it. I deserve it."

The tactician walked up beside me, looking up to me. "What you did was reckless and endangered the lives of the men under your command. Many of them did die. It was strange when I entered the keep with Chrom and Virion to see you and Panne there. Usually, you wouldn't do something so boneheaded, even when you're caught in the heat of battle. It was revenge, then, wasn't it? You were angry."

I nodded, lips thinning. "It was, and look at what it lead to. An entire squad of good men dead under my command. And you all made me Knight-Captain of Ylisse's forces."

"You've performed admirably up to this point, Alex," Robin said quietly, patting me on the shoulder. "Really, I should've noticed it. I call myself your friend yet I was the one who allowed you to pursue that route. Gods, and I even had the gall to be happy about it!"

"I would've fought to be put on the front lines anyway, Robin," I mumbled. "I wasn't thinking. I was just imagining Excellus on the floor, his body burned just as Cordelia's was."

"That would've been rather fitting, I admit," Robin said. "But it didn't go that way. I'm not here to reprimand you, Alex. It seems you're already 'reaping what you sow' as it were."

I nodded quietly.

Robin looked between me and the tent. "…is there a reason you're staring at your tent, or have you truly gone mad?"

"I wish I was, sometimes, then I might have an excuse," I said softly. "It's Cordelia, Robin. Before the battle, she told me not to take revenge. That she was scared if I did that I wouldn't come back as the man she loved. It's those stories Severa talks about, you know, about the thing wearing her dad's skin. How he went out and fought until his death out of nothing but pure hatred and vengeance. She was right, Robin, and I just… I just brushed her off like it was nothing. I was doing it for her sake, and I refused to see her perspective."

"…perhaps you truly are mad," Robin muttered to himself. "Gods, that sounded bad from me, but seriously, you always espouse how dedicated you are to both of them. How did that happen?"

I shrugged, a fragile smile forming on my face. "I've always had issues with anger, Robin. I thought I had it under control, but obviously not."

"Well - And I'm saying this as your friend, Alex. – standing here at your tent won't make it any easier when you speak to her again. I've had to suffer with you two for several years now; I'm sure you can get through this. Your relationship is stronger than this."

I looked down to Robin, right into his red eyes. He was right, obviously. Still, my brain was still shouting at me for how stupid I was. I took a deep breath.

"I didn't ask where Severa was during this battle," I said suddenly. "Where was she?"

"One of the auxiliary fronts, battling a few stragglers," Robin informed me. "She has no idea, Alex, although that might not last long. I thought it prudent that she be given a break considering what happened in Rosanne. And, well, considering she's well on her way to becoming a Pegasus Knight…"

I swallowed and nodded, looking at my shared tent with renewed determination. "Alright. Alright, I'm going in. Thank you, Robin. No matter what Cordelia and Severa think of you, you'll always be my best friend."

Robin blinked as I walked forward and said nothing as I entered my tent.

I saw her the moment I entered the tent. She was sitting at a chair and desk that we'd set up, writing something or other. A weird sense of déjà vu struck me as I walked in and saw that scene. She heard me enter and turned around, her red eyes regarding me warily. Her quill was placed back on the desk audibly.

"…you were right," I muttered out, looking her in the eye. "You were right, Cordelia."

Her eyes narrowed as she turned the chair around to face me fully. Her arms crossed, she sat there and glared at me, not saying a word. I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly.

"Can I…?" I whispered.

She tilted her head to our bed, and I promptly sat down. I felt myself hunch over, my mouth feeling dry as she continued to stare at me. I hated the way she looked at me then. I'd grown used to her eyes looking at me softly. They were filled with nothing but wariness and quiet, cold anger then. I felt my heart seize just looking at her.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. "I… We assaulted the fortress with no issue. I decided the best course of action was to assault the keep, alone with only Panne and a squad of troops. We got inside and I-I almost was incinerated when Excellus taunted me."

Cordelia's eyes widened.

"Yeah, it was," I wiped my mouth. "It was bad. He had an entire elite guard that absolutely decimated my men. Only a few made it out alive. The only thing that kept us from being completely slaughtered was Virion, Chrom, and Robin coming in and saving our asses. You were right, Cordelia. By God, you were right. Panne was, too, but I didn't… fucking hell, I didn't listen."

I let out a shuddering breath, feeling like I'd pass out. "I let those men die, all because I got too angry, too bitter, what have you. I shouldn't have let my anger get the best of me but it did. Excellus is dead, but Chrom did it. Those men died for nothing and it's my fault. Cordelia, I'm not gonna lie to you, I'm an absolute asshat. I-I'm sorry about what I said, what I did when I left earlier today. You deserve better than that. I just… I couldn't-!"

"Why are you so angry?" Cordelia asked suddenly.

I opened my eyes and looked at Cordelia, perplexed. "…what?"

"Why are you so angry?" She repeated. Her gaze was no longer one of contempt; it was more neutral. Even her expression had gone from furrowed brows to something more plain. "Why did you feel the need to avenge me so badly? I can understand it if I had… if I had died, but I'm still here, Alex. I know that my injury is not pretty to look at, but I'll make a full recovery. Even before Rosanne, you always seemed on-edge, somehow. I always just thought that was you being alert, but now, now I'm wondering if it's something else."

I let out a breath, feeling like all of me was laid out for her to analyze and evaluate. I closed my eyes, feeling as if there were butterflies in my stomach. After a moment, I opened them again.

"I've," I swallowed, wiping at my forehead. "I've asked myself that question more times than I can count. To be honest with you, Cordy, I-I've always been like this. Always had problems with my anger. With frustration. For as long as I can remember I've always just had this rage, just at the back of my head. I barely know myself so for the longest time, I didn't know where it came from."

Cordelia leaned forward, as if urging me to continue.

I trailed my left hand down my face. "I never did tell you about my family back home, did I? Not since just after we left Whiteford all those years ago. Well, uh, my dad was a soldier. His dad was before him, too, and his dad before that. We were never much good for anything else. Hell, when I left, my country had been in a war that lasted the better part of two decades. One that never ended. My dad fought in that one, but he didn't come back the same guy. He was angrier, you know, drank a whole lot. Granted, I never really got to know the man before he marched off to the battlefield, but I liked to think he was better."

"Alex," Cordelia said, scooting her chair over so she was almost beside me. "He didn't-?"

I shook my head. "He was never abusive, if that's what you were thinking. N-Not physically, anyway." I tried to keep myself from falling over; I felt very weak for some reason, as if a giant weight was being taken off me. "He shouted a lot. At my mom and me and my sister. The usual bullshit. I could never say anything back. He'd come home and drink and shout, it just became a cycle. He always called me this goddamn nickname when he was really hammered, too. I fucking hated that nickname. So I just sat there and watched and took it as he tore himself and all of us apart. One day, I couldn't take it anymore. I shouted back. I screamed and swore and broke shit, just like he did. I was just like him. He, u-uh, he went to a place where he got better after that. I think even he couldn't take it anymore."

Cordelia stood up from her chair and sat beside me.

"He did get better," I continued, avoiding looking at her. "He got better, but our relationship was always strained. I never looked him in the eye. Y-You know, sometimes I look at Severa, and I see myself. I saw the way she looked at me when we first met her and I remember the way I used to look at my own dad, and it breaks my heart. I always told myself that I'd be better. Turns out, I'm worse; I didn't even need alcohol to make her hate me. Oh, she says she doesn't but she does."

I wiped at my eyes, feeling myself finally start to break down. "T-That's where it started. It's probably a whole helluva lot more fuel now, not just teenage angst. I've been trying to be a better person. A better father. A better husband than my own dad was, but my future self wasn't, and at this point I'm not sure if I will, either. This doesn't excuse the lives lost under my stupid command. This doesn't excuse the shit I said to you earlier. I'm pretty sure Severa is going to conk me on the head when she hears about what happened. I-I just wanted to… wanted to protect you. You're my only family. Without you, I don't- I couldn't keep going. There'd be no reason to!

"Alex."

"I'm sorry, Cordelia," I kept going, regardless what she said. I could feel the tears streaming down my face. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry! Y-You deserve so, so much better than me. I'm just a broken moron who barely knows the pointy end of the sword to the pommel. If you want, you can leave-!"

I never finished that sentence. Cordelia made sure of that. A sharp 'smack' rang through the tent as my head was forcefully slapped to the side. I didn't feel it much, but it did get me to stop talking.

"Don't you dare finish that sentence, Alex," Cordelia hissed. Before I could even move, she grabbed me by the shoulders and held me in place. "You made a mistake, Alex. One that you almost paid for, and one your soldiers paid for. You can't take that back. But the man I love? The man who proposed to me? He won't let this stop him. That man betters himself no matter what. Always training, always reading, always seeking to make himself a better person, whether it be for the sake of his loved ones or his friends."

"Cordelia-!"

Cordelia placed both hands against my cheeks, forcing me to look her in the eye. "You are still alive, and as long as you live, I know you will always try to better yourself. I just want you to promise me, here and now, that you will continue to do that. That you'll be the best version of yourself that you can be. And if it's too hard, then I'll be there to help you."

The tears streamed anew.

Cordelia hugged me towards her chest, and I promptly wrapped my arms around her midsection, pressing her as close to me as possible. I had no control over my mouth anymore; a stream of 'I'm sorry's and 'I love you's, as well as a bunch of unintelligible gibberish was all that came out. I let it all out, and Cordelia was there the entire time, softly embracing me.

After a time, we parted, although Cordelia was sitting in my lap by then. I marveled at how lucky I was to have her, then.

"I'm sorry," I repeated once more.

She cupped my cheek, a small smile gracing her lips. "I know, love. I forgive you. Just, please, remember what I said. I will be there to help you through this, but only if you let me. That anger, you don't need to let it define you."

I looked down. "It's gonna be a lot harder than just wishing it away. It's been a part of me for so long, I'm almost scared to let it go. But for you, I'd do anything."

"Anything, hmm?" Cordelia asked.

I trailed my hand down her leg. "Y-Yeah, anything."

She lowered her head down and kissed me. I never wanted it to end.

It was decided that we'd use Kamui as a base of operations during our campaign in Chon'sin. Despite the damage done to the fortress during the battle, it was still an easily defensible location, especially when we had a clear magical advantage. Apparently, Chon'sin didn't have many mages. They had healers, sure, but not mages. When I asked Say'ri about it, she deflected the question. Must've been a sore spot. Maybe even another thing she'd fix once she became Chon'sin's ruler.

We moved most of our camps to in and around the fortress, burning the Chon'sinian bodies left behind. I didn't take part in that. I couldn't.

The main army was only going to stay at Kamui for maybe a week before moving out. Just enough time to procure more supplies, draft up manifests, and gather our troops for another assault. Even the Pegasus Knights halted their scouting missions while this was going on, much to my nervousness. An army could march on us and we'd be none the wiser. They'd been working non-stop, however, and probably needed the rest. Still, didn't make me feel any better.

And while I was feeling better after talking with Cordelia, I still was silent during most of the war councils we had. There was no mention among them of my blunder, surprisingly. I couldn't tell if that was because they misinterpreted my intentions or if they just didn't know about it at all.

It didn't matter. In the end, I'd have to live with their deaths on my conscious. Their completely preventable deaths.

Moping about it won't bring them back.

Luckily for me, something happened to take my mind off it.

"Sailor!" A familiar voice shouted. I nearly got whiplash as I was harshly spun around. The person who shouted grabbed me by the shoulders and started shaking me violently, or as violently as he could, considering he was several inches shorter than me. "Sailor, thank the gods it's you!"

Gaius.

We were in the middle of the fort, among the tent set up inside the main courtyard, and that led to several soldiers staring at us. I glared at them and they promptly went about their business.

I sighed, holding the thief away from me. "Okay, Gaius, you got my goddamn attention. What the hell do you want?"

"It's Maribelle," He explained, pacing in front of me as I crossed my arms. "She's gone crazy, I swear. I was planning on, you know, making some plans for the next battle and all, and she just comes in on me and starts lecturing me. I gave her the slip but I think she's following me."

I arched a brow. "Plans for the next battle, huh? Why would she do that?"

"I don't know!" Gaius exclaimed. "Damn, why're you asking so many questions? Just hide me, yeah?"

"Hide you? Gaius, the fuck-"

"No time! C'mon, I'll just hide in your shadow or something!"

As Gaius slithered behind me like a snake, I could hear the sound of a horse's hooves against the earth. Ignoring Gaius, I looked up and saw a woman with blonde hair ride up to me upon a white steed. Her hair was curled into ringlets. Her pink eyes instantly focused on me as she stopped in front of me. Her eyes narrowed as she dismounted.

"Sir Alexander," Maribelle greeted curtly. "Have you seen a certain annoying thief skulking about?"

I shrugged. "No. Why would I?"

"You are his 'friend' are you not? His 'pal'?" Maribelle asked. "You play poker with him at any rate. You and that group of roustabouts and ruffians."

"One of which is in front of you, and does not like being called names," I supplied amusedly.

"Hmm, yes, quite," Maribelle's eyebrow twitched. "He's behind you, isn't he?"

I shook my head. "Nope. Why would you think that? That's a stupid place to hide. Absolutely ridiculous."

"Gods, how have I…?" Maribelle trailed off, her brows furrowing. "I let that thief into my home and this is how he repays me? This is insulting."

"Why're you even getting at him like this?" I asked, looking down at the blonde-haired noble. "What did he do? Sacrifice Brady or some shit?"

"Cull your tongue, Sir Alexander!" Maribelle protested harshly. "You are a knight of the realm and should speak the part! Shall I teach you the ways to properly address a noble?"

"Please don't," I groaned. "Just answer the question."

"Hmph," Maribelle sniffed contemptuously. "We will have to set that aside for later, then. If you must know, I found his plans to raid a nearby village of its sweets. Honestly, he has enough sugar to kill several destriers flowing through his veins, why would he need to gather more? It makes no amount of sense to me, and I have spent the better half of several months attempting to make him a better man. To make an honest man of him, you might say, and yet he fights me with every breath in his body. I had thought I was getting to him, finally, and then I find this."

"…Huh," I nodded, trying not to look at the lying bastard hiding behind me. "I see."

"Oh, you see, do you?" Maribelle asked facetiously, slapping her parasol against her open palm. "Well, that's brilliant. Perhaps when you see Gaius again, you can tell him that you saw this parasol, and how it will be broken over his head should he come near me while his thieving habits are still exercised."

Maribelle walked away, back towards her mount. She gave me one last glance.

"…And if he forswears his petty ways, I will welcome him back with open arms." She muttered.

Her horse turned and galloped away, and I was left alone with Gaius. The soldiers who had stopped to look at the spectacle went about their business with another well-placed glare. Gaius slinked from behind me, wiping his forehead.

"Phew," He breathed out. "Thanks for the save, Sailor. Thought I'd have my brains pounded out of my skull." He saw me glaring down at him. "…'Less you're about to do it to me instead, I guess."

"Gaius," I growled out. "Not only did you lie to me, but you were gonna rob a village of it's fucking sweets. I'm with Maribelle on this one, Gaius. What the fuck are you playing at?"

"Playing at? Who said I was playing?" Gaius replied, his arms behind his back. "This ain't playing, Sailor. This is my life, you know. It's not polite-like to make fun of a man's lifestyle."

"You said you love her," I pointed out. "You told us all that you love her. Why're you doing this? Are you trying to get her to hate you?"

"Uh, no?" Gaius shrugged. "I just… Gods' damn it all, Sailor, why'd you have to bring that up?"

"Because it's true, goddamnit!" I pressed onward. "This isn't some easy relationship, Gaius. I think the only thing you're doing is pissing her off. She needs… I mean, c'mon, man. How hard can it be to give it up? You have a son with her, for fuck's sake. A son! A child! Gaius, please. Go back to her, alright? Give it up. If you marry her I doubt you'll ever have to be without sweets ever again."

"…It ain't just about the sweets, Sailor," Gaius replied, suddenly serious. "This life ain't something that can be left behind, just like that. You're… Gods, you're right. Damn, here I was thinking I'd have something better to say."

"You're my friend, Gaius. I just want what's best for you. Do you really wanna go back to that life you had? Before you joined the Shepherds? You didn't even know you were hired to assassinate Emmeryn, for fuck's sake. What'll the next job be? Would it be to kill Sully? Vaike? Me?"

"Now that's a low blow if I ever heard one." Gaius mumbled.

"Maybe, but it's true." I put a hand on his shoulder. "Just give it a chance, man. I'd hate to see Maribelle sentence you if you get caught."

Gaius raised a hand and pat it against my own, prompting me to let go of him. Gaius looked to the sky and shook his head. "Gods' damn you, fine. Can't say you're wrong. If she decided to up and kill me, though, my blood's on your hands."

I nodded. "That it will be. Now, go to her."

"Yeah, yeah, I hear you." Gaius waved, waling past me. "Maybe next time I'll find Muscles instead. Sure he wouldn't give me a lecture."

I snorted. "Yeah. He'd punch you in the face instead."

"Hey, sometimes I like it rough." Gaius replied.

I frowned as Gaius walked away, growling as I wiped at my forehead. "Course you do, you goddamn masochist. You're getting with Maribelle; it's kinda required…"

We were perhaps a few days away from marching Chon'sin's capital. Unfortunately, I hadn't bothered to learn its name; we weren't going to be staying there long, anyway. Especially if we wanted to defeat Walhart before winter arrived.

I sat atop one of Kamui's walls, looking out over the golden sunlit fields that surrounded it. Chon'sin may have been a strange country, true, but it was far from ugly. Hell, most of the places I'd been to had some beauty to them, even Plegia. The sun set below the horizon, casting hues of yellow and red across the sky. I liked spending time looking at the sunsets and sunrises. It was relaxing in a way that nothing else really could be.

In all honesty, I was just thankful I was there to enjoy them still.

"Gawd, here you are. Why're you always being moody?" A familiar voice said. I let out a sigh and turned my head to see Severa standing there, clad in Pegasus Knight armor. If she lost her twintails and let her hair flow freely, she'd almost look exactly like her mother, in a way.

"Ain't being moody." I replied, looking back to the setting sun. "Just enjoying the view. Wanna join me, Sev?"

"Hmph. Well, it's not like I have anything better to do, I guess. All the drills and stuff are over, so… fine." Severa said, walking up to me and sitting behind me. "This isn't just a social call, by the way. I wanted to talk to you."

I nodded. "Thought you might. Go ahead. Let it out."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Severa asked crudely. "What do you take me for? Did you think I was gonna yell at you?"

"Uh, absolutely," I responded uncertainly. "You aren't? I almost died because of my own stupidity, Sev, even after I made that promise to you and your mom."

Severa looked uncomfortable as she played with her fingers. "Well, I mean, yeah. What you did was boneheaded. Stupid. So obviously gawd-damn moronic that I can barely comprehend it. Then again, I'm the one who didn't say anything when you outright told me you were gonna kill the person who burned mom, so… Gawd, look, I'm mad, but I'm not gonna go on a rant to you, alright? You did it because you love mom. If it were for any other reason, I would've- well, I don't wanna talk about that."

I nodded silently, letting out a breath. "Cordy told me not to take revenge. That I'd become the man I was in the future. The one you talked about. Was I really like that, Sev? Give me your honest opinion."

"You weren't exactly forthright, dad." Severa said, leaning back. "Gawd, I should keep my stupid mouth shut… Do you really wanna know?"

I nodded. "The more I know for certain, the more I feel I can avoid my future self."

Severa's lips thinned as she explained. "Well, you and mom left one day and never came back, for one."

I looked to her, confused. "Huh? I thought I survived."

"You did," Severa confirmed. "Uh, well, you're body did. You were… you were a completely different person from the one that left. It was like you were a dead man walking. I feel like I've already said all this before, but I just want to let you know again, I guess. It was like you kept fighting because you lost mom, because you had nothing left to fight for besides vengeance. Like I said, you never told me any of this. I just kinda drew my own conclusions, I guess."

Staring at nothing, I withdrew into my own mind. I couldn't allow myself to become the man in the future. I could not. I had a daughter on the way; she would have a father worth a damn. Not some barely functional facsimile of a man who only fights because he forgot the reason. Severa deserved better than what she got. Cordelia deserved better. They all deserved better. If it was for their sake, I'd do anything.

I felt a light tap against my forehead and blinked. Severa still sat there, her fingers ready to flick me again. "Gawd, sometimes I wonder how you can even hold a sword right if you space out so often."

"I'll have you know, Sev, that spacing out is an art," I replied, holding my iron hand out. "Look at this, for instance. Stare at it. Soon, you will start to feel sleepy, and then you will be transported to a different world. One made of sky-scraping buildings and horseless carriages. Don't be shy. I'm sure it'll be- you've stopped listening, haven't you?"

"Hmm?" Severa hummed, looking at me with half-lidded eyes. "I stopped listening after you started talking nonsense."

"Thatta girl."

Severa scoffed, looking out to the horizon. As she did so, she squinted. "…Dad, do you see this?"

"Huh?" I followed her gaze. Just beyond the horizon, a shape emerged, marching across the field. "What in the…"

That figure seemingly grew, but it didn't actually; it multiplied. It looked as if hundreds of human-shaped figures came from the field, marching across it straight towards us. I stood up, my eyes widening.

"Severa," I said as she stood up. "Warn the troops. I'll go and inform Chrom and the others."

"Are they attacking?" Severa asked, her expression neutral. "Why the hell would they attack us now?"

"Probably to catch us off-guard. Should've known they'd go for us while we had our pants down. Go, now." I ordered.

Severa nodded and left me alone. I stared out one more time at the encroaching army.

Defense it is, then.

Our troops were mobilized as best as was possible on such short notice. Considering how fast the Chon'sinian army marched against us, I was surprised we were able to get anyone going at all. We still hadn't completely finished setting up at Kamui, so it was decided we'd meet them on the field to avoid a full siege. We could fit all of our soldiers within Kamui either way.

Naturally, Chrom took the lead. Along with Say'ri, Robin, and I.

"I still say we should let them come to us," Robin mumbled, looking on at the Chon'sinian army. "They may not have the number's advantage, but any wasted forces here could spell disaster at the capital."

"Fie, tactician, perhaps 'tis not as foolhardy as you think," Say'ri rebuked, her hands on the pommels of her dual swords. "The size of this army is not of common making; there is a powerful man among them. One who not only has the loyalty of his soldiers, but of the dynasts who support him."

"Yen'fay is here!?" I exclaimed, nearly taking a step back. "Why the hell would he march his entire fucking army here to meet us? Is he suicidal?"

"Aye, perhaps," Say'ri replied stoically. "Mayhaps his honor compels him."

"Either way, I won't let a challenge go unanswered," Chrom said, his hand on Falchion, ready to unsheathe it at a moment's notice. "Maybe we can even end the campaign here, if he decides to take the field."

"Hmm, perhaps. That would certainly speed it up." Robin said quietly. He turned to me. "Alex, I want you to hang towards the back. Lead the troops should the front lines fail, but focus on defense-!"

"What the-?" Chrom said before he cut himself off. I followed his gaze, ready to start hacking away at people at a moment's notice before I saw what was happening. The Chon'sinian army had formed into a strange pattern; they were effectively split in two, with a valley running between them. Out of it walked a single man, heading straight towards us. Usually, I'd call the man an absolute loon, but he moved with purpose. And since he was alone…

Yen'fay.

"By the Earth Mother!" Say'ri exclaimed, readying her swords. "Suicidal he is! Even a warrior of his caliber would not be able to fight all of us!"

"…maybe he doesn't want to fight," Chrom said slowly. "Does he want to meet with us?"

"Pfft, what a fuckin'…" I pinched the bridge of my nose. "It's either that, or he's setting up the most obvious trap known to man. What do you say, Robin?"

Robin was silent as Yen'fay stopped just short of halfway between our army and his. The leader of Chon'sin showed no movement; he just stood there stoically, staring us down.

"If I can end this without bloodshed, Robin…" Chrom trailed off, looking to the tactician.

"…I want at least a dozen archers and mages fixated on our position," Robin said finally. "As well as a contingent of healers on stand-by should things go sour. Chrom, let's go."

I was no stranger to boneheaded decisions. Made a couple of them myself throughout the years, and all anyone had to do to find out about them was talk to my friends. When we went to meet Yen'fay, however, I couldn't which side made the dumbest decision. Was it us? Was it them? Who knew. What it led to, however, took me completely by surprise.

The field was ablaze with shimmering golden light as we marched up to the lone Chon'sinian. He stood there still, with long white hair trailing down his back and black lacquered armor. At his side was a golden sword with what looked to be branches on the edges, tapering off into multiple points. I'd hate to be stabbed by the thing. Looked like it could so a number on anyone, really.

"So you have come to meet me, Chrom of Ylisse." Yen'fay intoned, his arms crossed.

"I have to admit, you were hard to miss. So, I guess this means you wanted to meet with us after all." Chrom replied.

"Aye, that I did. My scouts reported that our glorious Kamui had been taken by a force of incredible strength, and now that I see it for myself, I am quite impressed." Yen'fay continued, nodding his head to Chrom.

"Er, thanks? I guess?" Chrom said, confusion etched in his tone. "I'm still confused why we're having a meeting to begin with. You have an entire army behind you; why haven't you attacked?"

"Because I like to stare my enemies in the eye before I do battle with them. Any other way is disgraceful." Yen'fay supplied.

"You know all too well of disgrace, would you not?" Say'ri hissed acidly. "You walk as if there is still an honorable bone in your deceitful body. How you have not lashed out at us like an animal is beyond me."

Yen'fay was silent at that. For a few moments, nobody spoke. Finally, Yen'fey drew his sword.

"I should've fucking known," I snarled, drawing Sol. Chrom did the same, as well as Say'ri, and Robin's hands glowed with lightning.

"Does the worm lie slain?" Yen'fay said suddenly, his expression indecipherable.

"What do you mean?" Chrom asked, not letting his guard down for a second.

"The fat one. Walhart's tactician, Excellus. Does he lie slain?" Yen'fay repeated with clarity.

"He does," Chrom answered.

Yen'fay became silent once more, until he swung his sword-

His blade planted itself firmly in the earth as he knelt. His head hung low as he declared: "By my right as Emperor of Chon'sin, and by the blade of my ancestors, I swear fealty to you, Prince Chrom of Ylisse. Chon'sin's armies are yours to break against Walhart's bulwark."

And there we go. I hope you enjoyed it!

Not a lot to say at the moment. Most of Chapter 60 is written for the most part by now. That'll be fun, 'cause it's mostly just character interactions.

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