Fire Emblem On Forums: Mortal Transgressions (IC)

[ElfCollaborator]

V18, knife a cav

[Aurorix]

"Fool! It is the duty of the strong to help and support the weak! The only person who ought to suffer here is a scumbag like you! You're an eye sore and a diseased stain on the world that must be mopped up." The butler speaks revving up the tenderizer,  "Luckily for everyone, cleaning up stains is our specialty."

[Flannelmagician]

Tabitha to X17 and HEAL on Fey. 

[RedMageCole]

Lenore puts a couple of knives in the Cavalier.

Spoiler

Lenore: 

AT: 13 - 4 = 9

Hit: 116 - 16 = 100

Crit: 5 - 4 = 1

 

Cavalier E:

N/A

 

Lenore attacks! Autohit! 39, no crit.

Cavalier E takes 9 damage!

 

Lenore follows up! Autohit! 91, no crit.

Cavalier E takes 9 damage!

 

Fey recovers 17 HP! Fey is at full HP!

 

Shin to H18

 

Enemy Phase

Soldier G to T5

Shaman D to U5

Soldier F to F5

Shaman C to E5

Cavalier E to X18

Thief C to V17

Archer D to L25

Archer E to N24

Hulbert to M23

 

Frustrated, the Thief tries to break through the defenses by aiming for the healer. The Cavalier joins him on the attack against Tabitha, but misses.

Spoiler

Tabitha is supported by Fey! +2 Hit/Evasion, +5 Crit/Dodge!

 

Thief C :

AT: 9 - 5 = 4

Hit: 102 - 29 - 2 = 71 

Crit: 3 - 7 = 0

 

Tabitha:

N/A

 

Thief C attacks! 18, hit!

Tabitha takes 4 damage!

Spoiler

Tabitha is supported by Fey! +2 Hit/Evasion, +5 Crit/Dodge!

 

Cavalier E: (Iron Lance)

AT: 14 - 5 = 9

Hit: 92 - 29 - 2 = 61

Crit: 2 - 7 = 0

 

Tabitha:

N/A

 

Cavalier E attacks! 82, miss!

 

Closer to home, the Archer takes a potshot at Mim as Hulbert rides up to meet her challenge. He's unsuccessful.

Spoiler

Archer D :

AT: 11 - 6 = 5

Hit: 94 - 35 = 59

Crit: 3 - 9 = 0

 

Mim: (Steel Greatbow)

N/A

 

Archer D attacks! 86, miss!

 

Hulbert rides up, the beast of a man riding atop a tall beast looking down at the tinier Mim, wielding a javelin.

 

"Feel the power of Gul! We will take back what is rightfully ours!"

 

Spoiler

Mim is too fluffy... -15 Hit on follow up!

 

Hulbert: (Steel Javelin)

AT: 15 - 6 = 9

Hit: 88 - 35 = 53

Crit: 2 - 9 = 0

Aegis: 11%

 

Mim: (Steel Greatbow)

AT: 16 - 6 = 10

Hit: 94 - 20 = 74 (59)

Crit: 5 - 4 = 1

 

Hulbert attacks! 77, miss!

 

Mim attacks! 37, hit! 22, no crit. 22, no Aegis.

Hulbert takes 10 damage!

 

Mim follows up! 43, hit! 14, no crit. 88, no Aegis.

Hulbert takes 10 damage!

 

Ally Phase

A gentle snore can be heard from Stella. Seems she feels safe despite the oncoming enemies... however, her aura has slightly changed, somehow...

Heroic Advance shifted to +3 RES!

 

Player Phase

Tabitha recovers 4 HP!

 

EXP: (31/100)

Stats (Enemy Stats)

Spoiler

Players

Kane (HP: 21/22) - Iron Knife (E) (38/40) | Glue Pack (31/35) | Vulnerary x3 | Lockpick x4 | Silencer (30/30)

Ferdiad (HP: 28/28) - Slim Lance (E) (39/40) | Iron Blade (39/40) | Steel Javelin (30/35) | Vulnerary x3

Shin (HP: 22/23) - Iron Longbow (E) (35/40) | Training Bow (37/40) | Vulnerary x3

Baldur (HP: 11/19) - Tenderizer (E) (32/40) | Heal (29/30) | Shove (27/30) | Vulnerary x1

Lizaveta (HP: 23/23) - Worm (E) (32/40) | Wind (39/40) | Vulnerary x3
Justine (HP: 22/22) - Joyeuse (E) (40/40) | Artemis' Song (30/30) | Vulnerary x3

Cecily (HP: 25/26) - Hatchet (E) (37/40) | Vulnerary x3

Lenore (HP: 19/21) - Iron Knife (E) (32/40) | Vulnerary x3 | Lockpick x4 | Vulnerary x3

Tabitha (HP: 18/18) - Heal (24/30) | Vulnerary x3

Mim (HP: 17/21) - Steel Greatbow (E) (22/35) | Training Bow (40/40) | Vulnerary x3 | Lockpick x3

Fey (HP: 26/26) - Hatchet (E) (32/40) | Vulnerary x3

Reiko (HP: 27/27) - Steel Sword (E) (31/35) | Vulnerary x3 | Hand Axe (40/40)

Lysander (HP: 21/23) - Wind (E) (31/40) | Vulnerary x3

Arthur (HP: 23/24) - Wind (E) (37/40) | Fire (36/40) | Vulnerary x3

 

Allies

Stella (Dismounted) (HP: 15/15) - Sloth (E) (--/--) | Mend (23/25) (Target: Cavalier) (Heroic Advance: +3 RES)

 

Enemies

Archer A (HP: michael jordan crying meme/22) - Iron Longbow (39/40)

Archer B (HP: Giorno'd/22) - Iron Longbow (40/40)

Archer C (HP: Knifed/22) - Iron Longbow (38/40)

Archer D (HP: 22/22) - Iron Longbow (40/40)

Archer E (HP: 22/22) - Iron Longbow (40/40)

Shaman A (HP: Wormed/21) - Flux (40/40)
Shaman B (HP: YOUDIDN'TEVENNEEDACRITLYSANDER/21) - Flux (40/40)

Shaman A (HP: 21/21) - Flux (40/40)
Shaman B (HP: 21/21) - Flux (40/40)

Mage A (HP: Twanged/21) - Fire (39/40)

Mage B (HP: axed/21) - Fire (38/40)

Mage C (HP: nopleased/21) - Fire (40/40)

Mage D (HP: Sliced/21) - Fire (39/40)

Monk A (HP: Shindidit/20) - Shine (35/35)

Monk B (HP: Thepoweroflove/20) - Shine (35/35)

Monk C (HP: Aaarrr/20) - Shine (35/35)

Soldier A (HP: Windedx2/24) - Iron Javelin (40/40)

Soldier B (HP: Winded/24) - Iron Javelin (40/40)

Soldier C (HP: Combo'd/24) - Iron Javelin (40/40)

Soldier D (HP: GOLDEN WIIIIND/24) - Iron Javelin (40/40)

Soldier E (HP: Twanged/24) - Iron Javelin (40/40)

Soldier F (HP: 24/24) - Iron Javelin (40/40)

Soldier G (HP: 24/24) - Iron Javelin (40/40)

Knight A (HP: Wormed/23) - Iron Blade (40/40)

Knight B (HP: Tenderized/23) - Iron Blade (39/40)

Knight C (HP: JOOOOJOOOOOO/23) - Iron Blade (40/40)

Knight D (HP: 23/23) - Iron Blade (40/40)

Knight E (HP: GLORYTOMOTHERRUSSIA/23) - Iron Blade (40/40)

Myrmidon A (HP: Axed/21) - Iron Rapier (38/40)

Myrmidon B (HP: Winded/21) - Iron Rapier (39/40)

Myrmidon C (HP: WHATAREYOUDOING/21) - Iron Rapier (40/40)

Cavalier A (HP: Kaneisdoingwork/22) - Iron Lance (E) (40/40) | Iron Sword (40/40)

Cavalier B (HP: Twanged/22) - Iron Lance (E) (39/40) | Iron Sword (40/40)

Cavalier C (HP: Ded/22) - Iron Lance (E) (39/40) | Iron Sword (40/40)

Cavalier D (HP: Dead/22) - Iron Lance (E) (40/40) | Iron Sword (40/40)

Cavalier E (HP: 4/22) - Iron Lance (E) (40/40) | Iron Sword (40/40)

Axe Cavalier A (HP: Axed/22) - Iron Lance (E) (40/40) | Iron Axe (40/40)

Axe Cavalier B (HP: Crisped/22) - Iron Lance (E) (40/40) | Iron Axe (40/40)
Axe Cavalier C (HP: Twanged/22) - Iron Axe (E) (40/40) | Iron Lance (40/40)

Axe Cavalier D (HP: Rip/22) - Iron Lance (E) (40/40) | Iron Axe (40/40)

Axe Cavalier E (HP: Axed/22) - Iron Lance (E) (40/40) | Iron Axe (40/40)

Thief A (HP: Genocide run dead/20) - Iron Knife (40/40)

Thief B (HP: RIP/20) - Iron Knife (40/40) | Lockpick x3

Thief C (HP: 5/20) - Iron Knife (38/40) | Lockpick x3

Thief D (HP: Regret/20) - Iron Knife (40/40) | Lockpick x3

Pirate (HP: Sliced/25) - Poison Hand (E) (34/35) | Vulnerary x3

Wyvern Rider (HP: OHCOMEON/25) - Steel Halberd (E) (35/35)

Hulbert (HP: 4/24) - Steel Javelin (E) (35/35) | Steel Blade (35/35) | Heavy Lance (35/35) (Dropped)

 

[Swordstar]

"Sorry, what was that might? It seemed like a nice breeze. Now die."

 

Shoot the boss

[RedMageCole]

Hulbert, sputtering as weakly as he could, still struggling to stay on his horse while covered in blood...

 

"Ha... These wounds are nothing...! I'll still win! Just watch... me...!"

Spoiler

Mim is too fluffy... -15 Hit on follow up!

 

Mim: (Steel Greatbow)

AT: 16 - 6 = 10

Hit: 94 - 20 = 74 (59)

Crit: 5 - 4 = 1

Cancel: 22%

 

Hulbert: (Steel Javelin)

AT: 15 - 6 = 9

Hit: 88 - 35 = 53

Crit: 2 - 9 = 0

Aegis: 11%

 

Mim attacks! 37, hit! 12, no crit. 47, no Aegis. 93, no Cancel.

Hulbert takes 10 damage! Hulbert is defeated!

 

With a well-shot arrow between the eyes, Hulbert doesn't even get a chance to say anything as he falls off of his horse with a loud clanging noise that reverbs throughout the castle. Some of the enemy soldiers notice this, and panic as all of them head for the gates, only for the sounds of thundering hoofbeats to be heard arriving into the foyer. Albert, atop a horse and holding a lance, while commandeering a squad of soldiers, look down at the group. The group of enemies panic and attempt to run outside.

 

"Oh, no you don't! After them, men!"

 

Before the army can properly take in the surroundings of Virtuous aiding them, they storm out of the castle to give chase. Albert turns back and salutes everyone.

 

"Don't worry, we may have a fair share of lazy soldiers, but we'll take care of them!"

 

FINAL STATS 

EXP: (61/100)

Kane (HP: 21/22) - Iron Knife (E) (38/40) | Glue Pack (31/35) | Vulnerary x3 | Lockpick x4 | Silencer (30/30)

Ferdiad (HP: 28/28) - Slim Lance (E) (39/40) | Iron Blade (39/40) | Steel Javelin (30/35) | Vulnerary x3

Shin (HP: 22/23) - Iron Longbow (E) (35/40) | Training Bow (37/40) | Vulnerary x3

Baldur (HP: 11/19) - Tenderizer (E) (32/40) | Heal (29/30) | Shove (27/30) | Vulnerary x1

Lizaveta (HP: 23/23) - Worm (E) (32/40) | Wind (39/40) | Vulnerary x3
Justine (HP: 22/22) - Joyeuse (E) (40/40) | Artemis' Song (30/30) | Vulnerary x3

Cecily (HP: 25/26) - Hatchet (E) (37/40) | Vulnerary x3

Lenore (HP: 19/21) - Iron Knife (E) (32/40) | Vulnerary x3 | Lockpick x4 | Vulnerary x3

Tabitha (HP: 18/18) - Heal (24/30) | Vulnerary x3

Mim (HP: 17/21) - Steel Greatbow (E) (21/35) | Training Bow (40/40) | Vulnerary x3 | Lockpick x3 | Heavy Lance (35/35)

Fey (HP: 26/26) - Hatchet (E) (32/40) | Vulnerary x3

Reiko (HP: 27/27) - Steel Sword (E) (31/35) | Vulnerary x3 | Hand Axe (40/40)

Lysander (HP: 21/23) - Wind (E) (31/40) | Vulnerary x3

Arthur (HP: 23/24) - Wind (E) (37/40) | Fire (36/40) | Vulnerary x3

[Swordstar]

Without a thought of what else was going on, Mim rushed over to the fallen thief, pulling out one of her potions as she did.

 

"Now then, just hold still. We're getting you out of this, I promise."

[RedMageCole]

“Useless pieces of shit! I could have had that done all by my goddamned self! Bunch of amateurs, I swear on the-"

“It doesn't matter, we're done here. Just keep moving before you burst another blood vessel."

“How many times do I have to tell you, you're not my fucking mom....."

 

...The voices in the floor are gone as quickly as they came.

 

As Mim tends to the thief's wounds, he groans as his consciousness seems to return.

 

"Nrgh... why're you helpin' me, anyway...? Woulda served me right, letting myself indulge in my sticky fingers..."

 

Now secured of the looming threat, Kane rushes out to the main hall alongside Arthur, seeing Mim standing there with naught but the pained thief. He passes Hulbert's corpse as he approaches...

 

"Snowbird, is... hm, you did that on your own? Good work... it's an honor to have you. Status report; anything else you've seen besides Hulber-... hm?"

 

Kane clearly seemed to be thinking of the voices, but has turned his attention to the thief on the ground. Without another word, he speaks to Mim.

 

"Make sure he takes as much medicine as you think he'll need. I'll find and carry him to a bed once you've done so, and we can continue further treatment."

 

Arthur looks down at the thief, as if almost wanting to question why they were helping the enemy... but then looks at Mim, and stays silent.

 

 

 

In the throne room, Stella wakes with a yawn.

 

"Mmm...? Oh, I think that was... um... Albert's troops... I think we're safe now."

 

She looked at everyone crowded around her throne.

 

"...If it weren't for you all protecting me... I'd be dead..."

 

Stella gave a little yawn, but at the same time, her eyes look very gentle, happy, and a little bit teary-eyed.

 

"Thank you..."

 

Simeon ascends one of the stairs, making his way into the throne room with a groan.

 

"Sheesh, ye all sounded like ye were havin' a blast up there... I assure ye, I ain't even that shabby with an axe, but swingin' it is a right pain in the... well, ye know."

 

At the same time, Albert rides into the throne room, his horse whinnying.

 

"My lady! The troops are dispatched to take care of the leftovers right now. I'm off to notify the king of the invasion... while keeping our little secret a secret."

 

Stella simply nods as Albert rides past Simeon, dismounts his horse and heads downstairs.

[Swordstar]

Without looking up at Kane or Crimson, Mim nodded.

 

"Yes sir, though Orchid help heal my wounds. But the man himself was no problem. Overconfident and arrogant, he was foolish in his attacks. And don't worry sir. He should be patched up enough, though a quick hit from a healing staff would not go amiss."

 

To the thief, she said quietly, with a small smile,

 

"Because choices matter. You chose to be here but then you chose to turn around and leave. I promised I would let you live if you did. I'm just fulfilling that promise, I suppose. People should be allowed to change, don't you think? Besides, what he did was such a cowardly horrible thing... Well, I wasn't going to let that be the end."

[Zetaark]

Going out to the main hall after the commotion is done, Fey finds Mim by a thief, with Hulbert's body not too far away. After looking at the body for a bit, she looks to Mim with a wry smile. 

"Gotta say, I feel bad for anyone who ends up pissing you off too much. That guy didn't even have a chance," Fey says with a chuckle as she looks towards her helping out the injured thief.

"Looks like you're at it again with befriending people wherever it may be. Not that its a bad thing, seeing how this is going," Fey remarks as she watches over the situation.

[rokubiraijuu]

Is that... the sound of the Gulan troops scattering? Ferdiad looks on as the ones who had thought to flank them from the stairs see that they were ready to answer them, and instead lose their spine, turning tail and running. And then, a moment later, the familiar sound of the Cedans rallying with the rhythmic thunder of hoofbeats on polished stone, chasing after the fleeing Gulans with righteous cries that make Ferdiad's heart twist in his chest.

 

He lowers his arm, letting the lance in his hand swing low, tip slanted towards the ground, his gaze following.

 

"..."

 

As Stella awakens and thanks all of them, the adrenaline begins to drain from him, leaving behind an aching hollow sensation. Here he was again, defending the Cedan crown, defending his homeland, just as he used to. And the fire that had filled him...

 

"There is, er... something I wish to see. I'll return shortly," he murmurs absently to Lysander beside him as he dismounts, more as a note so someone would know where he had gone if Kane should ask. He doesn't wait for a response before heading into the chamber adjacent to the throne room, glancing left and right to make sure there were no remaining enemies, and then going down the stairs where the voices from earlier had come from.

[RedMageCole]

Kane seems mildly astonished at Mim calling him 'sir', but manages to keep a calm face quite quickly.

 

"Very well; Orchid, you'll help Snowbird heal the man up. Good to see that you are mostly unharmed yourself, Snowbird. Regardless of his arrogance, the man looked as if he was a seasoned fighter, but you beat him without so much as a scratch, well done. Crimson, you go let Queen Stella of his situation. We'd still best get this man some rest on a cozier surface once you and Orchid are done, he's probably had a long day."

 

Arthur briefly looks like he doesn't want to leave, but obliges and makes his way to the throne room. The thief groans.

 

"You don't know half of it..."

 

He turns over slightly to look at Mim with tired eyes.

 

"I suppose... though my choice was just more me bein' kind of a bitch... but I didn't wanna go the way Joshua did... not that I would have been as nonchalant as he was before he died, guy was a bit of a prick at times... but nothing compared to Hulbert... and that green piece of shit..."

 

Kane raised an eyebrow, which the thief caught.

 

"I'll spill the beans once these wounds close up a bit and I get in that bed you're talking about... no sense goin' back to Gul so quickly since they all probably will think I'm dead like the rest of 'em..."

 

...

 

As Ferdiad headed down the stairs, he listened... he listened, but he could not hear any more of the four voices. What he did hear, however, was Albert's faint voice, down the corridor. Though Albert was normally an extremely well mannered individual, the tone in his voice was anything but, as he sounded as if he gave into sheer panic.

 

"No...! No! How could I have let this happen...!? I-... I'm a failure as a knight... a-a failure... h-how am I going to tell my lady... h-how...!?"

[rokubiraijuu]

He knows these corridors like the back of his hand, though it has been a year since he's walked them. He knows all the places those voices could have gone, but in spite of that, he still can't hear any trace of them anywhere. How strange.

 

His attention is diverted a moment later by the sound of a voice, though not the ones he is looking for. And hearing the note of panic, hearing the stammered despair, Ferdiad hastens his step in Albert's direction.

 

He knows what he will find, though, even before he arrives. He knows.

 

"What's happened?"

[Chevaleresse]

"I'm just happy that we could keep you safe, Queen Stella. It would be a grievous crime to allow your beauty to be marred by one of these brutes." Justine was glad she was still masked; she was a bit flushed, and it wasn't from the thrill of battle. Not entirely, anyway; she still wasn't entirely used to combat, but treating it like a performance made it more exciting than terrifying. 

[Powder Miner]

Lizaveta let out a long breath as the battle wound down, and she wrung her hands together for a little bit to get the jitters out before smiling, very clearly proud of herself.

"Well, while I admit to continuing hesitance over this deal with the royalty of Ceda, I believe we have here once again proven that no monarch's forces of evildoers can stand against the true valor of Virtuous and the hearts of the people."

[Aurorix]

The butler stands over Hulbert's pin cushioned corpse and spits on it before turning over to Kane and Mim,  "I was going to assist whether you ordered me to or not." Baldur spoke pulling back his gloves and readying his staff. He got on his knee and began focusing his healing magic where the thief was skewered sealing the wound and stopping the bleeding. Once the threat of death for the man had passed the butler let out sigh,  "There, you should be out of death's door now. Just don't make any sudden movements or you will reopen that would." He then turns his head towards the small apothecary,  "However, Snowbird, I must agree with what Phoenix said earlier. I was ready to come assist you but you had already taken care of him by the time I caught up. I am quite impressed."  

[Shauntaro]

Shin slowly joins up with Mim and the others where the everyone's attention seems to be focused.


"Is it.. all over?" he says as he dismounts Scoopo and walks closer towards the others.
 

Edited July 20, 2019 by Shauntaro

[Pyon Pyon Kyuu!~]

Lysander nodded in response to Ferdiad. "Do what you must." 

 

After he watched Ferdiad leave he put his tome back under his cloak, and walked towards the others. 

[ElfCollaborator]

Lenore, a look of irritation and disappointment on her face from having to fight again, strolls up to the party, her eyes looking for (and finding) Kane. She looks over at Shin, Arthur and Baldur.

"Nice job, you three. You got the boss back intact and didn't mess this up. Especially you, Ficus. I knew you had it in you."

[RedMageCole]

In the main hall...

 

"You don't gotta tell me twice..." The thief groaned, still on the floor looking tired but still much better. Very gently, Kane scooped him up into his arms. Kane doesn't seem to have much trouble carrying him with two hands, but the thief looks somewhat embarrassed to be carried bridal style.

 

In response to Lenore, Arthur didn't do much but give a simple nod to Lenore as he made his way into the throne room with Kane shortly following afterward.

 

 

In the throne room...

 

"Oh..."

 

Stella gives a rather faint blush and bashfully looks away, putting a hand on her cheek. As she whispers the word beauty through her lips, Arthur walks in.

 

"Stella, we've got an injured man from the Gul army. He apparently tried to retreat but was intercepted. Where's the infirmary, again?"

 

Stella pauses and mulls over it for a second as Kane enters the room with the thief in hands.

 

"Should be down the stairs on the right... just straight down... it should say on the door, I think..."

 

Arthur whispered a thanks as he proceeded to almost walk with Kane, but Kane stopped Arthur.

 

"Thank you, Crimson, but I'll find it on my own. Stay with the others."

 

As Kane went downstairs, Arthur rolled his eyes.

[RedMageCole]

...In the downstairs hallway...

 

Albert doesn't even try to stop Ferdiad as he approaches, having a hard time keeping himself composed. All he can do is blurt out words to him in panic.

 

"I-I was so careless...! I... I shouldn't have let this happen... I-I couldn't have let this happen...! I-I was told to have the guards off duty so that you all could come, b-but I should have had lookouts! I was a fool... I-...."

 

As Albert's normally steady composure devolves into panicking, and even a small amount of tears forming in the loyal guard's eyes, Ferdiad confirmed his worst fears.

 

He wasn't even out of bed; as if he were taking an afternoon nap, it had happened while he was still asleep. Judging by the trajectory of the arrow that pierced his throat, it was instantaneous, not even time to scream. There he was, draped in blankets and fanciful robes, his crown off to the side and his hair stuck in a bedhead that would never be untangled...

 

...King Tobias was dead.

 

As Kane passed by, he heard Albert's yelling, and quickly stopped, still holding the thief.

 

"...Oh my god... so this is what those voices must have..."

 

The thief weakly spoke.

 

"...Hulbert hired... these four goons... I don't remember any of them, minus that green haired asshole... it was for a mission while we..."

 

Kane quietly shushed the thief.

 

"...We'll talk later. Right now, you need rest. Knight, Albert, give me a moment, I just need to put this man in the infirmary."

 

Albert didn't seem to notice the Gul soldier, and if he did, he didn't care. He was horrified...

 

...Kane arrived rather quickly, thankfully; the infirmary wasn't too far off. He looked at the king's corpse, solemnly closing his eyes.

 

"...I don't know what kind of man King Tobias was... but Queen Stella has done nothing but offer us hospitality and a reason to fight. This man was her husband... and we will find the four people who killed King Tobias right under our noses. I'm not one to be so easily outwitted... and I will stop at nothing to make sure the people behind this crime was put to justice."

 

Kane inspects the arrow without pulling it out.

 

"...Four people, a green haired man, and an arrow so precise, it had to have been shot by someone who has been trained in the bow and nothing but the bow... and to make matters worse... this arrow was laced with poison. There was no way King Tobias could have survived with such a precise shot and an extra mile... we're dealing with someone who knows their stuff, but I absolutely refuse to let such ruthless criminals stand in Virtuous' way. We'll find them... and they will have their judge, jury and executioner."

[rokubiraijuu]

Even the intuition that had taken root in his gut did not fully prepare him for it. As he stepped into the room, gaze falling to the prone figure of the king lying in his bed, looking little different from the last time he had seen him, he feels a strange disorientation. The man may well be sleeping, were it not for the arrow shaft protruding at an angle from his throat. There was hardly even any blood.

 

Ferdiad feels cold, as though the stuttering heartbeat is a distant sound, the shallow breath and dizziness belonging to another man — sensations he can simultaneously experience and observe. Through the hard edges where his mask rests against his face, he simply looks on King Tobias. Those assassins... this man... again. After some time, perhaps five minutes or just a couple, his legs move, turning him around and taking him back out the door he had come. It doesn't feel so much like walking as it does drifting, and he moves unsteadily past Kane — when had he gotten there...? — with a mutter of something unintelligible.

[RedMageCole]

Kane took a pretty quick notice of this, and while Albert continued to panic and try to get a hold of himself, Kane darted past him to get to Ferdiad. He gently put a hand on his shoulder while he walked with him.

 

"...Knight... Knight. Please... tell me what's wrong. This man... this incident... it's not something unfamiliar to you, is it?... Tell me what you can, but don't force anything out. But please... I want to know what's wrong."

[rokubiraijuu]

He keeps moving without a destination in mind; his feet just keep taking him somewhere, down the hallway, somewhere away, his eyes fixed on an indeterminate point in the distance, still seeing King Tobias' body, seeing Queen Victoria, four tired-looking strangers, a glimpse of a malicious grin and red hair. Kane's hand on his pauldron goes unnoticed, his concerned voice a faraway echo. 

 

Everything, Kane. Everything — he wants to say, but it doesn't get out. In fact, nothing gets out. How does someone explain the magnitude of the forces pushing down on him, of which there are so many?

 

"I... I... can't, Kane, I...'m... I need to— be alone." He weakly tries to shove Kane off and continue moving, as though if he stopped, he might lose himself altogether.

[Shauntaro]

Shin, unsure of what to make of Lenore's words, merely looks at her.


"Ah.. you- ..But I didn't really-" He stops himself from continuing that usual line of speech, looking away for a short moment before turning back to Lenore and saying:


"..T-thanks, Mink."