Chapter Text
Interlude: Support Convos Part 5
Lethe stood in front of the rails on the deck, staring out into the sea. She remained silent for at least a week aside from simple interactions. Unlike Mordecai, who interacts regularly with everyone, she has only spoken a few words with her peers as of late. Despite that, she dutifully keeps watch of Nasir routinely despite her distraught state.
"Your reputation precedes you. I almost couldn't hear you," Lethe told the young man wearing regular attire aside from his exotic clothing. "You usually mask your scent. What is it that you need?"
The man she was addressing was none other than Jaffar, who currently wore a simple light shirt and trousers. It was a far cry from his attire that exposed his midriff and a dark cloak that exposed the top of his head. It is known that Jaffar and the other assassins use a certain substance to mask their scent... Unless their blades are caked with blood during battle or a slip-up occurs, they are usually undetectable, even for Laguz, whose senses are sharper than most Beorc.
But why did he come before her? Unless they talk about business or certain tasks, she does not want to be disturbed. She was more than willing to help out with chores if needed. However, even when Dart and Farina were attempting to reach out to her, she wanted to remain alone.
"The others are worried about you," Jaffar replied as Lethe sighed in response. But before the latter could tell him to relay her reassurance to the others, he said, "I did so out of my volition... The others are unaware of my actions."
"Heh, I believed you were the type to remain stoic compared to your peers..." Lethe said with a smile creeping at the corner of her lips.
The few interactions that they had were whenever they were on watch duty for Nasir. Other than that, it was just brief moments of exchanging words on matters related to meals or switching personnel on duty. Most people would usually be afraid of speaking with Jaffar, even his colleague, Legault. The most interactions he would regularly have are with Nino.
Even so, Jaffar was a man of few words. Why would he go out of his way to speak to her if it is not work-related? She knew that his epithet was the Angel of Death. His skills on the battlefield were remarkable enough to befit such a title. But more than that, she noticed that he also helped bury some of her brethren in the harbor. And the state of Lethe's brethren was the issue that weighed heavily on her mind.
"My kind receives scorn regularly. Even as far back as when we Gallians escaped Begnion, we were treated like slaves or abominations, as if we were lower than humans. But we still held pride in our hearts, for we were blessed with the strength of the goddess..." Lethe trailed off with a bitter expression. "And now... my brethren lose their dignity... with their blessings solely used for the whims of a barbaric nation that seeks to enslave our race into becoming mindless, wild animals. Just like what they teach humans in Beorc-dominated societies."
She then turned to Jaffar with her slit eyes staring into Jaffar's amber orbs. Fury can be welling within her feline eyes as well as her face. All the while, Jaffar remained calm and stoic, almost to a fault. And that emotionless face made Lethe snort in response, as if resigning herself to Jaffar's apathetic expression.
She didn't blame him for anything. If anything, he had done nothing wrong to her or any other Laguz, for that matter. But that did not make her frustrated over the lack of empathy displayed by Jaffar. The only people who could understand are fellow Laguz.
"You wouldn't know the stigma that we carry. We are treated like savages, and now there's a nation that seeks to make that falsehood a reality," Lethe said with bitterness in her tone. "None of you Beorcs understand what it is like to be shunned by human societies from the moment you are brought into this world. What happened at the port was proof with those townsfolk. They scorned you and your friends just for suggesting that they flee to our country."
That was the crux of the issue that Lethe couldn't let go of. On top of her brethren being converted into wild slaves, the people of Port Toha were willing to sell their souls to Daein by attempting to turn their allies over to the enemy. Among the Crimean allies was Princess Elincia. In any event, it was an incorrigible act done by the citizens of Crimea to avoid warning and even help the enemy.
Ignorance could only go so far. Their loyalties were made clear from the beginning. Yet they still wanted to protect those people even when their lives were at stake. Despite some being undeserving of kindness in this group, everyone else has displayed their valor and willingness to connect with their kind. She couldn't stand that people like her allies are ostracized for associating with Laguz. Even so, it was difficult to find more who can empathize with their kind.
The only other ones were... her culture generally refuses to acknowledge them when looking back to the times when her fellow sentries were uncomfortable around two of the Parentless. But even that in and of itself was a form of discrimination. Lethe sighed to herself, shaking her head at the hypocrisy and self-contradiction of it all. Perhaps it was better to keep such musings to herself...
"I wouldn't be too sure about that..." Jaffar muttered, with Lethe turning her attention to the assassin. With a blank expression, he continued, "You would be surprised by how similar some of our people are to your kind..."
"I will not comment on the matter of the Parentless... but whether my peers acknowledge them is another story...." Lethe stated, to which Jaffar shook his head.
"I am referring to myself..." Jaffar replied, to which Lethe suddenly remembered the origins of the man. "From the moment I was born... my existence was cursed. I was found alive atop a pile of dead bodies... and like them, I was just another corpse or near one since birth... And my sole purpose was to kill, whether they were innocent or guilty... I am sure if any nation heard a fraction of my crimes, they would be far more appalled by my existence than you or the rest of your kind..."
Lethe blinked her eyes repeatedly at Jaffar. What was this man saying? Why did he admit to such a thing? She knew this man's profession was that of a feared assassin. But she assumed he was under the service of one of the countries in Elibe.
Moreover, wasn't Jaffar raised by Nils and Ninian's father? How would such a man go down such a dark path? Then again, Nils and Ninian mentioned that they were separated from their father for almost a millennium since the Scouring. Jaffar must have been picked up before they returned. But that also meant...
"Y-You..." Lethe trailed off as her face contorted into one of confusion. "Nils and Ninian told us that their father raised you. Why did you become a killer?"
"Their late father, Nergal, was a desperate man. He sought to reunite with his two children. I was just one of the means to the end..." Jaffar replied as he then closed his eyes solemnly. "In the end, he fulfilled his goal... at a huge cost..."
Lethe blinked repeatedly and frowned at the revelation. So Jaffar was made into a killer by Nergal, their father. But how did that relate to bringing back Nils and Ninian? She couldn't understand the correlation without context.
But Lethe remembered that Elibe had undergone terrible changes that made the environment inhospitable for dragons. The war between humanity (Beorc) and dragons was known as the Scouring. The aftermath forced the pair to leave with the other dragons as a result. Was the father of Nils and Ninian trying to find a solution to make the land more hospitable for his children through some esoteric means that required a sacrifice of lives? Did making Jaffar a killer have anything to do with it?
"The notion of what is considered subhuman is what the sheeple think... they have no idea the true horrors that exist..." Jaffar muttered as his eyes opened to address Lethe, who couldn't help but become bewildered. "For I was one of them... and I was no better than the godforsaken abominations that their father created... all to bring back family..."
Jaffar had killed countless people up to this point. Even if others acknowledged his skills and strength, it did not mean much when carnage was all he could bring forth in his wake. For that, he thought of himself as no better than the morphs that were a blasphemy on life. If there was only one thing in his life that he could be considered blessed for, it was Nino.
The pure-hearted girl who gave him what he truly craved. It was the warmth that he had never received since his birth. But even he knew that he didn't deserve such a thing. Despite the sins he carries, he will never deny her, for she is the last bastion who can provide happiness to him.
"That is a story to be shared another time... but..." Jaffar looks off into the distance where Matthew was helping his lord. The latter had finally recovered enough to get back on his feet. "There are loved ones from this group whose lives I've deprived... and they know..."
Lethe blinked repeatedly at that fact and once again couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You... how do the others tolerate you? Let alone be able to stand the mere presence of you?"
Forgiveness can only go so far. The fact that this man killed friends, family, or loved ones was sickening in the ears of Lethe. She could not fathom why the people of this group continued to accept this man's existence and shelter this man. It couldn't just be for the skills that this assassin possessed. But then she realized that there was one other person who accepted this man. The one girl with green hair who is far too kind to the man in front of her.
The people whom Jaffar was referring to were Leila and, to some extent, Elbert. He directly killed the former, taking away Matthew's loved one. The latter could have been saved had he not blocked the path for the Lycian lords and Ike to escape. Even now, he remembers the fact that he had a hand in their deaths, whether it be direct or indirect.
It was then that Jaffar shook his head and replied, "Even now... I can't believe they accepted me. There were even times when one of the members wanted to kill me... After all, I took away his beloved..." Jaffar then looked back at Lethe, who was still shocked by what she was hearing. "There is at least one other person in this group who has committed similar acts as I... yet he was forgiven by those he wronged. Despite that, I believe we have similar perspectives of ourselves..."
Jaffar's assassin predecessor, Renault, was the other man who acknowledged himself as a fellow sinner. The man was currently meditating in his cabin while occasionally coming out to eat and maybe train others. But even he had a forlorn gaze at times whenever he looked in the direction of Lucius. Even so, like Jaffar, he took comfort in knowing the people around him were still satisfied with their lives. Both men acknowledged that they were monsters in the end, ultimately seeking undeserved warmth in the miserable lives that they've lived up to this point.
Judgment may come for them. They may very well be condemned to hell for all eternity for their sins. They would accept the karmic retribution that would seek them out one day. At the very least, they would hope that others whom they care about would not receive the same outcome as them. In the end, if the people in their lives can remain safe and happy, then that means the world to them. They could live and die satisfied with those conditions.
All the while, Lethe was still stunned by what she had just learned from Jaffar. Whatever Nils and Ninian's father had done had greatly affected the lives of some of the people in this group. Many of which were unforgivable. Did Nils and Ninian feel responsible for the actions of their father? What exactly happened in Elibe that has created a killer like this?
"I cannot fathom the life you've led up to this point... but I can see that you hope to make amends, do you not?" Lethe asked Jaffar, who stood silent for a moment and closed his eyes.
"I am merely indebted to this group. Nothing more. Throughout my life, I've known nothing of joy, sorrow, anger, and dread..." Jaffar replied as he opened his eyes to make eye contact with Lethe. "I am nothing more than the angel who had claimed the lives of many wherever I went... yet I had found a place to rest my wings... which have brought nothing but death... and extend it to shield the one I love with all my heart..."
"This is the symbol of Etruria," Priscilla announced as she laid out the banner (that she obtained from Anna) of the country she lived in most of her life.
Two lions stood atop the edges of the crown with one of their paws intertwined with the other on opposite ends. The national symbol of Etruria. Elimine, the Saint, founded her country in the center-west of Elibe. Alongside the banner was a detailed map of Elibe provided by Erk, Lucius, and Serra.
"Grrr... another continent that survived?" Mordecai growled, highly intrigued by the map that was displayed.
"Jeez, when I started talking about my homeland, I didn't think it would relate to yours to this extent..." Marcia muttered as she curiously looked at the nation of Etruria on the map. "So your country kind of operates like mine?"
"Like your theocracy, Etruria is the center place of the Church of Elimine," Erk stated as he then pointed to the capital of his nation. "Aquleia is Etruria's capital, just like how Sienne is Begnion's capital. The main church and the tower are the primary sacred sites."
Elimine is also the founder of the church, which remains the predominant religion throughout Elibe, save for Sacae. As such, the church is largely linked to Etruria. Additionally, the Tower of the Saint was where Aureola was stored. To obtain the divine light tome, stars would have been shot down to prevent intruders from absconding with the sacred weapon.
What led to this situation of explaining the country of Etruria was that Marcia was musing to herself about returning to her homeland. One discussion later with those from Etruria led to this moment. Mordecai was also listening when it took place and was invited to learn about the country. Lethe would undoubtedly envy him for not being able to hear this discussion in person. Although they were followers of Ashera, they wouldn't shun people from other religions like the Elibeans.
Mordecai and Marcia went back to staring at the symbol and the map with great attentiveness. They stood marveling at the various details of the map and the national symbol on the table. The map dismissed the possibility that Elibe was just another land beyond the Desert of Death. It was an entire continent that the Tellius inhabitants would have never imagined to be on a scale like this. Mordecai and Marcia wondered if more continents survived the flood but were never discovered.
"Haa... I remember when I became a cleric... The capital is so beautiful and grand..." Serra gushed with nostalgia as she trailed. "Aquleia is lit every night with balls and lavish gatherings... Just imagine going to one of those balls..."
"Grrr... What is so interesting about a toy? Do the people of Aquleia play a game?" Mordecai asked innocently, displaying a misunderstanding regarding the vocabulary usage. It was then that Erk began to shiver, as there was a glint in Serra's eye.
"Oh, Mordecai!" She called out as she approached the tiger man, much to the bafflement of others in the room. "It's not referring to a toy. Let me explain to you what the other meaning of 'ball' is. It is short for ballroom. You see..."
Thus, the pink, pigtailed girl began her explanation about social gatherings. Everyone could even hear her speaking so fast that it was almost incomprehensible. Mordecai listened intently, but his facial expression was starting to contort into confusion. In other words, it was a long-winded speech that managed to make everyone speechless at Serra's enthusiasm on the subject.
On that subject, Aquleia stands as the epicenter of culture and military in Elibe. The grand temple lies there, with believers of Saint Elimine located throughout the continent. As a result, the church has a great influence on sociopolitical matters throughout the land, all of which is centered in Etruria. The same can be said for the Begnion theocracy, whose senators (all of whom hold political and ecclesiastical positions) and apostle have the highest religious authority in Tellius (although it is debatable if other nations decide to follow that authority). Overall, parallels can be made for both nations and their capitals.
"Doesn't sound much different from our capital. The nobles there just love indulging in wine and flaunting their wealth or new artwork..." Marcia remarked as she shuddered when being reminded of a certain rotund and ostentatious senator.
The number of headaches they received from that one senator was beyond frustrating. Even the man's followers think that the man is insane. The man's emphasis on beauty would even make Sephiran, the most mild-mannered man in the nation, flinch at the sight of him and be at a loss for words. On the subject of Sephiran, she needed to ask the prime minister for a favor since he was going to remain on this voyage back to Begnion.
"I hope Lord Sephiran can smooth things over with Deputy Commander Tanith when we get back..." Marcia whispered to herself. As she watched Serra continue her explanation, she then whispered into Erk's ear, "Does she usually act like this?"
"You have no idea..." Erk replied with a tired look on his face, to which Priscilla giggled in response. Recomposing himself, he cleared his throat and stated, "Lord Pent is my teacher and adoptive father; he is known as Count Reglay in Etruria. He is also the acting mage general of our country, much like the Riders of Daein and the Wyvern Generals of Bern. His wife, Louise, is by his side whenever he travels nowadays."
It was a good thing that Serra was preoccupied with explaining social settings to Mordecai. Otherwise, Serra would be boasting about herself and confusing everyone about her upbringing (which is made up to bring attention to herself). As such, anything spoken between Marcia and Erk would not be received in the ears of the pink-pigtailed cleric. But little did they know that Serra kept an open ear out in their direction.
Nevertheless, it was a surprise for Marcia to hear that Erk's family held such high positions in society. Moreover, Pent was the Mage General of Etruria, which requires those holding the position to be the wisest and the most skilled in the magical arts. The other positions were the Great General and Knight General. It can be assumed that Erk may one day take the mantle of Mage General if Pent decides to relinquish his position.
But Erk, like his adoptive father, is committed to studying magic. Even if he did take the responsibility of becoming a general of Etruria, it would not be very long. Erk knew that his father was likely trying to fill the void that Athos left behind, especially with Arcadia. Athos was also one of the protectors, leaving behind a huge responsibility after his death. After this war, he will have much to address when everyone returns to Elibe. His spells, what he learned, and the sorrow he felt when incinerating Laguz that had no choice but to attack him and his comrades.
"Wow... is everyone a big shot?" Marcia asked with astonishment in her eyes. "They're not preoccupied with work or buttering up other nobles, are they?"
Erk immediately shook his head at Marcia's query. "No, no, no. They were never ones for social settings unless they were necessary. That said, much of Lord Pent's time, as well as mine, is spent on magical studies." Erk explained. He then held a fond smile as his thoughts went to his family. "Last time I spoke with them, they were expecting a child. I hope I can reach them in time before I welcome a new sibling."
Erk was fondly reminded of Louise's pregnancy. It was a joyous occasion. Sadly, he was also reminded that his parents were willing to fight at the Dragon's Gate, much to his dismay. Needless to say, he did not approve of them going into battle under such precarious circumstances.
Once time has been restored to Elibe, he will be able to share many things with his family. The position of a count or a general did not interest him. His unborn sibling was sure to inherit one of the many talents from their parents. He will not conflict with his family over such trivial matters of inheritance. His path for knowledge will remain everlasting while accompanied by friends who support him. That's all that matters in the end, and his family is aware of it.
Marcia nodded in understanding as Erk had a fond look on his face. Unlike most people, when they are brought into a life of luxury, Erk ended up relatively modest compared to most. And his parents sounded more pleasant compared to most Begnion nobles she heard about. While Erk was musing to himself, Lucius looked at the capital of Etruria and the former territory of Cornwell in Lycia with a reminiscent gaze.
"I remember when I was inducted into service as a monk in the main church within the capital," Lucius added with a nostalgic look on his face. Shaking off his reminiscing thoughts, he turned to address Mordecai and Marcia. "Soon after, I entered House Cornwell as a squire, where I met Raymond. Or Raven, as you know him."
"I remember when I was sent away for adoption..." Marcia and Mordecai turned their attention to Priscilla, who spoke up. With a mild smile, she said, "You've been with my brother for over ten years... I can't say I wasn't jealous of that fact."
"Hey," Priscilla and Lucius turned their attention to Marcia, who called out to the pair. "When we tried asking Raven about your former house, he kind of diverted the topic. I know you guys are mercenaries, so you could have preferred that over being a noble. But what's this about adoption? When Hector mentioned something about reinstating him, it made it seem like the house fell apart."
The fact that Priscilla just mentioned that she was later adopted was news to her. From what Marcia knew, Raven and Priscilla were relatively close-knit compared to her and Makarov. Marcia even wishes that Makarov were as reliable as Raven or any other older brother in this group. The siblings even fought alongside one another in battle with resounding success.
It was then that everyone became silent. Even Serra, who had just finished explaining things to Mordecai, became mute. The cleric knew of some of the circumstances that involved her coworker, Oswin. It was, after all, a touchy subject that those involved would avoid mentioning. Marcia and Mordecai couldn't help but wonder why everyone went silent.
Priscilla and Lucius held expressions of discomfort. All the while, Erk shook his head and sighed, knowing that Raven skirted around the issue. It was understandable, but it was best left to Raven, Priscilla, and/or Lucius to explain the circumstances or draw a boundary with the others in the company to avoid mentioning it. It was not his place to speak on the matter.
"It is true, our house is deprived of its title..." Priscilla admitted it before Marcia, much to the surprise of the latter and Mordecai. "Before Lucius came to House Cornwell, I was sent away for adoption. I was taken in by Etrurian Count Caerleon. I only began my journey with Erk a year ago after I heard of its downfall."
"Three summers have passed since the fall..." Lucius added with a sad gaze. "There was much I could have prevented at the time..."
"Lord Lucius... not even Oswin could blame you or Raven for what happened..." Serra muttered in response.
Priscilla shook her head in disapproval. There wasn't much that could have been done when her brother and Lucius were kept in the dark about the matter. Her parents could have reached out to her adoptive family for help. Or at the very least, allowed everyone to support them after their sins were announced.
She felt ashamed, even now after everything that happened. She would have run to her parents and brother after their titles were stripped away. If only she had arrived sooner, before the tragedy. If only they could have confronted the matter together...
"Wait... so what happened?" Marcia asked again with a furrowed brow. "I know Hector just recently became the leader of a league of marquesses in... Lycia, was it? He mentioned his late brother was the leader at the time. What could the house have done to punish them like that?"
"Grrr... This is not good. You and Raven are very kind." Mordecai growled out in confusion. "Surely there was a mistake."
Mordecai couldn't believe that Priscilla and Raven's parents could have done anything wrong. The pair were respectful and reliable comrades. Not once did they utter a slur in the presence of Laguz and address them like any other person in the company. Even Hector wasn't the type to wrongly accuse others. That kindness must have been passed down by the parents.
Their house must have been set up by an outside party, or some kind of misunderstanding happened. It was then that Lucius sadly shook his head, much to the bewilderment of others. Priscilla closed her eyes with shame and sadness. All the while, Erk and Serra respectfully remained silent.
"It is no misunderstanding; they have done wrong," Lucius admitted with a tremor in his voice. He then clasped his hands together, as if in a prayer. "Their most egregious actions afterwards continue to pain us all, even to this day. All we can do is live with the scars that never fade... and shoulder one another with what little we have..."
What could have happened that was so horrible? What could have made the three so upset and ashamed of what happened after they got caught? Marcia and Mordecai couldn't fathom what happened. Lucius then opened his eyes to reveal a somber yet hopeful expression.
"What we have left is one another. And that means the entire world for us..." Lucius muttered softly as his expression became forlorn once more. "Priscilla and I have already forgiven them for what they've done. But Raymond... I know his scars still ache..."
AN: Shorter chapter, slightly faster release. More convos on the way in a few days.