Archive of Our Own ^beta

Gran Year 761, December

The snow of Silesse. Peaceful as it may seem, the remnants of blood still stained and continued to do so even after the civil war had ceased. The citizens of the cold country had hoped for peace, what with the civil war ending and Lewyn announcing that he would succeed his mother, Queen Lahna, alongside his wife, the Lady Tailtiu. However, the pair had continued to fight alongside Sigurd, and soon they and the entire army under the Holy Knight met a horrendous fate. Many had perished, but many had survived and remained scattered. One thought to have perished found themselves back in Silesse, a land that was currently facing invasion from the Grannvale army.

The lone traveler had watched as his people suffered, but he could do nothing but watch. The power he held in his hand was no longer of use. It was part of the price to pay for the contract he had signed and bound himself to. All he could do for the time being was see if his family was still alive. From there, he would continue to carry out his mission as he agreed upon.

Midday, the sun hung low in the sky and nightfall would be soon approaching. He did not mind. He knew this path, the landscape, the trees, all of it by heart. All he needed to really guide him was the wind and his heart. Reaching from inside his cloak, fingers trembling, he pulled out a blue pendant and while no smile crossed his lips, his eyes showed a hint of joy if one were to see him. Putting it back, he shoved his hands back into the pockets of his tattered pants. He had not been able to procure anything as of yet to keep better warmth, but it would only endanger a village if he requested for aid. The people already suffered enough and he did not want to put them in any danger unless it was the only choice. There were other choices and right now, suffering in the cold was certainly the better option.

Closer to nightfall, the sky was indigo with a hint of pink and the stars were already beginning to sprinkle throughout the sky. Stopping, the traveler took in the sight as he saw his destination was now close at hand. Just as he was about to continue his journey, he jolted slightly when he heard the sound of wing beats and looked up to see a lone rider swooping down before almost landing on him.

“Pardon me, Mister, but I need to state your reason for being here.”

Her voice was filled with purpose. The woman who rode atop the white winged steed was not very familiar to the traveler, but he immediately presumed her to be a remnant of the Pegasus Knights. He almost wanted to smirk, seeing as though she was very naive for pulling the little stunt she did, but he refrained.

“Yes, my apologies. I came here to see my family again.”

“Your family?” she echoed. “Where do they hail from?”

“If they survived, then they should be in the palace. At least I would hope they are.” As he spoke, he pulled the hood off his head to reveal a lop of messy green hair from underneath that was very unkempt. “Would you be able to take me to see my mother, Queen Lahna, and wife, Lady Tailtiu?”

The woman's jaw dropped and she covered her mouth. “K-King Lewyn?! You-You're alive!”

“I am,” he replied flatly before he shook his head. “I am no king though. My mother is still queen, is she not?”

“Y-Yes!” She nodded. “Excuse me! Oh, I must take you to the palace right away! Please, come with me. I will act as your personal escort, milord.”

He gave a curt nod and accepted the lift straight to the palace. As they made air, he began to ask her a couple of questions.

“How do my mother and wife fare?”

“Queen Lahna, milord? She is worried sick about you, but she still prevails. Lady Tailtiu is doing well, too,” she answered, before she began to giggle.

Lewyn raised an eyebrow at this, but then shook his head to move onto the next question. “What about Erinys?”

“Lady Erinys? She's quite busy. She has been doing a lot of things on behalf of the Queen.”

“I see,” he nodded. “And what of the people?”

“They...well, they mostly fare well, but the state of Zaxon does not bode well. We have already evacuated the citizens from there before things get worse. We have many fighters there, but it is only a matter of time until we lose control and then they come for the capital.”

“Thank you for answering my questions,” he said, before adding, “What is your name? I do not think I got it.”

“It's Iza, milord.”

“Thank you, Iza.”

Nothing else had been exchanged between them as Lewyn chose to keep silent and mull over everything. It had been over a year since Belhalla and during that time, he had laid low. While it seemed as though he had chosen the worst time to return home, perhaps if he had come any later, then things would definitely be worse off. The timing was not great, but not terrible either. The winds had seemed to choose a good time to guide him home.

Night had fallen and Iza had landed her steed finally steered and landed just out front of the stables. Just as they landed, Lewyn hopped off the back of the pegasus and as he began walking away, Iza cried out to him.

“Hey! Are you sure you should be going to the palace alone?”

“I'll be fine.”

Giving a small wave, he then headed to where the entrance would be. While he was not expecting a warm welcome, he certainly hoped the guards would recognize him. They did. At the entrance to the keep itself, he was greeted by them and one of them immediately darted inside to find the others. The other escorted him inside and for the first time in what felt like forever, Lewyn felt himself beginning to warm up. As much as he wanted to rest easy, there was part of himself that could not fully allow it. Just this once, let me be at ease for a while, he thought to himself.

It wasn't long until he heard his name being called out to him, which was jarring, and he looked up the staircase of the great hall to see two faces whom he never thought he would lay eyes on again. The one who called out to him was waving from above while also running around the railing before darting down the stairs, two steps at a time, her lilac hair flowing behind her. Almost in shock, Lewyn slowly approached the woman but it didn't fully hit him until she leapt off the final step and crashed into him, sending them both flying into the ground.

Groaning, the green haired sage rubbed his head a little as he looked up to see the woman, his wife, now sitting on top of him and looking down at him with a silly grin. However, that grin quickly turned to a frown and tears started welling up from the corners of her eyes.

“You...big...dummy! Do you know how worried I have been???”

“Tailtiu...” A couple tears of his own formed in his own eyes. Slowly, he reached for her face and began to wipe away the tears.

“Is that all you have to say?”

“No...I have so much that I want to say...” His voice trailed off. The words were not coming to him right away, but he could tell there were eyes watching. He then moved his arm around her to pull her closer to him and whispered into her ear. “I'm happy to know you are safe, too.”

“Me, too. Dummy,” she sniffed, the last remark having her more usual sass in it.

Grunting, Lewyn sat up with Tailtiu still in his arm while using the other to push himself up. Once he was in a sitting position with the lilac haired war mage in his lap, he looked up to see his mother slowly walking down the stairs, a white blanket bundled held in one arm while using her free hand to help a young boy with short lilac hair slowly step down each step. The two became startled and stopped in what they were doing to look up to see a young girl shouting at the top of the steps. This newcomer was holding a baby in her arms, barely, while another young boy was clamoring down the stairs. Before Lewyn could even ask as to what was happening and who all these children were, Tailtiu hopped up and ran up the stairs to catch the green haired boy who was starting to tumble down. Once she grabbed him, the woman scooped him into her arms and he started to tear up.

“Awwww, are you okay Cedsy?” she asked, stroking his hair, before she looked up at the green haired girl at the top of the steps. “Misha, shouldn't you three be in bed by now?”

“I wanted to see what was going on. Ced thought his mother was home.”

Ced. Mother. Ah, so then they must've been Erinys' children, but Misha? Lewyn didn't quite seem to recall her for some reason.

“Well, please be mindful of Fee. I know her mother wouldn't like it if she was kept up past her bedtime,” Tailtiu advised, carrying Ced up the stairs before setting him next to Misha. “Now go run along, please. I'll let you all know when Erinys returns.”

Giving a pat on Ced and Misha's heads both, the lilac haired woman then shooed them off and ran back down the stairs, taking two at a time, until she got to the bottom steps where Lahna was with her own children. Lewyn was still sitting on the ground, a bit winded by taking a tackling from Tailtiu. Looking up, he could see his mother smiling, trying not to hold back tears. The little boy next to her, who was holding her hand, let go and slowly approached Lewyn. The child then pointed at him.

“Green.”

A little taken aback by this at first, Lewyn wasn't quite sure what to say. He then slowly put his hand to his hair and nodded his head. “Yes, I have green hair and green eyes.”

“Dada?”

Once again, he slowly nodded his head. “I am. Arthur?”

“Yes. Arthur.”

The boy began to smile a little. He had his mother's hair, color and fluff, but it was clear that his facial features and eyes were much closer to Lewyn's. The sage managed to return the smile himself only for it to go away, expression becoming more neutral, when he looked up as his wife approached him.

“Alright, Mr. Grumpy. Stand up, will you?” she teased, using her head to gesture to him to stand up.

“Very well,” he groaned, rising to his feet, just before Tailtiu shoved the white bundle in his face.

“Look! It's your daughter!” Grinning, she started giggling a little, just as Lewyn stepped back a little.

“D-Daughter?!”

His eyes widened upon hearing the news. Looking at his mother, she gave him the look of “yes” but with a more stern expression of “isn't it obvious?” His attention then went to Tatiliu, who was grinning up at him, and then it finally went to the little bundle of joy swaddled in the white blanket. The little infant girl had a tuft of lilac hair, but she, too, had green eyes like her older brother and himself. When they made eye contact, she began to laugh.

“Awww, she knows it's you!” Tailtiu squealed, getting a little closer to Lewyn.

“I suppose,” he replied. “What is...her name?”

“Tine!”

“Tine?”

“Yeah! What, you don't like it?” She raised an eyebrow at him.

“No, I do. I just didn't expect that,” he chuckled, awkwardly.

“Good! I'm glad you like it!” she grinned, elbowing him, which made him smile again. “There's that smile again! Jeez, why are you so grumpy like this?”

“Perhaps he didn't really want to return?” Lahna interjected, though her voice was filled with sarcasm.

“What? No, you think so?” Tailtiu pouted.

Lewyn rolled his eyes. “I'm gone for over a year and this is the greeting I receive?”

The two ladies laughed. Lahna then replied. “Well, it would pay to at least write, son. You certainly know how to make women worry over you so.”

“I'm sorry, both of you.” The sage then wrapped his arm around Tailtiu's shoulders before picking up Arthur in his free arm and then went up to his mother. “I had difficulty in returning. I feared if I did, something terrible would befall all of you.”

“Oh...this again?” Lahna then shook her head before she pulled her son into an embrace. “As long as you are well, please, do not worry for my safety.”

When she pulled away, she then gave him a light smack on the side of his head. “And think about your wife and children. I'm a grandmother now.”

“Yes, you're right,” he sighed a little, before looking at Tailtiu again. “Do you forgive me?”

“Of course! But like your mother said, you should really write or something!” she teased, playfully booping him on the nose, which made it twitch slightly.

“Fine.”

“Well, then I think we should get you to the bath. When was the last time you had one?” she asked, waving her hand in the air as she wrinkled her nose a little.

“You just now realize I reek?”

“I wouldn't say 'reek' but sure,” she laughed.

Before he could reply, the group all heard a voice from behind. It was just one after another.

“Lord Lewyn?”

Lewyn and Tailtiu both turned around to see Erinys slowly approaching them, her eyes wide in shock. She then stopped a couple meters away before tears began to stream down her face. He then felt Tailtiu jab him in the elbow. “Say something.”

“Erinys. A-Are you well?”

“Yes, I am,” she sniffed, smiling, before she went up to Tailtiu specifically while wiping away her own tears. “Did you give him a good talking to?”

“I-I'm right here,” Lewyn spoke aloud.

“Yes, I did. You know we both did,” Tailtiu smirked, ignoring Lewyn's objections.

“Good. Then I don't need to do anything else,” she said, straightening herself up, before glaring at Lewyn. The glare slowly went away and she smiled. “Welcome home, milord.”

Home. Yes, that was where he was, but he could not be there for very long. For now though, he needed to in order to prepare himself for what was to come. It was after he finally had a meal, a bath, and a change of clothes, he finally wanted to settle down for the evening; however, Tailtiu insisted they speak for a bit longer. The two were now in bed, but Lewyn didn't really feel like talking.

“In the morning...please.”

“Alright, alright,” she sighed, blowing some hair out of her face.

She then lay down next to him and snuggled closer for a bit of warmth. Feeling her warmth against him helped Lewyn to fall asleep instantly. When he woke, it was probably midday by now. Sitting up, Tailtiu was gone, Arthur no longer was in his bed, and Tine had disappeared from her crib. For a moment, he thought they had all been taken away from him, but that fear was quickly put to bed when he heard knocking at the door to the bedroom followed by Tailtiu's voice.

“Come in.”

“You got it!” she said cheerfully, slowly opening the door before carrying in a tray of food. “Breakfast! Or, perhaps supper?”

Supper? “How late is it?” he asked as he sat up in bed.

“Around...2?”

He wanted to facepalm himself. That late?! Tailtiu giggled as she set the plate of food in front of him, seeing as though how annoyed he looked, before she sat on the edge of the bed next to him.

“You seem to be in a better mood, but still a little grumpy,” she commented, before she ruffled his hair a bit.

“Thank you. For the food that is.”

“Of course!”

Looking at the tray of food, there were eggs, pork, some pancakes, and a cup of hot tea. He could feel his stomach aching for the food, so he began to eat. As he did, they remained quiet, but neither seemed to mind. Lewyn was busy eating his food while Tailtiu sat on the edge of the bed with one leg over the other and resting her head on her hand, looking at her husband, as she had her elbow supporting it with her leg. While he ate, he observed a couple things about his wife. Normally, she would wear her hair in a ponytail, but instead it was let down, but the red headband was still there. Her dress was much longer, and had sleeves, with the dress itself being a dark purple while the sleeves were also dark purple, but more see-through. Then she wore black boots to go with and long light purple tights and gloves. However, it was also clear that she had dark circles under her eyes and she had gotten a bit thinner.

“Have you been doing well?” he asked, mid bite.

She tilted her head a little, before she frowned. There was a moment of silence before she finally replied. “I'm scared.”

“About your family?”

She nodded her head. “Ever since I joined Sigurd's army, I was already branded a traitor. I fear what may happen to Arthur and Tine if they find out about them.”

He nodded his head, swallowing his food but it felt like hard grain as he forced it to go down. “I wish I could do something to better help you, but right now I'm powerless.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Well, not completely, but...” His voice trailed off. How could he tell her? Did he just tell her? Or, what?

“What's wrong?” she asked, her face beginning to worry.

Another moment of silence. He then finally spoke. “It's hard to explain, but at this moment, I am unable to use Forseti.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh.”

Shaking his head, he then continued. “I...I may have died that day, but someone allowed me to live. Because of that-”

“You need to do something in return?”

He nodded his head.

“Does that mean you will be leaving here soon?”

Looking directly into her eyes, he could see them beginning to tear up a little. He wanted to melt.

“It's okay. I understand.” She smiled a little. “After all, it sounds as though you may have found a higher calling to attend to.”

Shocked by this, how did she figure it out?

She laughed a little, as if having read his mind, before she looked at the window where the sun was already starting to touch the horizon. “It seems like the world is going into despair, but if you truly are needed elsewhere, I won't stop you. You're a child of the wind. You go where the wind takes you.” She then took out a scrap of paper from the pocket on her dress, which Lewyn instantly recognized. Turning to face him, she then asked, “Am I wrong?”

He shook his head in response. She then smiled and looked back at him. The tears were still there, but none had fallen. “Then...I will protect our children so that they have a better future.”

He said nothing else other than a simple “thank you.”

After he had finished his meal, he got dressed into a white tunic, pants, grey boots, and a grey jacket. Lasty, he put on his striped scarf that had somehow managed to remain with him all this time. Being taken by the hand, Lewyn was guided by Tailtiu out of the room. It was as though nothing seemed to have changed since their last talk, but he could tell she was putting on a brave face ever since he had gotten there. 

The two made their way to another room just down the hall where there were cushions and toys scattered about across the floor. A couple of comfy chairs were near the fireplace where a fire burned brightly and in one of the chairs, Lahna sat there, holding Tine in her arms, while the other children were busy playing. Misha had made a small fort of cushions for herself and was holding Fee captive while she jeered Arthur and Ced to save the little girl.

Lewyn went over to sit with his mother, avoiding stepping on anything left on the floor haphazardly, while Tailtiu went over to the children to play with them. Once Lewyn sat down, he began to watch the chaos unfold as his wife joined that he almost forgot his mother was there until she spoke up. “Did you wish to hold your daughter?”

“Ah...uh...sure,” he replied reluctantly.

Smiling, Lahna set Tine in his lap. She was swaddled in a white blanket and when she saw his face, she laughed. Something so small and helpless and born in a time of conflict. It broke his heart. Looking up, he saw Tailtiu on all hands and knees while Arthur and Fee both rode on her back. Meanwhile, Misha was building a new fort while Ced watched her. They all seemed so happy and peaceful. This peace is what he needed to protect and guide. As he thought that, his eyes went back to Tine and he finally picked her up to hold her in his arms. She then suddenly grabbed his hair, pulling at it, which startled him while his mother began to laugh at him.

Just as he was about to retort, he stopped when he heard Ced cry out, “Mama!”

Everyone then looked up to see Erinys entering the room. Tailtiu then collapsed to the ground and laughed as Arthur and Fee slid off of her. While Ced ran past her and up to his mother, Tailtiu sat up.

“Are you heading out?”

Scooping up Ced into her arms, she gave him a quick peck on the forehead before she nodded at her friend. The falcon knight then looked over to Lewyn, a pressing look in her eyes.

“Lord Lewyn. Do you think you could tell me something?”

“What is it?” he asked, surprised to hear her be so forward.

“Do you know where Claud is?”

Claud. No, he was not sure. He had not seen him since they had both been confronted by Manfroy in Belhalla. Yet, Lewyn had died, but was revived. However, he was not revived at the hands of Valkyrie. He just assumed Claud had met the same fate as him but never was saved.

“I haven't seen him since...that day. I always assumed he had died.”

“I see,” she said, furrowing her brow before shaking her head. “No, he is not dead.”

“What makes you say that? If he was still alive, then he would have returned,” Lewyn concluded.

She shook her head again and replied with much more defiance. “If he has not returned, then he has reasons. Much like you had your reasons for not returning right away.”

Tailtiu nodded in agreement. Erinys then set her son down, giving him a pat on the head, and then waved to the others as she left the room. Ced tried to follow but was stopped by Misha. After the green haired woman left the room, for the rest of the afternoon the children played with each other with Tailtiu while Lewyn and Lahna both watched.

Once it was evening, they all had dinner in the dining hall together and afterwards, Tailtiu started putting the children to bed. Lewyn however chose to stay up for longer as he still felt wide awake.

“Are you not going to sleep?” she asked, grunting a little as she moved Arthur's bed to be on her side, close to the door. The boy had wanted to sleep next to her that night.

He shook his head. When she was finished moving the bed, he came up and then hugged her a little. “I'll be in later.”

“Alright, I'll see you in the morning then,” she smiled, standing up on her toes to give him a kiss on the cheek.

A small smile grazed his face, but disappeared. “Goodnight.”

Leaving the room, he then started wandering the halls of the castle until he found himself in the study on the lower floor. He wasn't entirely sure what compelled him to go there, but he felt as though he needed to. Heading to one of the bookshelves full of books, he grabbed one to find that it was just a simple Wind tome. Opening it, he felt the warmth of the wind already at his fingertips. While keeping it open, he then took out the tome of Forseti, carried it in his overcoat, and nothing came to him. The warmth was there, but no wind could be summoned. Putting it away into his overcoat, he then also put away the Wind tome with it, too. Afterward, he started to go through the books, becoming engrossed in the knowledge they carried and the stories they told. It was all history, but the sage knew that he needed to do this with the little time he had until he left. How soon would he need to leave? He was uncertain, but he knew that it was fast approaching.

Unsure as to how long time had passed while he had been reading, he suddenly felt a strange chill run down his spine. There was nothing to indicate it other than an odd feeling, a tingling sensation, that he had only felt once before and it was very close.

Slamming the book shut, he tucked it into his overcoat and exited the study. His eyes then widened when he saw an eerie orange glow coming from outside. Fire!

Without letting another moment of hesitation pass, he dashed towards the stairs and up them, taking two at a time, before reaching the top. His stomach dropped when he heard a child start wailing in the distance. He picked up the pace. A woman’s blood curdling scream soon followed the child’s wails. Every stride he made, time seemed to only slow down as he tried to hurry. The hallway stretched on forever, getting longer as every second passed. It was just as he turned the next corner, he spotted Erinys at the bedroom, where his family had been sleeping, breaking down the door with a mighty strike. Heart racing, he reached there just as the falcon knight had entered and he felt his entire heart sink when he saw the entire room was a mess.

A pause. A dreaded silence passed and Lewyn quickly ran up to the doors to the balcony, causing Erinys to startle. “Milord?!”

There was no time. When he reached the outside, he spotted many soldiers surrounding the castle while many others tried to fight them. However, many were felled when a drop of powerful thunder magic had been cast upon them, and Lewyn knew his intuition was right. No, but Reptor had been killed at his own hands, so then...it had been his son: Bloom. Which meant...

Turning around just in time to see Erinys running up past him, eyes wide with fear. She had tried to scream out, but nothing came and she stood on the balcony watching as the powerful mage continued to massacre the entire castle guard. The green haired woman didn't stay that way for long because she then turned back to see Lewyn staring at the room.

Upturned bed sheets, knocked over crib, crushed side table, torn curtains, broken glass. A clear sign of a struggle.

“Lewyn?” Erinys spoke, phrased as a question to get his attention, but he said nothing in return as he went to the crib.

After examining it to find no trace of life or lifelessness, he then went to the side of the bed to find that the little bed in there was also vacant.

“Lewyn. We need to get going,” Erinys spoke again, coming up to him, but stopping when she saw him approach the side table.

He finally managed to speak. “Her tomes were here...”

A moment of silence. It was clear of what had transpired here. Tears started forming at the corners of the green haired flier's eyes, but none did around the sage's.

“Lord Lewyn. We need to go,” she spoke once more, a more firm tone in her voice.

“Where's Mother?” he asked without hesitation.

Another pause. It was Lewyn who spoke while looking down at the small bed. “I see. Then I'll go with you.”

“Thank you.”

Just as they were about to leave, Lewyn heard something and stopped. It sounded like a whimper. Without giving it a second though, he immediately started scanning the area again.

“What was that?” Erinys asked, clearly having heard it, too.

He didn't respond. He just kept searching. Nothing in plain sight, so he then got down on his hands and knees and started looking under the bed. When he lifted up the bed skirt, his eyes widened when he saw a shadowy lump underneath. It made him think this was just not possible, but it was.

“Arthur? Is that you?” Lewyn asked, reaching out to his son, who was circled up under the bed.

A little whimper was then followed by a shaky voice. “Da da?”

“Yes, it's me,” Lewyn assured him. “Please, come here.”

“No. Big. Scary man. Took Mama.”

“He's gone. Please, come out.”

“No.”

Silently sighing a little, the sage crawled around to the side of the bed that was closest to the balcony, his side, and then lifted up the bed skirt again. He then wrapped his arm around his son, feeling that he was trembling, and then carefully brought him out from under the bed before taking him into his arms.

“You got him?” Erinys asked, tears streaking her face, but her voice unwavering.

Nodding his head, he then stood up before taking his scarf and wrapping it around his son. “Let's go.”

The two immediately hurried out of the castle and headed for the room where the toys and cushions and fireplace all were. In the walls, Erinys then pushed a stone block and the wall moved to the side to reveal a hidden passageway. Just as the door opened, it was revealed to already be lit and standing at the top of the steps were Misha, holding baby Fee, and Ced. Erinys quickly scooped up Ced and then grabbed the torch.

The falcon knight then ushered him into the passageway and closed the entrance to it behind them and the group all started heading down the stairs. It was cold, and dusty, but at least this was where they would be safe for now.

There hadn't been much talking, but it was Misha who spoke. “Where are the others? The Queen, Lady Tailtiu, and Tine?”

Silence. It was Erinys who managed a response, in a very somber sounding voice as she stopped and looked down at the young girl. “The Queen is...dead.”

“...like Mother?”

Erinys nodded her head just as Lewyn reached them and stopped a couple steps above.

“Then...are Lady Tailtiu and Tine?”

“No, they...” Pausing for a moment, she then was able to answer with the best choice of words. “...are missing.”

“Oh...Then what will happen? Will there be a new Queen? Will we find Lady Tailtiu so she will be Queen?”

Erinys remained silent for a longer than last before finally giving her answer. “Yes, she will become Queen when we find her again.”

“Is she a Queen right now? Even though she's missing?”

Erinys furrowed her brow for a couple moments. “...Yes, I suppose she would be.”

“Will someone lead us while she is gone?”

“...I do not know.”

“Then...what do you know?” Misha asked.

Taking a deep breath, she then did her best to provide the young girl an answer that she could understand. “I know a lot is happening right now. I need for you to be strong, Misha. Just like your Mother. Can you do that for me?”

The girl nodded her head. Strength. Lewyn looked down at his son, who had now fallen asleep in his arms. The blood of Forseti ran in his veins just as it did he. Even though the thought did not appeal to the sage, someday the small child may have to do what he no longer could: wield Forseti. The thought lingered in his mind as they continued down the stairs of the passageway and it eventually leveled out with the ground. Not long after that, they came to a door which Erinys opened up to reveal a snow covered landscape just outside. When the door opened, she stuck the torch into the snow to suffocate the flames before she ushered them outside.

When the falcon knight and the three children were all out in the snow, she turned back to see Lewyn slowly following. “Lord Lewyn? We need to hurry.”

“I cannot go with you.”

Her eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

He looked down at Arthur again. The realization had hit him and he knew what needed to be done. “Arthur cannot go with you and neither can I.”

“But he will be safe with me. I can assure you that.”

He shook his head. “No, he needs to be elsewhere.”

A hurt look crossed her face. “B-But, milord. I...”

Stopping, she felt more tears and began to sob. “I'm sorry. I know I failed in protecting Tailtiu, Tine, and Queen Lahna. Please...give me another chance.”

“It's not about you failing, Erinys. You did all that you could and I could not have asked for a better knight and friend.”

Her eyes widened and the tears seemed to stop as he continued to speak. “The enemy came, in part because Tailtiu was branded a traitor. You and I both know this all too well. For that, I need to put Arthur in the care of someone else. Someone who is not aware of his identity.”

Without even giving herself a moment to think it over, she nodded in agreement. “Do as you must. I will keep his existence unknown to the best that I can.”

“Thank you, Erinys.”

“I swear then...that I will do everything in my power to save Silesse.”

That was the last thing he heard from her. Lewyn acknowledged her oath and the two, with their children, parted ways. Erinys and the children were able to escape with her steed, whom she had left tied up outside of the castle, into the night while Lewyn took Arthur to find a place where he would be kept safe. Somewhere in the snows of Silesse where he would be safe from the clutches of the Empire. If his guess was right, Friege was not aware of his existence.

Gran Year 777, late June

The weather was clear and sunny, the sky blue, and the weather was fair for the start of summer. Summers were short there, but the warmth was often enough to allow some crops to grow before the snow started setting in again. In a village near Siren castle, where not many of the Empire's troops had even taken up fortifications in, the people there could rest easily without too much fear from the Empire as long as they did not do anything to displease them. Resting easily was just what they would say, but Arthur knew too well how they really felt.

A teen with long lilac colored hair and green eyes sat in the small house that he and the woman, who he referred to as Nana, lived in. He had grown up there, but he also knew this was not his real home. The story he had been given growing up was that a traveler had found him abandoned in the snow but could not care for him, and Nana came across them when she was returning home. That same traveler did happen to return, going by the name Levin, and taught Arthur some wind magic for a short period of time before disappearing once again. Now, Arthur remained in the village, living out his life, but he felt as though something was missing. Where were his true parents and why would they abandon him in the snow like that?

Sitting at the table in a wooden chair, the Wind tome he studied diligently every day was wide open, but the mage simply stared at it. A small pencil in hand, he tapped the blunt end of it on the table, thinking over and over what was missing. After a few minutes of contemplating, he let out a short sigh before standing up to stretch. It was just as he did, his eye caught the tome that always sat on the shelf, wrapped in some paper to protect it.

“This tome. Someday, you will be able to use it, but only if you practice and master the fundamentals of wind magic first.”

“Really? Does that mean I will become as great as you, Master Levin?”

“Perhaps. But let me tell you this: the wind is something that must guide you, not the other way around.”

Those words still stuck in his mind, but he could not help but be just a little impatient. He simply wanted a peek at the tome. However, the scolding Nana would give him would be inevitable, so he had to refrain.

Letting out a short sigh again, he then decided to take a short walk around the village to clear his mind. Closing the tome, he grabbed it before grabbing his striped scarf that was hung over the chair and went up to the door to leave the home.

Stepping outside, he wrapped the scarf around his neck and closed the door behind him. Holding out the wind tome, he closed his eyes for a few moments, feeling the air currents around him before a gentle breeze began to pick up. Keeping his eyes still, he listened to it before he started walking, letting the wind guide him. After having made some distance for a couple meters, his eyes slowly opened and the breeze continued to guide him through the village. It was while he was carried through, he overheard some of the villagers begin to speak. He was not one for gossip, but the wind started carrying him towards the conversation.

“I overheard from one of the pegasus convoys that Lady Tailtiu had passed away a long time ago,” an older man spoke.

“That's terrible. I hear she was a wonderful wife to Lord Lewyn,” the woman replied, sorrow in her voice. “How did they come across that information by chance?”

“I am unsure, but it was the Friege family who kidnapped her and they were the ones who led the direct invasion into Silesse. They may have heard it from a captured soldier.”

“I see...”

“There is hope. Supposedly her daughter is still alive. She may even be in Ulster. The Princess of Silesse may very well be alive.”

That was all he had heard, but that was all he needed to hear. A mother and daughter. Both kidnapped. Why did that seem to fill him with great anger? This feeling did not last long as the wind started to pick up once more and he felt it much stronger now. Letting the wind guide him, he eventually found himself heading back to his home. Without even letting the wind finish, he closed the tome and quickly ran inside, placing his tome down on the table before stopping at the shelf. His eyes landed on the mystery tome. It called out to him.

Without even even thinking about the consequences, his hand was already moving towards it, shaking, but he forced himself to stop, just a hair away from it before moving his hand down to his side. The same hand was trembling while he felt rage beginning to build up from within. He thought about the mother and daughter: the missing lady and princess of Silesse. Fury was building within him and all he could think about them and the tome. The mage, so badly, desperately, wanted to reach out and grab the tome because he knew it would give him the answers, but he also knew he was not allowed to touch it, which made it all the more tempting. 

Eventually, he managed to calm down, his right hand still shaking, and he heard some footsteps from outside. Turning around, he noticed Nana was entering the home, but also the daylight was already fading. Had he been spaced out for that long? It was only midday when he had returned to the cottage.

When the elderly woman entered the home, she looked up and smiled at Arthur. “Everything alright, lad?”

Nodding his head, just as she closed the door behind her, he gave his reply. “Yes, I was just thinking about things.”

“Oh?” She raised an eyebrow and then nodded when she noticed he was standing near the shelf. “I see. Are you still curious about the book Master Levin left for you?”

Looking down, he let out a silent sigh. “Yes, forgive me. I know I am not allowed to use it until I am ready…”

“But?” she asked, noticing how his voice trailed off, approaching him. “It sounds as though you wanted to say something more.”

“Yes,” he admitted. He then glanced back at the tome before returning his attention back to Nana. “I do not know how to describe it, but I believe the tome may somehow give me answers about my family.”

Her eyes widened, filled with confusion. The wrinkles on her face seemed to grow when she furrowed her brow and she approached him. “You truly believe this to be so?”

“Yes, I do. It may not reveal to me who they are, but after having studied with Master Levin, I know that tomes grant much knowledge.” His eyes seemed to shimmer with determination. “I believe that if I study it, I will realize who my family are. Perhaps I can even find them and reunite with them.”

Realizing what he had said, and noticing how Nana’s face seemed to become filled with sadness, he quickly added, “Nana. I do not mean that you are not my family. You are. I just wish-”

“To find your family,” she smiled, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. The woman then suddenly embraced him, which caught him by surprise, but he could tell she was happy. “I knew the day would come when you would try and find your family, lad.”

Pulling away, she then wiped away her tears. “I just did not expect the day to come so soon.”

“Nana…” His eyes softened. “I won’t leave tonight. If you would allow me one more night here before I leave, then I would be grateful.”

“Of course. I will help you prepare some items to take with you for your travels, too,” she offered.

“I would be grateful, but you have already done so much for me already.”

“It’s nothing, lad. You just get some rest. I’ll make us dinner and then I can gather your travel belongings.”

“Thank you,” he smiled.

While the two had prepared dinner and his supplies, Arthur thought only about the mother, daughter, and the tome. It was not until after dinner when they finished packing everything into a small travel bag that Arthur could hide under his jacket. The final things needed were both the Wind tome, which he could attach to his belt, and the tome that still sat on the shelf. He left the one spell tome on the table, and then went up to the shelf. 

“I may not go to sleep right away tonight,” he stated, looking at Nana who was sitting in her rocking chair.

“That is alright. As long as you get plenty of sleep tonight, I do not mind,” she smiled. “Will you be studying some of that tome there I presume?”

He nodded. She then urged him on. “Go on then. Do what you need to do before you begin your journey.”

Taking a deep breath, he began to feel his hands tremble once more. Slowly, he reached for the spell tome and with both hands, he grabbed it. Nothing. Well, that was not entirely true. He certainly felt power coming from the tome, but nothing more. He needed to know more. The mage grabbed a corner of the paper and gently ripped it to open the encasing of the book to reveal a green tome with silver etchings on the cover of it. His eyes widened and his heart began to beat faster. It was then when he opened the first couple of pages that his left shoulder began to throb. That was not the only thing that began to hurt as his head did, too. Faces were showing up in his mind that he never thought he would see again, along with memories that were long suppressed.

It was nighttime and all seemed quiet and peaceful, but just outside, there were invaders. They caught the castle guard by surprise, and in an instant, the castle guard was overwhelmed. A woman with lilac hair was in the middle of a dream, a violent one, where she was feeling overwhelmed and filled with fear. It was the same one she always had before. Her children were taken away from her while she was brought before her family and fully shamed to be put on display. This dream, however, was beginning to become more turbulent. The feeling was much more overwhelming that when she finally managed to pull away from it, it did not go away as it usually did. Something was not right. Yes, that feeling was still there and it was here.

Sitting up, her eyes widened when she noticed there was not just moonlight from outside. Throwing off the bed covers, she grabbed her two tomes she always left at her bedside and swung her legs over the edge of the bed, keeping an eye on the balcony doors before shifting them to the door, then to Arthur, and then back to the balcony doors again where she heard a loud thump.

“Arthur! Hide! Now! ” she hissed, looking down to see he was looking up wide at her.

The boy, eyes wide with fear, nodded his head and quickly slid out of his bed and underneath the bed where had been sleeping just as she looked back at the balcony. The doors were then forced open and the figure who stepped into the room sent chills down her spine. She quickly moved around the bed, keeping her body faced towards the intruder while she glanced back and forth between him and the crib that was now between them. He was closer. He stepped towards the crib and leaned over, which caused Tine to start crying, and he then looked up.

“Dear sister. It has been far too long.”

“What do you want, Bloom?” she asked, preparing a tome in hand. “And how did you know I was here?”

“I have many sources. To put it simply, we knew you returned to Silesse after escaping. We knew the layouts of the castle. It was either this room or the master chambers where you would be. We already checked one so-”

The last statement was enough to set her off, her entire body surging with wrath.

“YOU WON’T GET AWAY WITH THIS!!!”

The tome on top of the other flew opened and a gust of powerful Elwind magic was summoned, coming from her fingers before firing it towards her brother. This caused him to smirk and he immediately summoned some fire magic to protect himself. Seeing this, she changed tomes and cast another spell.

“THORON!!!”

Electricity, filled with rage, covered her fingertips and was cast directly at her brother, but he countered again, this time with wind magic. Her eyes widened.

“Hah! It seems you underestimated me.” His eyes narrowed and he stepped forward, before reaching into the crib and pulling out Tine, who started wailing. “I am not like Hilda. I am not like Father. I am resourceful in the gifts magic has to offer, much like you, dear sister.”

The last words that escaped his lips was enough to make her blood run cold.

“No! No! NO!” she screamed, taking a step forward, dropping her guard, only to suddenly get a shock of powerful electricity sent through her.

“KYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!”

Her vision started fading, but she stood strong in the face of Mjölnir. However, she was stiff and could not move. So badly, she wanted to summon an Elwind spell to protect her, but it would be of no use. A whole second seemed to pass by and suddenly, she felt a hand grab her by the throat and she started gasping for air.

“You will be returning home with me, traitor.”

Vision fading, she could not look at him. Tine was crying and they were both helpless. All she could muster on the last bit of strength she had was to try to cry out for help.

“Lewyn…”

Taking a deep breath, the pain started going away and he looked over to see Nana had fallen asleep in her rocker. The candlelight had also been put out. Rubbing his eyes, he then went over to the corner of the cabin and plopped onto the bed, the tome still in hand. Lifting it up above him, he noticed something was wedged into the middle of the book. 

Sitting up quickly, he flipped it open and found a blue pendant, and it clicked. Standing up, he went to where his scarf was hung over the chair he always sat in, and then he held it up alongside the pendant. It was all clear now who his parents were. However, his newly restored memories and the rumors he had heard made clear who he was and what he needed to do. It was with this new knowledge, the anger returned, but he kept it suppressed for the time being as now was not the time to unleash it.

He then went back to bed and rested for the night, with thoughts of the newfound information. The following day, he had one final meal with Nana, and then it was time for him to depart.

“Take care of yourself, lad,” Nana said, before giving him another unexpected hug.

“I will,” he smiled, before letting out a small laugh as she let go of him. “Please, stay safe. I will return once I have found them.”

“That would be wonderful!” A small grin crossed her face. “It would be even more wonderful if you brought home a wonderful girl with you, lad.”

He wanted to groan. Why bring that up now of all times? “That, I cannot make any promises to, Nana.”

“Oh, I know. I was just being hopeful,” she teased, ruffling his lilac hair. “I do not know what sort of journey you will go through, but the world is not what it once was. Please, do be safe, lad.”

“I will,” he reassured her, tapping the Wind tome he carried on his belt. Forseti, the other tome, was kept hidden. “As long as the wind is with me, I will be guided to my family and I will return. I swear it.”

“Good. I wish you safe travels then, Arthur.”

“Thank you, Nana.”

Saying their final goodbyes, Arthur then departed the village with the mementos of his parents. All of the knowledge he had gained within the past day was overwhelming, so this journey would hopefully give time for it to process and settle in his mind. While his mother was no longer alive from what the rumors had said, his little sister was, which meant that he could save her and then right the wrongs of what his family had done.

Gran Year 777, early July

In the stables, a teenage girl with short green hair was brushing the mane of her pegasus while her amber eyes were filled with sorrow. All she could think about was her family. First, her father disappeared, leaving them all alone. Then, her brother, who foolishly and selfishly set out with a friend to find their father. Then Mother…

“Oh, what’s wrong, Annand?” the girl asked when her steed began to whinny. The winged pony then took some hay and threw it at her. “Ack! What the heck was that for?”

Brushing the hay off of her pale green riding outfit and orange stockings, she reached for her own hair to grab strands of hay out, careful not to smack her hooped earrings, gifts from Misha, when she noticed Annand ready to throw more hay at her. 

“Annand! Please, don’t!” she cried out before more hay was thrown into her face.

Waving her hands into the hair to try and swat some of it away, she started brushing it off herself again.

“If only Karin or Misha were here…even Hermina…” Fee sighed, blowing some hair and hay out of her face. Oh, how she wanted to cry, but no tears would fall anymore. Karin had run off to find Ced while Misha and Hermina both went off to the mainland to work for the Empire for money, much to the chagrin of everyone in Tόfa. That only left her. “They’d know better what you’re up to…even Mother would…”

The pegasus whinnied again, stomping her hooves on the ground before grabbing more hay and tossing it at its rider.

“Bwah!” Fee cried out, flailing her arms about before she let out a small laugh. “Alright, alright, I get it now. Haha! I’m sorry for doubting you.”

The pony let out a whinny before nuzzling into the girl’s face, causing her to giggle. “Thanks.”

After she was finished cleaning both of them, Fee then stepped out of the stables and into the courtyard where the people of Tόfa were going about their daily routines just as she. It had been about a year now since her mother had passed, which was also about as long as when Karin, Misha, and Hermina had all left. While order was not in total disarray, many people had come to her often to get advice as she seemed to be one of the few who they could look up to for guidance, which Fee could not even provide half the time. She could sometimes muster up something, but usually she would end up directing them to Misha’s right-winged woman: Daniela. However, directing everyone to her did not go so well sometimes, and it infuriated the teen. If only the missing King had returned, or even her father. Then Mother would not have had to die.

Letting out a small sigh, she passed through the courtyard, avoiding eye contact with everyone, and made her way into the castle halls where they were empty and cold. There was hardly anyone there whom she could talk to, which was all the more reason for her to get on with her own mission. 

Focused, she went to the second floor where her room was and took out a map she had “borrowed” from the study. If Hawk had been there, he would’ve scolded her for taking it, but since he wasn’t, she could use it. Thinking about Hermina’s older brother made the girl stick out her tongue in defiance. He wasn’t there to stop her. In fact, no one was. A small grin then formed on her face, and she couldn’t help but get a little giddy for once. 

Grabbing a small brown bag from the side of her bed, Fee opened it up to see some food rations she had stolen from the kitchen earlier. Holding out the map once more, she got a quick look at it once more before putting it inside her bag. If the rumors were true, then Isaach would be the place to go. She then closed the bag and quickly headed back out of her room, the same way she had come in, and then made her way back through the courtyard. Since everyone was so busy, she could just act like she was going out for flight practice up north. Thankfully, no one seemed to question her and she made it back to the stables where Annand was patiently waiting for her.

“Sorry about that, Annand. You ready now?”

The pegasus nodded her head and Fee clapped her hands together. “Great! Let’s get moving then!”

She then went up to Annand and attached the bag to her saddle. Afterwards, Fee started putting on the white armor she would wear while training before grabbing a unique looking sword with a curved, jagged pointed handle with a chain that attached itself from both ends of the hilt. The blade itself was silver in color, but the hilt had some red jewels on it and the part of the blade that was closer to the hilt had reddish brown markings on it. It was a berserk edge. Putting it into its sheath after admiring it for a couple moments, she grinned a little and then went over to grab a simple slim lance before going back to Annand. The girl then took her steed’s reins and started to guide her out of the stables.

It went off very smoothly. In fact, too smoothly, and several minutes later, they were already outside the castle grounds and ready to take flight. As she mounted Annand, Fee took one last look back at Tόfa and a bittersweet smile crossed her face. Sorry, everyone, but I can't be the leader you all want me to be…yet. Perhaps, I can return someday with a real heir, but… Pausing in her thoughts, she clicked her tongue and Annand started trotting through the barren earth to begin to take flight. As soon as I find my no-good Brother and Father and become an amazing knight like Mother, maybe even find true love, then I will return home!

“Now! Annand!”

The pegasus opened up her wings and the two took off into the skies, making their journey south. Once they made great air, they started gliding through the sky, and Fee looked out over Silesse below her. The lands were so brown and lifeless that the only other colors were the grey rocks of the mountains with some snow capped peaks along with the occasional evergreen tree. Soon, it would all become blanketed in snow. Above them, blue sky with white clouds. The sea was stretched out to the north, but it soon started disappearing, along with Tόfa, now that they were crossing the mountains. Eventually, they would reach Zaxon, where they needed to start flying lower for a time.

Flying never got old for Fee. It was something she loved to do ever since Mother and Misha had given her rides on their steeds when she was younger. Now, she, too, could fly just like them. Whenever she was high in the sky with Annand, all her troubles always seemed to be left behind, even just for a time, and it was a wonderful feeling. The feeling of loneliness was all gone now that she was up there but she also knew that when she would have to return to the ground and reality.

Soon enough, they were getting closer to Zaxon, so she guided Annand closer to the ground. Too bad she couldn’t see Castle Silesse from there. She had always wanted to go there someday. Well, she actually had been there, but she couldn’t remember a thing from it. Someday, she would get to go there once the Empire left and she would get to serve as a knight to whomever would get to rule. Perhaps it would even be her brother, once she dragged him back home, as King Lewyn was missing, and his wife and only child were also missing, too, presumably dead. Ced would have to be the next king then, even if it was not in his blood, as Silesse’s only heir was most likely dead. It was a tragedy. She knew how much it had pained Mother when the missing Queen was stolen away in the night, and Fee herself now had to carry that same burden. Finding Ced was her mission, but she needed to find some companions and allies if she were to find any whereabouts to her wayward brother.

The sun was getting low in the sky as the rider and steed began to fly closer to the ground. When they started skimming the treeline, she then spotted someone wandering through the trees. 

“Huh?” She looked over Annand’s wings until she pulled herself back into the saddle. “Oh, looks like we better get away from here.”

Trying to veer Annand away, suddenly there was a gust of wind from below. Wind magic?! No, it was just normal wind as it was coming from the north. Alarmed, she tried to veer Annand further away, but the pair found themselves almost somersaulting towards the ground. Before they crashed, a new gust of wind seemed to blow from underneath them and Fee immediately tugged the reins hard enough, which Annand responded in turn, spreading out her wings before the two managed a shaking landing. 

“Phew! That was a close one there!” she exclaimed, letting out a giant sigh of relief. Although, she felt as though they were not alone and she looked over to her shoulder to see the person whom they almost ran into earlier. Raising her lance at first, she stopped when she noticed he had a relieved look on his face.

“Hello there, miss!” he called out, running up to her. “Are you and your pegasus unhurt?”

“No, we’re good here,” she answered, lowering her lance back down when she noticed he carried a standard Wind tome. “Were you the one who saved us there?”

“Yes,” he replied, as he started looking over Annand. “I’ve never seen a pegasus this close before. Where are you from?”

“Me? Well, I’m from Silesse…” Her voice trailed off. Wasn’t this guy from Silesse, too? Hadn’t he ever seen a pegasus before?

“Oh, pardon me. I meant to ask where you were from in Silesse. I had heard that all the pegasus knights were killed when the Empire invaded,” he elaborated.

“Ah.” Now she understood. She was a little concerned at first though as she wasn’t sure if she could fully trust this newcomer. Eying him a little, she finally was able to take in for a quick sense what he was about. Long, lilac hair that went past his shoulders, green eyes, a striped scarf, blue and purple tunic with a long black cape that had purple underneath, gold accents, white pants, and brown boots. It was clear that he was a mage, given the tome, too, and the way he carried himself was quite formal; however, he certainly wasn’t a soldier from the Empire or else he would’ve attacked her by now surely.

“Something the matter?”

“Oh!” She didn’t even realize she had been staring. “I’m sorry about that. I’m from…the north.”

“Ah, then that would make sense,” he commented. “My apologies. I never properly introduced myself. I am Arthur. As you can see, I am a mage.”

He then gave a curt bow. This made her smile. “Good to meet you, Arthur. I’m Fee!”

“Fee. It is good to meet you,” he smiled. His brow then furrowed. “I hate to pry, but where are you heading to?”

“Oh? I’m heading to Isaach. Why do you ask?”

“Issach?” He raised an eyebrow with curiosity. “Would you mind if I joined you?”

Her eyes widened at his request. “Join me? What for?”

“Well, I was heading in that direction, but since we are coincidentally heading towards the same place, would you be alright if we traveled together?”

“Well…” She paused for a few moments before she shrugged. “Sure! Why not? Hop aboard!”

“Thank you,” he said, smiling.

“Alright, then let’s get going,” she grinned, as he mounted Annand and sat behind the pegasus knight. “Hang on tight.”

“Will do.”

He then grabbed onto the saddle and steadied himself just as Fee clicked her tongue to tell Annand it was time to fly. The pegasus whinnied and started trotting, spreading her wings until they found an open clearing where they could easily catch air and fly off into the sky.

This was certainly strange. To meet a traveler who seemed to be so isolated from the outside world, though that did make some sense as there were many villages in Silesse that were probably hidden away from the clutches of the Empire, or were just able to survive well under their rule. At least he seemed pretty nice. Well, now that she had a new, temporary companion, it was time to head to Isaach. There, hopefully, she would be able to join the newly forming Liberation Army and find her brother. 

There is a saying in Silesse. ‘The winds will carry you to change yourself, meet new spirits, and shape the future.’ That is what these two youths would eventually find themselves doing as part of a larger whole. To shape their futures for themselves and others and right the wrongs of what their predecessors could not do.

Fin