cold lieutenant

“ You would be correct. As for this Janina.. I was quite certain I was familiar with the lands before us but this is a first I am hearing of this land. Might I ask what it is like? Perhaps that would assist in refreshing my memory on such a land. “ 

❝… Is the traditional depth of a grave not six feet? And who’s to say I was ever truly gone, hm?❞

“ It’s also tradition to properly bury those whom you respect. Well, after our presumed final battle. Apologies for making assumptions. “ 

“Or I could offer them something else? Something that I have to give.”

“ There is nothing wrong with wanting to please the people before you, but do not make promises you cannot hope to keep. All it will serve is to hurt people. It would be better for them to know you cannot give them what they need.. but offering something else is a good compromise I would think. “ 

Attire? Ah, now that she mentions it, if she compared her clothes to say…his, there was a very large difference. A knight against some clothes that were magiked upon her when she started her journey to change the timelines. “Ah, yes. I entered the Stargate so…”

“ I see, then you too, are a traveler of these worlds. I suppose the question is now whether you entered Ylisse’s portal either intentionally or unintentionally. That’s rather important for me to ask so you know. “ 

 “––I was kicked in, a..and I tumbled through, t-t-to try to get away.” He frowns now, holding onto the burnt doll a bit tighter, “Bu…but my home, it’s a cottage in the woods….? In a forest setting, I’m sorry if that doesn’t help you a…at all Sir.” 

“ All that remains, however, is to give me the direction of where you came from. If we find the original light you came through, that’ll make matters all the more easy. Do you have the strength to muster up what you can tell me? “ 

“Go ahead, Frederick. If there’s a way I can better serve the Shepherds, I’d like to hear it.” And it certainly helps that a bit of praise softens whatever might follow.

“ In regards to your fighting I see that when you use your blade, your arm shakes just a bit after blocking a blow. Were you to bend your elbow a bit more and allow the blade closer to yourself without actually hitting you, you would take the impact much better. Would you like me to demonstrate? “ 

“Yes! I can do that,” she nodded. “Negotiations are very important, Mother says that I must learn to do them well, because Father isn’t very good at them.”

“ Let us assume that Ylisse is running low on.. say, grain or.. wheat. A food stuff perhaps. In order to gather some--just in time for crops to grow.. we ask a neighboring country. Our relationship to them is.. lets say, shaky but not quite broken. And so we ask for their support. However, the compensation they ask for is greater than what we can provide. What do you do to ensure success between the two nations? “ 

“ Sir Frederick of the Royal Halidom of Ylisse. I’ve not quite heard of the land of Janina. Would it be out of place to me to ask what kind of land it is? “ Offering a small bow in return to her rather humbled introduction would he give her at least a polite smile.

❝Oh, dear. Are you saying that you don’t enjoy my company, Frederickson? I’m hurt.❞

“ I’d enjoy it more were you four feet under the dirt as you were before. How in the seven hells did you even come back? “ 

“…You….you know of the star gates?” He quietly asks, which is laced in a nervous tone “But…in…in my case, both apply, sir.” 

“ Yes, I do. I’ve traveled through them for quite some time now, so you may call me something of an expert on them I suppose; sans where they come from. Might I ask just how you got lost originally? It may help us both in how we may return you home. “ 

“I am great! I have to be going now!” She turns on her heel.

“ I just wish to be certain that you’re not injured in the slightest. The sound that came from my armor still rings throughout my ears so I need to be certain. It would be the end of my well being were I to realize I had done such a thing. “ 

“I’m…sorry. People kept staring at me because of my pink hair so…I’m not use to being stared at.”

“ Rest assured, your hair would not be the reason. There are many others with hair colors as vibrant as that and I’ve seen others from different lands hold even more exotic styles as well so you’re in the clear. Rather, I would have noticed your choice of attire before that but that is beside the point. You tell me you are unsure of where you are and that you are lost, correct? “ 

—- “I’m sorry, I’m afraid I have no idea where I am.”

“ You are currently in the Halidom of Ylisse, a palace which does not take well to strangers nor trespassers so I ask just who are you? “