Dawn Brigade's Arrow

However, one decided to give him a chance to prove himself. The seamstress had asked him to fetch her some new needles and a new pair of scissors. Eliwood accepted eagerly, ready to lend a helping hand in any way he could.

Along the way, he found a young blonde man who he remembered seeing around the monastery. A student he was pretty sure, but still it should be fine to ask for a little assistance.

"Excuse me, but you're with the Officer's Academy, right? Do you mind helping me find my way around? I keep getting turned around looking for the blacksmith." It was kind of embarrassing to admit as he had always thought himself good with directions, but the second they went underground, his natural compass seemed out of order.

And indeed - he gained a degree of trust fairly quickly, and what earned it was not his status as one dispatched by the Church, but rather his status as an outsider to Fódlan. That was what they found easier to believe in, and he wasn't sure how he felt about the way it didn't even surprise him.

Whatever the case may be, one thing led to another, and he found himself running an errand for the local blacksmith. And apparently, he wasn't the only one, as he just found out.

"More than anything else, I am not too used just yet to being up close and personal with the enemy... or the idea of attempting to cleave them in half." When he shot them, he never looked away - could not afford to - but the distance and the less brutal nature of an arrow made it... a little easier, her felt. He swallowed before continuing.

"... But I've never shied away from doing what I had to to protect those I held dear. So, if the need ever arises... I want to have the possibility in my arsenal."

With that, he followed Darios through the workshop, looking at the materials. The blacksmith went with them as well, pulling out more tools for them to examine and look at.

When the other man posed the next question to him, Leonardo stirred lightly as it dawned on him that it was time to get practical and serious about the process.

"I don't have clear preferences, no... I've handled both metal and wood, and both felt comfortable as long as they were adjusted to my size and weight." He picked up one of the steel chunks the blacksmith had pulled out for them, and looked at it more closely. Rough as it was, he could still see his reflection in the metal, albeit a little misshapen, and it prompted a small smile from him.

He listened to Darios' explanation attentively, thinking to himself.

"The bracers I usually wear are rather lightweight, and don't cover my fingers. But if an axe will require something heavier than that, it shouldn't be a problem." While Leonardo didn't exactly look imposing and was aware of that, well, wielding bows and crossbows required a lot more strength than most people would imagine, and as such, he was considerably stronger than he appeared, even in spite of what he had said before.

(Perhaps, part of it was that he had grown accustomed to thinking of himself as inadequate.)

As Darios worked, Leonardo watched while helping with finding the necessary supplies. Hopefully, he would be able to assist in the process as well.

He and the others in the Dawn Brigade have done it in many ways. Disguises as merchants, regular civilians, local children or other type of simple insignificant lambs not worth paying attention to were frequently used and mastered to perfection. Leonardo knew that some nobles would find such tacticts unbecoming of them, but thankfully, he never had a chance to grow to care about such worthless matters. If there was something to be grateful for in his life, it was that.

So, Leonardo doesn’t hesitate to put on casual clothes and volunteer his services as staff and stableboy. After all, just as much intel could be found among servants as among generals — if only one knew where to look.

What does catch him slightly off-guard, however, is not only that he wasn’t the only one who decided to do that, but also… who exactly the other individual was.

The Tower of Guidance. He remembers that face, and the hand that wielded the power of light — first against, and then alongside them.

In that moment, their eyes meet; but before he can formulate a response, a maid’s voice calls to him.

“Oi, Leonardo, was it? We need help movin’ these materials to the warehouse. You happen to have free hands?”

“Coming!” He calls, before offering Sephiran a nod. The tone of voice that speaks the next sentence is unusually eager for him and his demeanor — and, he hopes, a signal for the other to just play along.

To the question, he nodded as he followed Darios. "Um, yeah. I handle the bow just fine, and same for swords and lighter types of lances. With axes though... Some are difficult to even lift, much less wield. I fought under an axe wielder, and he made it look easy, but he was... twice or so my size."

The image of Nolan swinging his weapon at the Begnion soldiers to swat them out of his way like flies flashed before his mind, prompting a weak smile as he continued. "My country is also known for its Dragonrider regiments, and many of them are also axe wielders. I went to a military school, so I tried it a few times... but it just did not really sit right with me. The wyverns didn't like me, either, maybe because I've always been best as an archer. So teachers and I gave up on that pretty quickly."

He glanced around the workshop as they walked in. Maybe he really bit off more than he could chew. He was not even sure what the order of action here was.

"More than anything else, I am not too used just yet to being up close and personal with the enemy... or the idea of attempting to cleave them in half." When he shot them, he never looked away - could not afford to - but the distance and the less brutal nature of an arrow made it... a little easier, her felt. He swallowed before continuing.

"... But I've never shied away from doing what I had to to protect those I held dear. So, if the need ever arises... I want to have the possibility in my arsenal."

With that, he followed Darios through the workshop, looking at the materials. The blacksmith went with them as well, pulling out more tools for them to examine and look at.

When the other man posed the next question to him, Leonardo stirred lightly as it dawned on him that it was time to get practical and serious about the process.

"I don't have clear preferences, no... I've handled both metal and wood, and both felt comfortable as long as they were adjusted to my size and weight." He picked up one of the steel chunks the blacksmith had pulled out for them, and looked at it more closely. Rough as it was, he could still see his reflection in the metal, albeit a little misshapen, and it prompted a small smile from him.

"I have to thank you for coming along with me on this," Dimitri said, nudging the freshly built desk into the corner of the room before rising to greet the young man. He had heard of Leonardo in passing, but they hadn't yet met - a consequence, he supposed of their different class schedules. Regardless, his reputation had preceded him as someone dependable, and with a good attention for detail.

Dimitri extended a hand to shake, and gestured behind him at the half put-together room. "I believe there are still a few dorms on the campus in a…less complete state," he explained, almost sheepish, as though it were his fault.

He knew that it wasn't, but had reached for the opportunity to rectify it nonetheless, relieved that his usefulness during such a time of duress had not yet come to an end. There were still things to be accomplished to return life back to the calm that they had once known, but there were so few opportunities on a regular basis that his strength was a boon, and not a burden.

Lifting stones, arranging furniture…he could do this until the end of time, if needed.

"It's an honor to meet you, Your Highness," he greeted; a slight hint of hesitation preceded the title as he spoke, unsure just how much it was required; in the end, however, being polite never hurt, did it. Perhaps his fellow Lions dropped the formalities, but it was not as though he was close with the man.

"And of course - I'll help as much as I can. I arrived after that whole... situation, so I'm not tired or in recovery like many others I've seen," he assured, though his smile faded a little. "I've heard accounts of what happened from my friends. Between that and the damage I've seen... It must have been awful. I feel bad that I wasn't here to help, so if I can assist now, I'll do whatever's necessary."

His attention snaps briefly back to the sound of a short scream coming from the frozen pond, and he looks up to ascertain the situation - but the sound evolved quickly into laughter, and the two girls that slipped and fell on the surface of the ice quickly pick themselves back up, one using the other as support, and are revealed to be unharmed, only amused at their own mistake. The blond lets out a barely audible huff at the scene, before going back to working on his equipment.

Soon, he is finished with his blades - his skates, as some have been calling it - but still, he is in no hurry to set out just yet. He takes a moment longer to watch the other participants, taking in their enjoyment, laughter and chatter, and though not fully conscious, a small smile flourishes on his face.

"In Daein, every year when it got cold, kids... and not only, often came up with all sorts of ideas to entertain themselves. When I was in military school, boys would compete in icicle throwing. I didn't throw the farthest, but I often had the best aim." A small note of fondness for times long gone emanates in his voice as he speaks. "Frozen lakes were often gathering spots, too. People enjoyed playing and messing around on the ice."

To the question, he nodded as he followed Darios. "Um, yeah. I handle the bow just fine, and same for swords and lighter types of lances. With axes though... Some are difficult to even lift, much less wield. I fought under an axe wielder, and he made it look easy, but he was... twice or so my size."

The image of Nolan swinging his weapon at the Begnion soldiers to swat them out of his way like flies flashed before his mind, prompting a weak smile as he continued. "My country is also known for its Dragonrider regiments, and many of them are also axe wielders. I went to a military school, so I tried it a few times... but it just did not really sit right with me. The wyverns didn't like me, either, maybe because I've always been best as an archer. So teachers and I gave up on that pretty quickly."

He glanced around the workshop as they walked in. Maybe he really bit off more than he could chew. He was not even sure what the order of action here was.

‘Without trouble’ came to an end the instant they arrived.

Kris 10/10HP hits Mogall D 6/6HP with Killer Bow [Roll: 9, -2.5HP] → Mogall D: 3.5/6HP Dazzle activates! Kris gains +6 Avoid through the next Enemy Phase! Mogall 3.5/6HP misses Kris 10/10HP with Crimson Eye [Roll: 9 - 6 = 3, -0HP]

“Take cover behind the trees!” An arrow flew from quiver to bow almost faster than eyes could blink, loosed at one of the creatures at the same time that the two Knights of Seiros with them moved to steer the other students out of harm’s way. Hasty though the action had been in a bid to draw the fiends’ attention to himself, to buy time for his panicked and decidedly not combat-ready peers, it found its mark all the same—the thing he’d struck writhed and spasmed with pain, eyelids attempting to squeeze shut around the arrow’s shaft before blindly conjuring a pillar of dark energy in retaliation. Easily avoided when it hadn’t come even close to touching Kris, that.

It figured though, that whatever magic had swept across the land and healed it right when Melanthios disappeared—hopefully for good this time—hadn’t magically gotten rid of all the monsters while it was at it. Guess he’s just picking up where he left off from before he and Katarina found their way back to Garreg Mach then, sparing the one other person who was armed and hadn’t retreated a brief look before nocking another arrow. “These things can make more of themselves if we don’t kill them quickly enough. How fast can you shoot?”

... Yeah, he'll believe it when he sees it. The boy who has actively toiled at rebuilding a land destroyed by war and plague knows better what it means to heal a country that had endured a calamity. In a way, it's almost like a purging; all the worst hiding in the obscured corners of the land are drawn to the destruction like moths to a flame, and the hard work does not stop until long after the primary cause of the catastrophe has passed. Some months or years if one's lucky, a generation or two on average.

So when alarms are shouted in the group and the unarmed students are led to run for cover, Leonardo isn't even surprised or confused. It has become routine by now, as sad as that may be to think, considering his age; though that is a reflection for someone else to have, for he, who longs to know something else but still has not had the blessing, has already forgotten.

When Sir Kris speaks, Leonardo doesn't even look his way at first, eyes locked firmly on the enemy. He'll reply when he's sure that him doing so doesn't get someone killed.

Backup activates! [-1HP; Mogall D 2.5/6HP] Leonardo 10/10HP hits Mogall D 2.5/6HP with Lughnasadh [Roll: 11, -2HP; Mogall D 0.5/6HP] Bowrange+ activates! The enemy is unable to counterattack! Spd Follow-up: Leonardo 10/10HP hits Mogall D 0.5/6HP with Lughnasadh [Roll: 1, -2HP; Mogall D 0/6HP] Mogall D has been defeated!

Two arrows fly into the floating monstrosity in harmony, prompting an unholy shriek as it tumbles down to the ground in a mess of tentacles. It twitches still, but Leonardo has already grabbed another arrow by now, and it swiftly flies into the freaky eyeball, silencing it for good this time.

Only then does he glance back at the companion, by now proven on multiple occasions to be trustworthy, and nods, his expression calm.

"Hopefully, fast enough."

Having initially taken a step back, Leonardo now made a shy one a little closer, the newly arrived man's voice striking at him almost like a command of sorts, in spite of the kindness undoubted behind his words and gesture alike. He initially wanted to shake his head, reject politely, say something about he didn't want to be an inconvenience...

It's just that, well, Leonardo has never been particularly good about arguing his case when Edward isn't around.

"It's... alright, really," he says nonetheless with a faint smile. "I have not attempted to use or maintain an axe in many years. Usually, I struggle to so much as pick it up, really..."

It's silly. He came here to try and improve himself, didn't he?

"... But if you think I could learn something, then I can give it a try. Payment's not a problem, of course - I can cover that no problem."

The blacksmith gave them a wide grin, before waving his arm in an inviting gesture. "Righto, come in then, lads! Wantin' is half the effort - as long as the spirit is there, rest will fall into place."

Alright, well, it looked like he was in it then, whether he wanted to or not. (He did, he really did - just needed someone to say it for him. And Edward was not here right now.)

With that in mind, he should get to know his new acquaintance a bit better, and so he turned to him again.

… With that said, usually each of them would focus on their own weapon, with Leonardo, naturally, prioritizing his bow and arrows. Adjusting the pressure of the bowstring, sharpening the arrows, the likes. In the beginning, he also demonstrated a few times to Edward how to take proper (or as proper as was possible) care of his sword, but his friend picked up the necessary skills quite quickly, and Leonardo saw fit to just leave him to it. The axe, meanwhile, had been Nolan’s territory — and suffice to say that the old wolf did not exactly need help with maintaining it.

In short, Leonardo hasn’t really had a lot of contact with the axe and its needs and requirements… since his school fell, really.

So now, as he observes one of the Garreg Mach town’s blacksmiths at work, he finds himself utterly lacking in confidence and hesitant to approach. And it doesn’t get any better when the man actually addresses him.

“Interested in the work, lad? Feel free to come in, you may just learn a thing or two!”

“Ah, um…”

Leonardo doesn’t get much more out of himself, not just because he isn’t sure what to say — but also because he gets distracted by a figure appearing behind him. He turns, facing a young man, taller than him, with a posture that he almost wants to describe as regal.

Maybe the guy came here to peruse the blacksmith’s wares or services. Which likely means that Leonardo is in the way.