sheathed steel

“Thank you, ma’am.” Penny carefully took the phone, moving so that she stood next to the woman. “This button here turns it on.” She pressed a button, the screen flickering on. “This green button here with the icon is how you call people! You punch in specific numbers and you can talk to them across large distances. This other button here allows you to write to people instantaneously.”

“Many of these other options are labeled with their use, such as Notes or Weather. And this here is a search option. You can type in any question and usually find an answer, if you’re confused about another app on your phone. Was that sufficient?”

Laegjarn was focused on looking at her smartphone and as well Penny’s advice on usage. Something she’d need to understand once she’s now on her own. All that glow and stuff, it’s definitely advanced than sending pigeons as messengers and way more effective.

“New to the holiday, are we? You may want to sit this one out then unless you’ve the time to find that special someone on such short notice.” This poor unfortunate woman caught unawares on one of the most anticipated holidays of the new year. Thank goodness Semiramis is feeling generous in providing an explanation, albeit with some prodding.

“Yes, new to it.” Laegjarn admitted that she was new to these ‘Holidays’ this place has to offer. New Year, she heard of it but not Valentines nor others. Based on what Semiramis noticed about the former princess-general, not wrong there.

     “No longer… in the afterlife.”

Such an odd way of phrasing, but… it’s not like Lucina was inexperienced with these kinds of cases. Through the five years she had been in places like Spirale City, she had come in contact with many people - many who had departed from the living world, who were trying to make a life here, despite how unpredictable and short it could be.

So, it seemed like the girl in front of her was one of those people. The princess offered a kind smile to her, and a nod of her head.

     “I see. Then, I shall lend a hand to help you. I have been here      for a few months now, but I do believe I have committed most      of the wards to memory by now. I can show you around, if that      is what you desire.”

     “My name is Lucina. What might yours be, milady?”

If Lucina could help these people in some way, then perhaps she could help ease the pain, if only temporarily.

“I’m Laegjarn, Former princess and general of Muspell. An honor to meet you, Lucina.” Politely introduced herself, she’ll remember this person very well.

She did heard about offering her a simple tour around here for her to familiarize with since Laegjarn doesn’t have any navigation stuff such as a map nor a compass. Just her wooden sword for self-defense. Hearing about ‘5 years’ this means Lucina was actually very familiar to it all along. Someday, the former princess-general too.

As what ward she was looking around, what was this one which she asked.

“What’s a ‘Valentines’ people here talking about? Is this some kind of a festival or something?”

     ❃ swarms of the undead? Wondering for a moment if she heard the former princess correctly, Eir blinks twice quickly in surprise at the other’s words. Does that mean her mother’s army had come to this place at one point in time? How successful were they? And where exactly are they all now? Both confused and worried at this new information, the princess of the dead finds it prudent to ask and clear up any important points.

     ❝ My… Mother’s army had been within this place? ❞ she asks, a little urgency apparent within her tone.

     ❝ Where have they all gone off to now? Are there any of them remaining? ❞ though she attempts to keep her calm, mild concern can still be seen on her features. It’s only after there is a long pause that Eir regains her former composure, inhaling silently before attempting to address Laegjarn’s other bits of information.

     ❝ Ah… Regarding the other heroes, I have come to find that, as well. I do wonder if this city has done something to their memory or if they are simply from a time before being summoned. ❞

“No. Her presence wasn’t around here that time.” Laegjarn do have noticed there was no signs nor anything that could identify that it was actually Eir’s mother, Hel behind all this. She hoped the Princess will be at ease as she also added something she have noticed around. This still have been a mystery for those endured it. 

The former princess understands how she feels about that unnerving feel and she answered the second one around.

“There were used to be many until it went all vanished into thin air. It is strange indeed.” Eir seemed to shared the same thing as Laegjarn does about the others. Could it actually tampered them with something they never knew? But the part of ‘before being summoned’, That is highly true.

     ❃ whether it be because of the other princess’s personality or something else, Eir couldn’t quite say the reason for the vague distaste behind her words. Given her past and current situation, however, the blonde can spare a few guesses with many of them not leading to anything very pleasant. As a being of understanding and also some passiveness, Eir leaves the general’s bitterness aside for the time being and instead, focuses on her words themselves.

     ❝ For… Months, you say? ❞ echoing what had just been said, the gloomy princess’s expression soon reflects vague concern. That is definitely… Not something she had been planning to hear and in a way, Eir almost wishes she didn’t hear it at all. However, if it’s the truth then such a thing must be told and known by all, even if it’s unsettling.

     ❝ I see… At the very least, it seems that you have been… Getting by? ❞

“Yes, months ever since i got here where this place was filled by swarms of undead until it became normal over time.” During ‘Depths’ was merely a horrible timing for her to land here which it made her almost unlucky to die for a second time which Laegjarn won’t let it happen.

Right after meeting several heroes from other realms asides from Loki, who is now disappeared in Spirale. It is also not a lie that nobody did recognize the world Eir and the former general lived in.

Oh dear.

Looks like there was more than one world that Kamui had come from, the lady in front of him didn’t see aggressive or attempt to harm him but it was better to be careful with his actions. Best to let the lady know that he did not share memories of the other him that was mentioned, trying his best to smile gently at the lady. 

“Sorry,” He said gently, “I’m not the same person that was serving the man in the hood”

“May I know who you are?”

So he wasn’t serving Kiran nor anyone from her world. That’s pretty much understandable as the princess-general been seeing many variants of Kamui or Corrin anyway. This means this isn’t made by the Tempest or some sort of outer-realm fusion. Oh well, there’s always next time for Laegjarn.

“Ah, that’s fine. Thanks for the honest answer.” She accepted his simple ‘sorry’ from his gentle words, but she appreciated it somehow. As he want to know her name, she introduced herself in a simple but formal manner.

 Her life? It was nothing without Robin. Though the woman knowing that Tharja was looking for someone, rather than something, made her suspicious. Just who was this woman, and how did she know so much about the mage? Could she be trusted, or did she acquire this knowledge in an attempt to kill her later on? 

 Tharja glared at the woman for a moment, then shook her head. “I am a powerful dark mage, do not underestimate my power. If you get in my way, I will have no other choice than to take you down as well.” she hissed. 

 In all honesty, she knew her magic had been dramatically castrated and it wouldn’t take long for her to become overwhelmed. But she had to find Robin, she had to make sure her beloved was safe and she’d do anything to ensure that.

“Fair enough.” If Laegjarn did got in Tharja’s way, things will get ugly indeed that a duel between warrior and magician will happen here in a place filled with undead. Whoever falls down first, gets chowed over by the flocking undead all around Spirale.

As the howls growing by, all they need is cooperation to survive this madness. Best for them to move on than staying in one foot, arguing each other.

Even at the mention of the Trickster, Corrin visibly tensed. To ruin yet another dream, playing with people as she so wishes. It reminded her of Iago, and thus she felt the familiar distaste rarely shown to others rest on her shoulder. She continues to walk, thinking. A finger pressed against her chin as she looks around.

“If that is the case, we should push on at a hasten pace.” World of dreams or not, someone was at the helm of this expansion and they find out how. She takes a breath, hoping that her worry wasn’t shining through as it normally did.

“I never would of thought that we would have to scout a realm of dreams. I have read of something like this, but mainly in the metaphorical sense.”

“Something like a myth, i see.” She gets it. This was indeed her first time in a place like this. Corrin was right on the metaphorical sense since its usually heard by words of other people. However, there were sights of Emblan soldiers around, mostly cavalry. No sign of Loki just yet but there were two Corrins wearing a white dress with a different dragonstone as the commander.

As the two of the enemy side saw their approach, Laejarn called her wyvern and rode on immediately.

“Oh, i must be missing a special day. Guess i’ll have to notify myself next year then.”

As Laegjarn was curious to venture things around in Spirale, there she meets a lady in red with an aura of a ruler which might be very true in her own world. She was not aware of her kind that is almost common about everywhere.