of love and justice

the second son of house dozel, a prestigious family that serves as a vassal family to the emperor of grannvale. house dozel rules over its own duchy but in recent years has also been given the authority to rule over the nation of isaach as a consequence of isaach losing in the war iuchar’s grandfather had taken part in.

iuchar’s father is a tyrant, subjugating the people of isaach, but iuchar himself alongside his younger brother iucharba are sympathetic to the isaachian people’s plights. they are noticeably also the most successful in finding ways to disobey imperial orders to conduct child hunts, both brothers trying their best to fight against the very oppression their own father and suzerain keep trying to push. despite this agreement in moral priorities, the two brothers are not on very good terms, leading to them fighting one another to the death. 

in toa verse, iuchar was the one to die but his life was saved in secret by lord seliph, his game’s protagonist. out of respect to the victory of his brother and knowing his brother’s hatred of him would never allow him to coexist with him, iuchar sailed to fódlan as a casualty of war, seeking asylum.

despite having a heart of gold, iuchar has a horrible personality. he is infamously callous to men he hates and overly sweet to most women. he is an incorrigible skirtchaser, a people pusher, and his poetic speech tends to sound vacuous and overly sappy. 

in my interpretation, this is all a mask for his true self: someone very introspective and who wants to do good, but he is stubborn and prideful, believing only his perspective is correct. he is cautious and believes the world is a big game of deceit and that you have to play by those rules in order to get anything done, putting him at odds with his younger brother’s brash and straightforward personality, one he considers naïve and foolish— one unable to save anyone because it shall lead to death before it can even be remotely helpful.

tldr; he’s a fuckboy with a heart of gold who likes flowers and speaks in a poetic/antiquated way. his arrogance and inability to show his true self, a much more melancholic character, got him killed by his brother in a duel to the death over differences in methodology and also because they simp for the same girl oop

as for those who already know him, specifically how he’s been in toa, let’s get down to business:

all of the events on this blog are still canon to iuchar. i’m not wiping any of it or going on a clean slate. his relationships with characters will be continued unless a particular mun doesn’t wish to keep that.

because of this, iuchar retains his memories from the lore event unlocked and thus is aware of a decent amount of what happens in fe4 albeit in an alternate timeline where he was the one recruited. this shouldn’t come up too much i don’t think but figured it was worth mentioning.

i’m open to resuming threads from before i dropped iuchar if anyone wishes to, though i’ll also be looking for new threads as well!

in toa canon, iuchar has spent the last six months being entirely in the abyss. the only people who have seen him in this past half-year are fellow abyssians and ashen wolves consequently.

however, i’m willing to have muses who have interacted with iuchar prior potentially get to know/find out a bit of what he’s been doing in the interim. this will be through letters penned by him, and i’ll be reblogging a meme relevant to that in case anyone’s interested. the meme is also open to others, though those responses might be set in AUs instead.

aaaand that should be it! that’s a lot, i know. welcome back mister red flag !!!!

swiftscion​:

Larcei is just starting to turn around to offer Iuchar some encouragement when he springs back onto his feet and hurls his axe. She blinks once, twice, and decides to shrug him off. It looks like, this time, she was the one to underestimate someone. It’s better that he have some fight in him, she supposes.

“Great job everyone!” She continues, moving in behind her allies, “I’d offer to help, but…” Hands gesture to the candlestick replacing any sort of functional weapon. Magical though it may be, Larcei feels as though it wouldn’t do much in terms of harming the enemy. Especially the big one. It looks like it could shake off whatever fireworks she sends its way, “Looks like I’ll have to play tactician. Kris, Elise, keep up the offense! Spirits don’t show weakness like humans do, but if you look close, you can notice their bodies flaking away when they’re about to die.”

Larcei uses Rally Strength, Rally Defense, and Rally Resistance! Kris receives +2 strength, and +4 to defense and resistance until R3P

Larcei uses Ruse! Elise receives +1 strength, and +2 to defense and resistance until R3P

If they do indeed pay attention to their foes, Larcei’s team would be able to spot the exact phenomenon she described. The trickster, nearly at its wits end, is starting to crack and crumble. What pieces of their body fall off dissipate and vanish into thin air, but are regrown just as fast as they are lost. It’s something she’s begun to notice after multiple battles with this kind of foe, and she feels it appropriate to share the knowledge to aid in making decisions. Remember: she’s no genius, but Larcei has a distinguished battle sense.

“If we all work as one unit, we can easily make it outta here alive!”

UP NEXT: @unsungblade​

    “ Splendid show, Elise! ”  Iuchar cheers, feeling he'd be a scoundrel not to do so after her genuine cry of pride. He has little idea what creature she rides into battle, but he cannot imagine it to be a gentle experience to suddenly be thrust upon the back of one and learn how to fight in tandem with it.

He knows he's certainly done worse growing up.

Iuchar recovers +2HP (Bond, Amaterasu) [Iuchar 7.5/10]

It seems as if the high morale of everybody else is helping himself perk up too, Iuchar finding himself able to stand taller by the second and more properly take in his surroundings, even if there were still some troublesome thoughts floating about. Alright, he just needs to work with this... Push past it. Treat this just as any other axe...

Focusing on what it is was what got him sent to the infirmary last time. He ought to focus on other things, like Larcei's orders—

“ Ah...?!? ”

Now that his mind was a bit clearer and his wounds were not eating him from the inside out, he can't help but take the time to actually look at Larcei, dressed as if she were straight out of a dream— no, hells, even he hadn't dared dream up something like this before! It was too far-off a thought, too inconceivable now, and yet here she was dressed as a bride right here and now when he least expects it...!

That... That could hardly be good for battle! It's a very, very gorgeous ensemble, do not get him wrong, but...!!

“ Worry not, Larcei! You are and have been plenty help! Why, how could one be in your presence and not be inspired? ”

...That was a bit more truthful than it ought to be, with him just running his mouth as it was. Blink and you'll miss it, Iuchar rolls his eyes a little at himself, unable to help the grin on face as he takes up his family's treasured axe once more.

Iuchar (7.5/10HP) hits Red Beast with Helswath (Range) [Roll: 5 + 8 = 13, -5HP; Red Beast 26/31] Red Beast cannot counterattack Seal Movement: Red Beast cannot attack Elise, Larcei, or Kris until Round 3 Player Phase

It swings through the air, hurtled towards the foe that is not the one he can see out of the corner of his eye Kris already finishing off, before it returns to Iuchar's grasp, another clean hit dealt with it.

swiftscion​:

The next round of their gauntlet begins in an awkward spot. With Iuchar in a severe condition, Kris by his side, and Larcei holding down the Executioner, the sudden transfiguration to something new couldn’t have come at a worse time. Never mind the fact that she has embarrassingly been put in wedding attire of all things. And instead of a weapon, a crackling candle in its holder materializes into her hands. Is she supposed to fight with this thing? 

After looking to her enemies, she decides that the answer is a resounding no. The human figure doesn’t scare her, but the monstrous red creature with metallic fangs and poison-soaked claws would make mincemeat out of someone fighting it with a stick of wax. Best to leave this to the others.

“Hey Kris!” She shouts, pulling on the hem of her dress as she joins him at Iuchar’s side, “Thanks for helping him. Or, you know, trying. But for now, leave this idiot to me and focus on the enemy. They look like one we can’t take lightly, and you’re as competent a fighter as they come. I’ll be rootin’ for you!” 

Larcei uses Rally Strength, Rally Defense, and Rally Resistance! Kris receives +2 strength, and +4 to defense and resistance until R2P

The cobalt-haired is waved gently off as Larcei looks to supporting Iuchar. Though she wouldn’t exactly call herself his best friend, she knows enough about him to (dreadfully) understand what’d get him up and running. She smiles to herself, sort of glad that she’d been bestowed this wedding gown. If he gets too comfortable around it though, she’d obviously have to knock him flat again.

But before she can really get around to speaking to him, she spots Elise out of the corner of her eye. A small pep lets her gaze rise up to meet the blonde, offering her that smile she put on for herself. “You too, Elise! Any help in this fight is appreciated. See what you can do about either him, or those two over there.” She sticks her thumb behind her shoulder to signal to Elise that she was referring to the trickster and beast, though suspects the Nohrian is carrying another modified staff she can use to assist the Dozel.

Larcei uses Ruse! Elise receives +1 strength, and +2 to defense and resistance until R2P

UP NEXT: @unsungblade @neirsung @nohrslittleflower

    So it'd be magic that'd get him again this time. Iuchar feels the wave of divine magic smite him all over in the previous round, wrecking his body all over as he's sent flying. He's still conscious, which is far better than last time at least when he was put in these brutal arena rounds, but it means he can feel the pain all the worse— know just how it impacts him beyond just a simple scar left behind to tell the tale.

Ahhhh... How pitiful. He's also awake to hear Larcei call out to him in concern and he can't manage anything to say in reply. Even Kris enters his field of vision, calling for him to stay with them. Iuchar coughs up his blood shortly after he tries to pull himself upright again, turning his cheek to avoid having to at least face the others directly as he's struggling.

For having so much to say, now has to be the one time he cannot say anything at all. Fate was a cruel mistress, indeed.

It'll be all right...

Given a bit of time as their environment shifts, he begins to believe it. All that remains of his episode is, well, the clear wounds he's suffered from it, made even more obvious as the new garments he don show his arms and legs on full display. The Fortify staff he had finally grabbed onto to prop himself up more easily has shifted to an axe he can scarcely believe he's holding again.

This... This is Helswath. Just as it had been half a year ago. The axe he should never be able to even lift has found its way into his hands again.

( ...Another reminder that his brother Brian was dead even in this timeline, he supposes. )

His eyes grow dark, uncertain of what to do. He should feel elated to feel his family's heirloom in his hands, the one he had been told was both the pinnacle of his bloodline but also one that was never to be his. He had defied the gods, having it now as he does.

It is hardly a victory worth celebrating, though.

Larcei joins him and the Altean knight, but all words she's saying slip past Iuchar, surprising as that might be. He doubts she's talking to him right now anyhow. What else does she have to say to him? He gathers his bearings as these conflicting feelings swirl inside him.

( That's not to say he doesn't appreciate her at his side, however. If he really thought about it, she was practically all he had left in this world... though to say he even had her to begin with was to be chasing nothing more than a delusion. )

It is partly willpower that brings him to his feet, staggering as he still is, and without a word, he forces his arm to do something. He drags Helswath across the ground as he takes his steps forward, and then he swings it up into the air in one big flourish before launching it forward.

Iuchar recovers +2HP (Bond, Amaterasu) [Iuchar 5.5/10] Iuchar (5.5/10HP) critically hits Shadow Trickster with Helswath [Roll: 18 + 8 = 26, -10HP; Shadow Trickster 21/31] Shadow Trickster cannot counterattack. Seal Movement: Shadow Trickster cannot attack Elise, Larcei, or Kris until Round 2 Player Phase.

The blade of his axe spins in a large arc before it cleaves into the female trickster, pulling her down to her knees as the exalted axe returns back to Iuchar's hand. The Dozel heaves a huge exhale of breath as he plants the weapon pointed down against the ground again, leaning against the handle of it.

For all his doom and gloom leading up to it, however, he forces a smile now, hoping it looks like one of relief if not straight up unfounded arrogance. He needed it to chase away what thoughts would come to him holding what he does in his hands right now.

swiftscion​:

Iuchar crying… Now that would be a sight to see. Maybe Larcei ought to get herself banged up in this next fight. The Executioner’s sword weapon certainly looks like it could scar her good. 

But that’s just an idle thought–something that has no place on the battlefield. She looks to the enemy she struck, notices that they’re still impaired, and decides it would be for the better that she spread some of this immobilizing magic to other enemies.

She is unable to explain it, but a strange, airy force goads her on to move quicker than she normally would. Part of it could simply be the wyvern, but even her hands zip around quicker as she casts a second spell–proving the existence of some kind of accelerating force.

Larcei uses Swarm! Roll 1D20-8 = 12, crit! | The Executioner HP = 38/42

The Executioner suffers from -6 speed for one turn, Seal Defense and Seal Movement! -4 defense and The Executioner cannot move until R2P

This time illusory hornets emerge and overwhelm their target. A thousand stingers are lodged into the enemy commander to bring them down to their knees, the seeping poison middling their strength and will to fight. Larcei smirks at them, but that smirk is wiped clean off her face by what she sees next.

The soldiers, resolute in their duty, support the Executioner and stand it on its feet. This allows them to just barely make their way to a now shocked Larcei, and swing their heavy blade at her.

Soldier A uses Rally Strength on The Executioner! The Executioner gains +2 strength until R2E

Soldier B uses Rally Speed on The Executioner! The Executioner gains +4 speed until R2E

The Executioner uses Executioner’s Blade! Roll 1D20-2 = 8, hit! | Larcei HP = 8.5/10

Larcei suffers from Stun! Larcei cannot attack until R2P

She seems to have gotten what she wished for earlier, for when her wyvern is cleaved by the weighted sword, it falls to the ground miserably–tossing its rider off to tumble in the dust. Larcei coughs and sputters at the whole thing, grumbling as she struggles to climb back on. 

At the very least, she can be thankful for the aftereffects of her Swarm’s summons. Were the Executioner not tied down by the venom of a thousand stingers, they would have charged her down for a second blow.

UP NEXT: @unsungblade​ @neirsung​ or @nohrslittleflower​

    While he's been preoccupied with testing the full extent of his offensive magic, Larcei's been handling her own battle and the loud thump against the ground as her wyvern falls and so too does she takes whatever high Iuchar had been riding off of and sends him into full-blown concern.

He doesn't even get a good chance to look at how wounded she actually is, just knowing that a rider being thrown off their mount is rarely ever a good thing. A childhood of falling off his horse as he learned the ropes, of falling off it again when dueling against his younger brother, and imagining all of that pain multiplied by the tremendous height of flying...

It's enough to threaten his heart to stop. For a second, he doesn't even think of what his younger brother would feel in regards to Larcei—

No... this is all him.

Iuchar (7/10HP) heals Larcei with Fortify [Roll: 17, +6HP; Larcei 10/10] Iuchar recovers +1.5HP (Live to Serve) [Iuchar 8.5/10]

The farce he had played when fretting over Elise is exposed as Iuchar whips out his Fortify staff and raises it high into the air, a bright light shining from it in tune with his desperation as he races towards her. He feels his own injuries become lighter, but is it because they too are healing or is it simply because his concern for another is strong enough to make his own pains feel as if they are nothing?

He knows not the truth, but what he knows is the hammering in his heart as he runs to her body on the ground and then skids to a stop just a few steps away.

“ Larcei, tell me you're alright...!! ”

He hadn't been thinking. His words come out far more straight-forwardly, but his rational mind comes back to him just after, forcing him not to finish the journey and inspect her person for any cuts or bruising that he potentially could not have mended away.

How could he run to her like a lover might? That wasn't his right. He had lost that, and now all he had to do was pray, this distance both physical and emotional.

His prayers are answered as he hears her grumble, rising back to her feet as she tries to mount her wyvern again. She seemed to be alright. She at least hadn't fallen on her head.

“ Blessed be the gods... ”

nohrslittleflower​:

The world changes again, and Elise can’t help but feel a bit disappointed that she didn’t end up getting to keep the big lizard thing. It was cool. She wasn’t all that attached to it though, so it’s fine. There was probably some reason she wasn’t allowed to keep it, and it most likely wouldn’t have fit in her room anyway… But riding to class on its back would have been, like, really REALLY cool though. 

Larcei’s call to action dragged Elise out of her lizard daydreams, much to her dismay, and into the real world. The world where they had to fight yet another thing. Doesn’t this place have any other games? This is getting kind of dull… Well, whatever. “I can help!”

Elise tightens her grip on her staff-turned-lance-turned-bow-turned-sword without much question as to why it turned sword and prepared to rush towards the enemy to attack. She took off as fast as she could, which wasn’t very fast because she is short and this sword is heavy, but she quickly changed directions once she noticed that one of her teammates wasn’t doing all that well.

Elise casts Fortify! +2 HP! (Larcei: 10/10, Kris: 10/10, Iuchar: 7/10)

Maybe she changed directions a little too fast, as she trips over her own feet and practically stumbles towards Iuchar, almost falling flat on her face. She doesn’t, though her healing wasn’t the strongest. Clearly because she missed and wasn’t able to tap him with her sword-staff! A very safe action that would not have gone wrong at all. Kind of weird that it seemed like the healing spread to everyone even though only one person is injured, but okay. We take those, I guess.

@swiftscion

or

@neirsung

    Iuchar's physical weapons turn to dust, replaced with a great surge of magical power flowing through him— the likes of which would be unfathomable for any typical direct descendant of Nál like he is. The projectionist's tricks return in full force, surprising even him. Though Iuchar had dealt with pretty powerful magic last year as well, it had been strictly concentrated in the ability to wield powerful staves.

She gifts upon him the chance to know what it is like to be full-fledged mage proper instead now, it would seem. He's not sure how to feel about it, other than that it tickles him a bit, this burning holy sensation running all throughout his body as it does.

He feels another wave of magic over him, healing his wounds as he moves forward to catch the pigtailed princess who bounds towards him.

“ Ah! Easy there, my dear! Should your pretty face suffer even one scratch, I think I might cry...! ”

Dramatic, but he was feeling well enough now with her aid to be able to toss such words around carelessly. He helps right herself back onto the flat of her heels, noting the presence of the almighty Fortify staff in her possession.

Just like him. Hopefully that'll prove useful to the rest of their party.

“ Thank you kindly, in any case. However, I must ask you to step back! I'm about to try something quite daring, you see. ”

He separates from her, turning to face the other soldier in their midst. He trusts Kris and Larcei to have the other side of the battle taken care of, and well, if he wanted to truly test his new capabilities, temporary as they are, it was best to experiment with them in an environment where he wouldn't risk accidentally shooting one of his allies instead while he got used to the feel of it.

Focusing on the mana that flows through his body now, he feels his body levitate off of the ground as he lets the power build and build...

Iuchar (7/10HP) hits Soldier A with Abraxas [Roll: 9 + 4 = 13, -4HP; Soldier A 16/20] Soldier A cannot counterattack Followup: Iuchar (7/10HP) critically hits Soldier A with Abraxas [Roll: 17 + 4 = 21, -8HP; Soldier A 8/20]

nohrslittleflower​:

Again, the world changed, and the small princess stared at everything in excitement and wonder, spinning around a little bit once it ended while giggling. The person who made this game was really good at making games! It almost felt real! Spinning around was a very effective way to take in her surroundings as fast as possible, even if it did take her a few spins to actually understand what she was looking at since it went by so fast.

Eyes landing on the enemy as her spinning finally died down, Elise let out a gasp. “It’s… so… cute!!” Elise squealed, hopping up and down in place as she stared up at what she saw as just a big friend. Oh, she wants to hug that thing so bad. It looks like it would be a good hug. It probably would like one.

Elise glances excitedly at her allies, only thing stopping her from tugging on their sleeves for attention being that she is NOT a child and that would be very childish, which she is NOT. Also that they’re fighting and she doesn’t wanna get in their way, but mostly the other thing. “Can we keep it?! Pleeeaaaasseee??” Elise does her best puppy-dog eyes, drawing out her please as long as she can.

Elise attacks with Blessed Bow! (11) -3.5 HP (Stalmandra: 38.5)

Another glance towards the enemy makes Elise realize that there is an even bigger one behind the one she had been referring to. She can’t have anyone think that’s the one she meant! That thing is way too big! It wouldn’t fit through the door! No way would anyone agree to that!

Watching the movements of those around her allows Elise to see her way out. Everyone is attacking it. As much as she doesn’t want to hurt it… it’s not as though they seem to bleed so far. They just disappear! They probably just run away! Or… faint? Yeah! Besides, if she does really good in this fight, everyone will be too impressed to say no! The perfect plan.

Holding up her javelin causes Elise go do a double take. Did this thing always bend like that? And have a string? …And was it always that… glitter…y? It’s pretty! Elise smiled to herself as she holds it up, about to just rush forward and start hitting things with the bow until she notices the arrows that apparently came with it. 

Oh. It’s a bow. That makes more sense. Elise holds up the bow the way she thinks she remembers the Hoshidan army doing so, blocking out everything else she remembers along with the Hoshidan army. She doesn’t really remember anyone in Nohr using a bow, but it can’t be that hard, right?

Firing in the general direction, the arrow hits her target fairly solidly, much to her delight, and the enemy is too far away to strike back in retaliation. “Hehe, yay! I did it!”

@neirsung

    Iuchar's wounds heal, and as he's looking around to see who could have done that, his first guess is to look towards Elise, their other team support, but when he does, he sees the arrow of her bow flying. It couldn't have been her then; she wouldn't have had the time to do so. But it evidently was no one near him either, for when he looks around, there is no longer someone around.

He's not given the time to puzzle over it, however, as the world begins to shake underneath the crash of their foe and there is nowhere that is safe from it.

[Tectonics] Iuchar receives -1.5HP from splash damage [Iuchar 8.5/10]

Bracing himself for the feeling of perhaps minor bruising from stumbling against it, he instead feels a wave of magic assault him, his only relief to be found in that he is not even the one who had taken the worst of the phantom's fury.

Taking a quick glance around at his team members, he sees them all still holding their own, strong in their own rights, and he knows from their last flurry of attacks that they all have found ways to attack from safe distances.

To arms, then.

Iuchar (8.5/10HP) hits x2 Stalmandra with One-Two Punch [Rolls: 8 & 5, -3.5HP/2 (Pavise) = -1.5HP + -3.5HP = -5HP total; Stalmandra 33.5/69] Stalmandra (33.5/69) hits Iuchar with Basalt Claws [Roll: 15, -2.5HP; Iuchar 6/10] Followup: Iuchar (6.5/10HP) hits x2 Stalmandra with Aura Knuckles [Rolls: 19 & 5, -5HP/2 (Pavise) = -2.5HP + -2.5HP/2 (Pavise) = -1.5HP = -4HP total; Stalmandra 29.5/69] Iuchar receives -1HP from Trample [Iuchar 5/10]

   Tossed from one round to another, the phantoms before them disappear, only for much, much larger ones to appear in their stead. They may be fewer, but they are monstrous and bulky, towering over the lot of them.

Iuchar had been waiting for this. He knew it would eventually come to a point where they would engage with a foe too mighty to be felled by even their combined efforts quickly and efficiently, and they would have to figure out a way to know just how to survive.

Thankfully, he feels his magic still with him, but the familiar axe in his hands has been replaced with large, golden gauntlets, functioning as an extension of his arms with claws reaching out. It would be difficult to be delicate with these for certain.

( Hardly the time to consider being delicate of all things, he knows. )

Turning his head, he sees his allies are for the most part in good condition save for one. He might as well remedy that situation now, not knowing exactly what to expect from their opponents this time.

Iuchar heals Kris with Recover [Roll: 18, +6HP; Kris 10/10]

swiftscion​:

Heat and haze fill the air as the battle continues. Larcei checks in on each of her allies during the brief intermission she takes to reposition, and though things have been getting rough, they’re managing. Good. 

The Banshee-wielding dark mage still presents itself as a threat to her team when it makes an example of Iuchar, though, so Larcei decides to focus on it for her next volley.

Larcei uses Killer Bow! Roll 1D20 = 18, crit! | Dark Mage B HP = 3/10

Larcei follows up with Killer Bow! Roll 1D20 = 1, miss! | Dark Mage B HP = 3/10

Her first shot is something to write home about: it whizzes into the side of the spellcaster’s head, entering through the ear canal to bury itself deep in the enemy. Like last time, however, her second shot is another fluke. As the mage manages to dance out of harm’s way, Larcei begins to wonder if there’s an advantage she loses by leaving a gap in time between a set of two shots. She thinks up an idea, and though it may sound a little crazy, she’s desperate to try anything to land a clean two-hit arrow combo.

But before she can reach for her quiver to prepare the next round of ammunition, the enemy priest strikes!

Priest A uses Seraphim! Roll 1D20 = 2, miss! | Larcei HP = 10/10

Luckily, the slow-moving ball of light is easy to dodge for an Isaachian. She skirts to safety and glares at the enemy, as if to promise them that they’d have their chance of being shot down by her soon enough.

UP NEXT: @unsungblade​ or @neirsung​ or @nohrslittleflower

  “ Ahh... ”  The effects of Banshee's might leaves him with the touch of Elise's healing, whether by coincidence or some divinity on the girl's part (a dramatic way to view a light bop to the head, he knows) he knows not, but what he does know is that it is as if a fog has lifted from his mind.

No longer paralyzed by magical means, he rises up to his feet, outstretching his hand as he waves it over in Larcei's direction. She continues to fight, as swift and spirited a force of nature as he remembers her, but there's still a danger to this.

The projectionist wouldn't leave any of them for dead, he knows, but the laws of this storybook are not as clear and he wouldn't like to chance it.

Iuchar heals Larcei with Recover [Roll: 10 + 4 = 14, +6HP; Larcei 10/10]

White magic pulses through him, brought to life as he finds he can force himself to move closer to her— the freedom and power to do as he wishes once more— and casts a spell to heal her wounds from before.

He's relieved to see it still works, no matter how long it's been since he's last chanted these words.

Looking back to Elise, he calls out to her in gratitude:

“ I must thank you, for had you not been there, I'm not so sure I would be in my right spirits again! You truly are an agent— no, a gift from the very heavens above! ”

Sing-song voice back to him now, he hefts his axe, switching back into what is more familiar territory for him.

“ Do wish me luck, won't you? ”  this he says to no one save himself, but he does turn to the Altean in their ranks, calling out to him,   “ Sir Kris, know I entrust my vengeance against that one shaman to you! ”

Dragging his axe behind him as he advances on the enemy priest, Iuchar brings his weapon up high before swinging it down in one deadly force.

Iuchar (7/10HP) hits Priest A with Helmsplitter [Roll: 11, -3.5HP; Priest A 3.5/13] Priest A (3.5/13HP) misses Iuchar with Seraphim [Roll: 4, -0HP; Iuchar 7/10]

But despite how heavily it comes down upon his foe, Iuchar lifts it back up like it is hardly anything, hopping out of the way of the phantom's second attempt at an attack against him. Faith magic explodes into nothing, and there Iuchar stands, safe and with a confident smirk.

unsungblade​:

          Larcei is far from the only one who grimaces at Elise’s choice of words. Nothing about fighting for one’s life could be constituted as ‘ playing ’, and no self-respecting warrior would take it as anything but an insult were they to be told such. Still, Elise takes the time to mend the other girl’s wounds, and Kris leaves it at that to refocus on the battle at hand.

Roll: 6. Kris hits Priest A for 3 damage! [ Priest A: 10/13 HP ] Roll: 8 - 4 = 4. Priest A misses Kris! [ Kris: 9.5/10 HP ] Roll: 9. Followup! Kris hits Priest A for 3 damage! [ Priest A: 7/13 HP ]

          The dark mages make for an obvious threat with their spells, but the Altean sets his sights on the priest instead, Killer Lance gleaming as he nudges his pegasus to fly lower. Like with the troubadour earlier, allowing them the opportunity to heal their allies would only prolong the fight in their favor. Removing them altogether is thus the way to go while Larcei is occupied with utilizing her greater attack range to shoot at the mages, and his lance strikes true with a heavy slice into phantasmal flesh before pulling away to avoid retaliation; Seraphim flying a ways into empty air before simply fizzling out.

          Circling back around to dive for the priest again, Kris scores a solid stab through their shoulder this time — as bloodless an affair as all the other times they’ve struck these phantoms, even when he tears the weapon back out and hardly a speck of grime so much as clings to the metal. He’ll never grow used to it, he thinks. Rising higher into the air once more to circle the area, steel-blue eyes eventually settle on a certain axeman, and the less-than-stellar state he’s found himself in.

next: @neirsung or @nohrslittleflower​ 

   To be a Dozel without Helswath was to be near defenseless against the throes of magic. Even with Helswath, to not be born for it still makes the disaster that comes inevitable rather than something that is surmountable.

Priest A (13/13HP) hits Iuchar with Seraphim [Roll: 6, -1.5HP; Iuchar 6.5/10] Iuchar cannot counterattack Dark Mage B (13/13HP) hits Iuchar with Banshee [Roll: 11, -2.5HP; Iuchar 4/10] Iuchar cannot counterattack Iuchar receives -1HP from Dark Mage B’s Poison Strike [Iuchar 3/10] Iuchar 3/10HP is incapacitated until Round 2 Player Phase

To be blinded by the light in one moment and then engulfed in darkness the next— it is a sensory experience few can rival. Seraphim kicks him up at his feet, seeing fit to burn him alive in its holy light and before the angelic feathers from it can dissolve, orbs of dark matter swirl around him and ensnare him in a tumultuous vortex, an inky darkness that feels endless as it sucks him back down to the earth and brings him to his knees.

For as many words as Iuchar speaks, he utters nothing now, nothing more than a strangled whimper that he can't even hear over the sound of the elements that drive against him. His body feels like it's on fire, something evil coursing through his veins as his thoughts grow distorted and his limbs feel weak, all only to be able to find its release in a sharp spike of pain and the pooling of his blood from wounds he couldn't tell you what order they were created with.

This is just as much an assault on the body as it is the mind, numbing him as it does. There's a part of him that knows to heal his wounded allies, but when Iuchar tries to reach out his hand to guide his mana, he finds his hand won't even respond to him anymore.

Oh gods, his hand won't respond anymore.

swiftscion​:

The previous arena fades, and in its place a new one materializes. All signs of their recent struggle–blood splatters on the floor, permafrost from expended Blizzards–disappear into nothingness. The only thing Larcei and her team have to remember their past battle is the collection of scars marring their bodies. Larcei, in particular, had been wounded the most.

But if she can still stand, then so can everyone else.

With a new fight come new weapons. This time, a gleaming Killer Bow has made its way into the little lion’s hands. She groans at its sight, detesting the use of long-ranged combat. It’s a step up from that puny Hand Axe, that’s for sure, but it’s not as thrilling as a good sword would be. Before taking it out for a spin, she’d offer a word to her allies,

“Good work in that last round… All of you.” Yes, even Iuchar, “You have my respect going forward. Now let’s show ‘em what we’re made of again, and fight our way outta this place!” 

The way to an Isaachian’s heart is through the sword; displaying one’s prowess in battle in front of Larcei is how one gets close to her. But enough with the sentimentalities. This is combat they’re in, not the relaxing atmosphere of the academy. As new specters take the place of the old ones, it’s easy tell that they’re stronger. Some have more intricate clothing and weaponry, others are equipped with ghastly steeds. It becomes clear, at least from Larcei’s first impression, that slacking here would not be an option.

She takes aim at her first opponent: the mounted Troubadour. All of her foes deal in spellcraft, but this one earns her scorn by being both mounted and a healer. If there’s one thing the raven-haired hates, it’s having her battles interrupted by an application of white magic, only to have the cleric ride off into safety.

Larcei uses Killer Bow! Roll 1D20+4 = 17, hit! | Troubadour A HP = 10/13

As the swift arrow flies through the air, Larcei can’t help but notice a strange familiarity with her weapon. She’d avoided bows like the plague her entire life, yet picking one up now and wielding it feels like second nature. Even at a distance much too far for her enemy to counterattack, her shot hits its mark.

Larcei follows up with Killer Bow! Roll 1D20+4 = 22, crit! | Troubadour A HP = 4/13

She has a hunch about being magically bestowed the perfect skillset to snipe her enemies down from afar, and it is instantly proven true with her next shot. 

With utmost precision, the projectile travels through the horse’s head and into its rider. Not only would the Troubadour take the damage of an arrow to the chest, but as the horse reacts to being felled, it flings the healer off in its struggle. The horse dissolves into the ground, but just as quickly as it was slain, a new one takes its place beneath the foe. It seems that the source of these ethereal mounts must be taken care of in order to prevent their rebirth.

“Huh. This actually ain’t too bad. How are all of your weapons holdin’ up?”

UP NEXT: @neirsung

   The stars are kind to him, because as they advance into the next round of the arena matches, Iuchar can feel magic, much stronger magic than before, course through him. Just like the last time the projectionist put them up to this then. Predictably, his weapon is also swapped out, but it would appear as if fortune continued to smile upon him by gifting him a weapon he was used to.

He recalls last time having to learn archery on the fly... much like Larcei was doing right now, in fact.  With the exact same weapon in the exact same round of the gauntlet match. He wonders for a second if the projectionist happened to have a twisted sense of humor about it all, but then again, that woman would have no reason to know his tale.

It is nothing more than arrogance to draw the parallels but it is impossible not to. Not when Larcei shoots as brilliantly with her first arrow as he remembers he had done with his first one as well.

Hah! This was no time to be getting lost in nostalgia. He lifts his new axe, thrusting himself into battle to chase away such troublesome thoughts. He was a fighter. This was the time to prove it.

1d20 roll: 3+4. Hit! Troubadour A's HP: 1.5/13. Enemy 1d20 roll: 10. Hit! Iuchar's HP: 8/10. Troubadour A's HP: 2.5/13.

Iuchar follows Larcei's lead, swinging his Killer Axe at the horseback healer, slicing into the troubadour's skin. The troubadour does not go down without a fight though, casting a rapid-fire charge of Nosferatu. A bright, heavenly light engulfs Iuchar soon after, bursting outwards and leaving behind a large shower of sparkles in its wake.

“ Hnngh..!! ”  The brunet winces against such holy magic, stumbling back against its effect as he feels a portion of his quintessence drained out of him and into the troubadour, closing up the wound he had just created on him part of the way.

unsungblade·:·

          Though Larcei seems to regard Iuchar coldly — ironic, as it was her that wound up caught in the enemy’s Blizzard spell — his axe certainly isn’t for show, brought down against another of their foes just as Kris had rid them of the first. Dashing, the other had said to him earlier. If anything the term better suits a man like Iuchar, with his charm and penchant for flowery words where Kris is but a man of the sword; merely a humble knight no matter how others praise him for his deeds. He’d said what he had as a matter of fact, that to escape they would truly need to fight as if their lives depended on it. Nothing more.

          Evidently, Elise does not feel the same way. She hesitates, her javelin failing to find its mark as a result, and he has to agree with Larcei on the matter of ‘ Mark ’. The phantoms are obstacles in their path to be removed, not friends, and Kris nods when she calls on him to strike next. “ Got it. ”

Roll: 13! Kris hits Recruit C for 2 damage! [ Recruit C: 2/8 HP ] Roll: 7 -2 (+Spd) = 5. Recruit C hits Kris for 0.5 damage! [ Kris: 9.5/10 HP ]

          While armed with little more than a sword clearly meant for training, this particular enemy had more up its sleeve than just that. Rather than move to attack, some manner of supportive ability enshrouds the remaining mage instead, albeit somewhat wasted with said mage also assuming the role of support for the gauntlet-wielder. Best to nip it in the bud at the source before it can turn into something troublesome, then, the Altean passing ahead of Larcei to cut a heavy slash across the phantom’s torso and bring it that much closer to oblivion. The training sword nicks him as he’s pulling back, but it is just that — a blunted weapon capable of bruising flesh at best. Nothing to be concerned about, at least not for now. “ Finish it, Iuchar! One more hit should do it! ”

next: @neirsung

   Whilst Elise convinces them all to exercise mercy and Iuchar is fretting over Larcei's condition, the enemies take their opportunity to rally their own forces.

ENEMY PHASE

Recruit C uses Rally Dexterity on Monk A. Monk A gains +4 to attack rolls and heal rolls until end of the end of the round. Monk A uses Torch on Noble B. Noble B’s hit rate has been increased by one level. Noble B’s hit rate cannot go up any higher! Noble B uses Steel Gauntlets on Iuchar. 2d20 roll: 20, 7. Crit! Hit! Iuchar's HP: 9/10. 1d20 counter roll: 10. Hit! Noble B’s HP: 6/8.

“ But it's you...! ”

How could he not worry, he almost says, but the coming force of might from the gauntlets-wearing phantom knocks into him before he can manage it, forcing his attention back on the threat in front of him. They land a flashy hit, but fortunately for him, the brawling seems to primarily be all style and little substance.

He may have gotten caught off-guard by the first hit, but Iuchar easily brings his hammer up on the second jab, avoiding taking any pain the second time. He shoves his opponent away, trying to force some distance between the two of them with the blow of his hammer against their ribs, when he hears Kris call his name.

It looks as if while he was preoccupied, they had been dealing with attacking Elise's new ‘friend.’ If he was to be called, then he supposes he needs to answer that.

He adjusts his grip on his weapon, sweeping in to try and strike at their target while they're weak, but the few seconds it takes him to move over there is enough to give the phantom the time to recover and dodge by leaping above the arc of his weapon...

1d20 roll: 4. Miss! Recruit C's HP: 2/8. Enemy 1d20 roll: 2. Barely Hit! Iuchar's HP: 9/10.

...and when they come back down, they bring their blade down upon him too.

unsungblade​:

          Wandering about the storybook world in search of a way out had turned out to be a largely fruitless endeavor since he first became trapped within it; every attempt to alter the course of events ultimately erased as reaching the end merely causes it to loop back to the beginning again. A man of weaker will would have come close to despair at the seeming futility of it all, but Kris is nothing if not exceptionally stubborn in this regard, determined to break free and return to his friends, his liege lord, by any means necessary. No other outcome is acceptable in his eyes.

          So a sudden shift in the scenery is a welcome change indeed, familiar even, after spending hours upon hours running in circles. The work of a certain mage again, of that he’s sure; the projected sword in his grip as tangible as the bows and spells given to him last time. Much like before, he isn’t alone in this fight either — an assessing sweep of the field reveals two friendly(?) faces and another student he doesn’t recognize as his allies, similarly armed and ready to fight their way out.

          “ We will make it out of this alive, ” he corrects, blue eyes adopting a steely glint as they settle on the enemies ahead. “ I’m Kris. I’ll do everything in my power to get us out of here. ”

Roll: 20! Kris critically hits Monk C for 4 damage! [ Monk C: 0/8 HP ]

          Though Larcei is the first to leap into action, the Altean knight is quick to follow her; darting past his half-frozen teammate and fully dispatching the phantom with a clean, slicing arc of his sword. It staggers momentarily, as if it were truly alive and not merely an illusion, before crumbling into motes of light. Now only three remain.

next: @neirsung, @nohrslittleflower​

   This dreadful business again. The scar over his chest throbs at the memory of these phantoms, recalling just how fearsome they could become— how much he had paid for battling them the last time.

Enough of that. He has new people beside him now with new opponents to face. Things do not have to go as poorly for him as they had last time. He is glad to feel a thrum of magic running through his veins again, having not touched it in all the months since.

He'd likely need it again if things were to take a similar turn.

“ Dashing, aren't you, Kris? ”  Iuchar tries to keep the mood light in response to the knight's intense words— anything to chase away this unsettling feeling stirring within him.  “ Well, to the maiden who knows not my name yet, it is my utmost pleasure to meet you. My name's Iuchar, dear. ”

Introductions must end quickly, Larcei charging in with Kris just behind her. But there were still more enemies to take care of. Iuchar takes hold of the hammer in his hand, he races in to bring his weapon down over another.

1d20: 8. Hit! Recruit C's HP: 6/8. Enemy 1d20 roll: 4. Hit! Iuchar's HP: 10/10.

It bashes them in the shoulder, but the heavy force is not enough to fully faze his opponent who returns his attack with a slash from their training sword in turn. It is barely a thing, Iuchar easily able to stifle any reaction he had.

No, what he worries more about is him seeing past his bout to see Larcei encased in ice.

damegalantea​:

Saint Seiros has come to town! Yep, you heard right. While Garreg Mach’s seen its fair share of impostors in the past, none so far have had the gall to impersonate the church’s founder herself. Whoever this lady is, she at the very least looks and sounds the part - she bears a striking beauty beyond words, and a commanding presence to go along with it. Is she here to stage a coup? Or maybe she’s just after the church-sanctioned taxes… Whatever the case, you need to land this broad and her impressively large following in jail like right this second. [Grants Faith +1]  

@neirsung

“I hardly see how all this is necessary,” Ingrid said, finally looking up from the stacks that failed to hold her attention; arms crossed, she turns to look at this Iuchar character who had managed to convince her this research was all for the good of the church.

The knight of Seiros who had let them into this backroom of historical documents looks over at her raised tone and she, awkwardly, smiles back and pretends to look at whatever page Iuchar has turned to. She’d thought the tip one of the other Blue Lions students had given her about an argument in the library over saints and sources would lead her to the false Saint Seiros that had been causing so much trouble recently, but instead it has just put her in the knights’ crossfire and all for covering for this student she’s never met.

“I know you did not grow up with the stories as those of us Fódlan born have,” Ingrid begins again, voice softer now, “but does that truly matter? There is a woman out there claiming to be the long dead founder of our religion. What possible reason could she have other than to stir disorder?”

   “ Oh, but it matters very much, my dear, ”  Iuchar replies as he thumbs through the pages of the books he's looking through. He's been in here for who knows how many hours, neck beginning to ache from it all, but he refused to give up even if his new company (who was just as opposed to his methodology as the previous student, he finds, even if she is less prone to shouting so far) saw little point in his efforts.

“ Let us say her purpose truly is to stir disorder. Even the most loathsome of people have motives beyond that. ”  Having finished with the book he'd been looking through, he reaches for another on his stack, keeping his piles organized between ‘read’ and ‘yet to read.’  “ Motive evidently others share, if her large following is anything to speak of. One can have all the charisma in the world, but if they have no sentiment with which to latch onto, then what is all the charisma worth with no one to be taken with it? ”

The next book is opened, fingers turning towards the index.

swiftscion​:

If Larcei’s skin had quills, they would be standing on end.

She’d recognize that voice anywhere. The way it soars into the sky before aiming its romantic tone at her heart is comparable to no other–this is Iuchar. This is the man who she’d abandoned several years back, though she never intended to. 

There have been moments along her journey when she considered the simple act of talking to his brother first. Was it the right thing for her to have done? She didn’t know he’d double down in his efforts against her army if she chose Iucharba over him, nor that speaking with Iucharba was choosing him at all! If things were different, she would’ve wanted them both to fight on the right side.

Iuchar could be insufferable at times, but he’s got some heart.

Yet as she dwells on the thought of it all, she shudders with rage. It was his fault he couldn’t just listen to reason and defect to her side! His fault he had to slink away from the battle and wind up here! 

Her teeth grind together in a snarl as she speaks, voice laced with venom, “You again…!” An argument is nearly started, but a draconic roar repeats Iuchar’s message: they’re strapped for time. “Hmph, don’t think this means I’ve forgiven you for what you’ve done. Keep that mouth of yours shut, and don’t even think about tryin’ to play the reckless hero! I want both of us to survive, so you can explain what you’re doing here.”

And that’s all she says. No proposed strategy, no coordinated assaults–nothing. She would much prefer they do their own jobs at hitting their foe as hard as possible, to spare herself any of his ridiculous antics.

Larcei is their first strike. Like the head of a comet, she charges in, leaving her slower partner to trail behind in the path she carves. It isn’t long before the deadly beast is within range, ready to be carved by her shooting-star sword. The Killing Edge is brought to her side, and with a tight squeeze on its hilt, ready to be be fired off.

As she leaps into the air, her blade becomes the crescent moon–slicing through scale and flesh like a bright light in the night sky. The dragon’s tail is cut clean off, left to fall against the street with a heavy thump! 

Larcei is speechless–expecting no less of herself–but the reptile is not. It screeches in horrific agony, causing several of the knights that issued Larcei their warnings to approach with fear. But as they do, the dragon lands. And it lands hard. Its clawed feet crush the ground beneath it, creating a shockwave which knocks the scion back. She loses her balance and flies onto the pavement, suffering a minor hit and winding up on the floor. The knights, on the other hand, stumble and halt their approach–now unable to remove her from the fight.

Though it’s been de-tailed, the dragon still presents itself as a fearsome beast. Its fury only grows as it looks down at Larcei, ready to devastate her with another attack. It’s in this moment that she realizes she’s gone in too deep, and for the first time ever, finds herself counting on Iuchar’s follow-up.

Let’s hope all that pomp and circumstance can distract the dragon long enough for Larcei to stand back up again.

   Oooooh, she's mad. She's really mad. He had heard a bit of it in her tone before, but when she turns to talk to him again after all this time, you'd think he was the one who had started the rampage against the town!

But despite all that, she tells him she wants him to survive. She still finds value in him yet, even if her choice had condemned him to death once.

It's strange, being told by someone that you were better off alive. He had always thought her virtuous, but he can't deny how it touches him—

“ If surviving means I shall hear your sweet voice utter my name again, then not even death herself could sweep me off my feet, my love! ”  

He knows she told him to just shut up, but to have a bit of normalcy brought back into this ridiculous situation, of ghosts come back to life and storybook dragons razing villages, encourages him to go back a bit to his old ways as well.

It feels right, and he has a personal mission now. He watches as Larcei soars into the air, as striking as he remembered her in how she moved, seemingly one with her blade as she makes clean work of their foe. Coordinating with her was going to be difficult, his weapon as unwieldly as it was if she would move that fast. The last thing he'd want to do was hit her by accident...

But the dragon gives little time to formulate a plan, striking the ground as it does. The tremor hits Iuchar too, having him hit the ground, but he's right back up again, yet to be deterred by a little bit of bruising.

He hefts his axe, rushing in and slicing against one of the beast's legs, noting how a blade could cleave through its tail seemingly effortlessly. His hunch proves true, and even though it is an awkward position, having to aim as low as he does, when he turns back to see what damage he's done, he hears the dragon before he even sees the wound.

It lets out another screech, losing its balance as a large gash rests above one of its front feet. It tries to retaliate, striking with its other front claw but Iuchar barely manages to raise his axe up in time to try and block the hit. It forces him back a bit, absorbing the shock of the attack as he does, but it could easily be worse.

nagaficat​:

Deirdre’s cheeks turn as red as her gown. In a way, she had expected this. He is far from the first to remark on her beauty. It is the first comment made when she is spoken about. She’s even heard songs sung by bards about her loveliness. But to hear it phrased so eloquently and by a child is something else entirely.

He speaks like a poet and she wonders if he enjoys reading. To be so well spoken at his age he must.

“It is not often that I am blessed to hear such pretty words. Why, the emperor is quite lucky that I have already given him my whole heart. Such lovely sentiment would surely capture the fancy of anyone you set your own heart on!”

There comes a point in the dance with a twirl. Deirdre laughs as she must duck as she spins under her partner’s arm. It is certainly not the most graceful she has ever been on the dance floor but she cannot deny her enjoyment.

“To answer your question, yes. My Julia is quite like me. I imagine I must have looked just like her when I was a girl. Julius is the spitting image of his father: handsome and proud with the fires of Velthomer burning in his eyes. Perhaps I shall extend an invitation to your mother to join us for tea with you and your brother before you return back to Dozel. Would you like that?”

    “ Ah...! You really think so?! ”  The young little Iuchar's glee shows itself through excitement. His mother always impressed upon him that how he wields his words was an important art to conquer, so to hear the Empress herself compliment him in such a way brings him to a state of delight unparalleled. It is the joy of being told that he could dare to hold such a dream, not even of having the dream of having one's ultimate love be returned, that sends him into rapture.

Empress Deirdre laughs, and Iuchar thinks it's the most beautiful laugh he's ever heard, too intoxicated on euphoria to think anything less.

At her invitation, Iuchar agrees instantly, happiness robbing him of the thought to be wary. Joy turns him into a fool, but he is too young to know yet what he risks in being foolish; all he knows is what satisfaction there is to thrust himself into it as his giddiness makes him even lighter on his feet with each turn of their dance.

swiftscion​:

Hic Sunt Dracones - or, in layman’s terms: Here Be Dragons. But where the warning inscribed on the monument at the center of town typically indicates dangerous or unexplored territories, it would appear in this case to prove literal. The creature swoops into town, spewing foul breath and roaring defiance. The Knight steps forth ere weapons can be brought to bear, pleading for the townspeople not to hurt it. But will you listen, or stand your ground? Either way, whether you defeat it, drive it out, or something else entirely, you find yourself at the beginning of the story all over again… [Grants Any Weapon +1]

Let’s get one thing out of the way here: Larcei is not listening to those knights. Not only would she be passing up the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of kicking the scales off a dragon with her own two hands, but as far as she’s concerned, these knights don’t know what’s good for them! Clearly this ravenous reptile shows no signs of peace, humanity, or slowing down. Larcei has watched that thing dump enough of its scorching-hot breath onto the earth to know that it’s not going to stop and ‘talk things out’ with the local authorities. She brandishes her sword–the curved Killing Edge–before turning her head to the side.

Where, oh where, is her partner? 

Last she checked, this was a two-person operation. She’s supposed to be in here with someone else, yet as her eyes scan the horizon, she notices not a familiar face. Maybe they’re late? Or perhaps they got sucked into the wrong book? That would be a catastrophe. She shudders at the thought, but if she’s in here alone, she may well meet her end. Larcei can be full of her usual confidence, but even she knows she can’t take down a beast of legends all by her lonesome. Now where could they be…

‘Right behind’ would be the obvious answer, but she isn’t considering that right now. From her position, she’s facing the exact spot she appeared when she first entered this realm. She looked left, she looked right, and she even got up on her tippy toes to look further into the distance, but she’s sure she would’ve noticed if they crept behind her. No, instead of simply turning the hell around, her gaze does a ping-pong between the dragon and her point of entry. Her companion has to be showing up soon, and she’ll grab them to discuss strategy the second they pop in. Not that she has much of a strategy, of course, besides running in and cutting the thing to pieces.

But if they don’t do so before the dragon situation gets worse, she’d be forced to attack. It isn’t easy monitoring both points when the village is under constant threat of being burned down, so the swift scion prays this get solved fast. Beads of sweat appear by her forehead, and a low grunt can be heard masking the sound of her rapidly-tapping foot. “C’mon… C’mon, c’mon, c’mon. Someone… Anyone…!”

She’s getting impatient, and as anyone can tell you, you don’t want Larcei to get impatient.

@neirsung

     Learning the ins-and-outs of the land one has been tossed into is the most important thing to do. The feeling of being lost in an unfamiliar world can only be fixed with conscious effort to help alleviate that. To wallow in despair just because you don't seem to fit your environment was not the only option.

He had learned that lesson when he was younger. It is a lesson he keeps close to his heart even now, thrust into as strange a situation as he is now. Iuchar was mapping out the world of this storybook when he sees danger strike from the skies.

A dragon had come, and it was posing a threat. Iuchar had to move. He knows from his observations already that it had flown towards the center of town, and so he gives chase. He braces himself for any scene imaginable... houses could be in ruin, broken bodies could be littering the streets, utter pandemonium could be there to greet him once he catches up...

...but the one thing he hadn't prepared himself for was to be met with the image and sound of the very woman he had once gambled his every hope upon.

He couldn't mistake her voice for any other. No matter how long it's been since he's last heard it, that impatient cry sounds just as he remembers it. Her backside was just as familiar to him, a sight he had ingrained into his mind— the sight he had seen when rushing to meet her for a date and the sight he had seen before his younger brother came to cross blades with him.

He falters for a moment until the heat of the dragon's flames hitting the sky remind him of the urgency of the situation, and he pushes past wistful memories as he wields his own weapon, falling into step beside the woman whose visage could never escape his mind.

“ Allow me to assist you! Do forgive me for keeping you waiting. I would explain, but we're quite pressed for time now, are we not? ”

Killer axe at his side, he peers up at the beast that ravages the town now and threatens to burn it to cinders. Staring at it is easier. Thinking of how they ought to try and solve this problem of horrific proportions felt easier than addressing the elephant in the room.