magus .

— @cynthero​ & @jehannanmage​ .

°。☾ 。° — Ricken just wanted fish. It was a busy day out in the open waters of this extravagant resort where worries never existed. The mage was looking forward to fishing up some fresh seafood, but didn’t quite expect to nab... this.

“I don’t think people should eat this...” It was a strange variant of an ordinary octopus. It’s skin was a pink of varying shades, eyes big and yellow. It bloated up like a pufferfish and for a moment, Ricken feared its head will blow up right in his face. It retained its shape and form as it expands, and when it reached a certain size, it started hovering above ground. Ricken had to hold on to its tentacles to keep it from escaping, but soon found himself taking off. 

There’s an immediate sense of dread when his foot starts to leave the sands, and flailing them did absolutely nothing to keep them from further leaving.

— @celestialbloom .

°。☾ 。° — They called her Celica, he’s sure he heard it right. The similarities didn’t end with just the name. She embodied how Ricken imagined the first Queen of Valm  — no, Valentia — as described in books. Soft, red hair, almost like fire when the light hits her just right. She’s radiant, just like her namesake. She even had the mark of Mila on the exact hand, too! 

He knew this was all a figment of his imagination, but to dream about the Queen of Valentia herself... ( Wow! This must be the result of binge reading her tome on the way to Fódlan... )

History books tended to exaggerate heroes but Ricken believed it, word for word. She was described as the Queen of Valentia that ruled with wisdom and compassion... not only that, she was a brilliant sage, too! Her compassion led to the research of tomes to lessen the strain on the body, and as imperfect as the magic was back in her age, she was still able to accomplish so much!

°。☾ 。° — Lorenz caught Ricken at a bad time. He’s sitting by himself, tome on his lap and fried fish currently being gobbled up. He liked fresh fish, he liked it when someone approached him about magic, but not all at the same time.

“Salu — ack, a bone! Hurk — ah, ahem! Hi! I’m Ricken, and err, yes, I’m from Ylisse.” Not his finest introductions... “I'd love to talk! Oh, oh, I have a tome right here that I was studying.” ( And maybe using to cook fish... ) “It’s one of the tomes made by the 15th Queen of Daein... it produces the most brilliant flames I’ve ever seen...”

This goes on for a while — a while too long for someone competing, but Ricken is just too excited to have someone to talk with! His first new friend in Fódlan... even it it was just in a dream, it still felt nice.

oracliisms​:

{ open }

Ninian stands at the end of the pier, the cries of seagulls in her ears as she watches the ocean.

The hem of her dress sways gently in the sea breeze, brushing against her knees. Though the oracle’s hat shields her face from the sun, heated rays still touch her shoulders, warming her skin in a way she is wholly unused to. It is not often Ninian wears clothes that reveal so much of her skin, a quirk of hers thought to be rather strange, considering her ‘profession’ as a dancer.

Sacred dances, to honor the spirits… the conservative garb of a priestess… remnants of her old life remained, even now. It isn’t much, she knows. But it gives her something to hold onto. A faint sense of purpose, as she searches for a goal… a meaning, to the life she leads now. 

Even in this dream, she finds herself at a loss. 

None of these faces were familiar to her. And she’s never quite visited a beach before, so she had the foggiest clue as to what a person would do at one.

The creaking of wooden boards interrupt her thoughts, and Ninian turns to look over her shoulder, strands of azure swept up by a sudden gust of wind. She softly smiles at the person who has approached her, eyes sparkling with warmth.

“…Hello. Have you come to watch the ocean, as well?”

°。☾ 。° — Ricken loved the beach. There was always something fun to do or something good to eat. Even his poor family enjoyed visits to the beach with what little they had. He had nothing but fond memories... Even so, he knows he shouldn’t be in here. When he opened his eyes, he was greeted by sandy shoes and the beautiful blue waters. He’s supposed to be in Garreg Mach, preparing for his first day. 

It must be a dream.

There was a voice in his head that come and went, but he doesn’t remember what they said. Any attempts to recall what transpired made his head hurt, so he stopped. Instead, he explored the beach and what it had to offer. He can catch fish and cook them himself... maybe shoot down a coconut afterwards... 

When he reaches the shore, he doesn’t find a boat and fishing supplies, but finds a woman instead.

She looked so serene... and beautiful! Looking at her alone made him blush. He shouldn’t stare too long. She almost looked ethereal. When he was reading up on the origins of magic, a few tomes spoke of nature spirits. If nature formed beings after themselves, perhaps this woman was water itself. Her soft blue hair reminded him of the ocean, and the way it gets swept gently by the wind makes it feel like she’s a living portrait.

“Um, hi!” He should have just nodded, but the honest lad in him couldn’t lie to such a well-meaning woman. Or any person... “Uh, no. I was just curious... you looked very peaceful here.” 

( I think it’s too rude to call her a ghost... )

If she did come to simply watch the ocean, he can’t blame her. Honeyed eyes set forward, his lips quickly tug into a giddy smile. The air was so refreshing and the clear blues that extended far beyond his eyes can take him made him forget about the memories he can’t piece together and the voice he’s forgotten. 

vermilique​:

sunisoleil​:

her weapon falls from her hands.

             and she crumples to the floor along with it.

the ground lets her knee sink into it like an animal sinks it’s teeth into prey; but unlike the animal, she doesn’t tear away. lungs work in a frenzy to provide her the air to live— after all that had been lost. she’d watched as the dragon-winged girl ahead drove it’s spear right into the beast, heard it scream and writhe in it’s painful last moments. soleil didn’t even know what to think; part of her should feel accomplished, hateful even— but the other simply feels remorse. 

in her peripheries, lady camilla turns and excuses herself from the scene. the carcass trembles, whatever darkness left of it seeping into the earth, deep below. death wasn’t new, no. but the number of times you’d have to see it never numbed the next. 

quietly, she stands. her sword is messily sheathed; shield strapped to her back. everything she feels is sore, and her face contorts between a sob and a smile. her steps are slow towards the dead, but she continues to move; eyes set on the messy shock of blue hair, laced with grime and blood. he’s as expressionless as he was alive, but she couldn’t really judge— she hadn’t known him for that long anyway. the strings of her heart twang regretfully. she could’ve.

soleil crouches down next to him. 

         “hey, teach. let’s get you home, yeah?”

lareinacordelia​:

     His words only fuel her frustrations. How ignorant was he to say these without worrying about what happens to them? Pain is the least of their concerns. Pain, they can endure. They may have escaped it somehow, but life once lost… there’s no going back once its truly over.

     ❝ You only say this because– ❞ You didn’t see yourself die. No, she can’t say that. He’ll kick himself for it again. She pauses before she continues, her hold on him only tightening. He needs to understand the severity of the situation. He has to! ❝ What makes you so sure this is not a one time thing? We could die again, and that’s it! I told you, it’s not wise to– ❞

                                                  We have to help.   

     As Ricken breaks free and walks away, Cordelia closes her eyes, brows so furrowed they were almost mashed together. The voices of the dead insist she must value her life, her insulted heart insists she fight on and play this game out of spite. 

                                                  Are you with me?

     She opens her eyes and stares back at Ricken waiting for her response. A single step forward is taken, her Iron Lance held. The lavender skies will soon shift, and so too will their fate. As morning comes, she can only trust there’s more to their purpose in this time instead of merely being pawns to someone’s game. Cordelia draws in another breath of air. Ricken… must you make me choose like this?

      ❝ I’ll test out this curse. See if it makes us truly ‘blessed’ like you said. Swear to me you’ll leave it up to me. This is not up for debate. ❞ If we cannot escape this, then I’ll play along this maddening game. She exhales and moves to the mage’s side, eyes ahead and set for camp. ❝ …if you agree, I am with you. ❞

°。☾ 。° — Ricken isn’t certain they’ll wake up in these roads again should they die a second time. He’s not that childish... It’s not too impossible to consider the forces that brought them here to fight a battle they had no relations to felt gracious enough to make sure they won’t lose their lives here. He wants to believe in that!

Waiting for her answer was a nightmare, but when she walked forward, he finds hope. He knew she’d never turn down those that needed help, even if she’s angry. He would have turned around and start heading back to the camp with a renewed heart if not for the preposition Cordelia made. He stammers, immediately wanting to say no, “W-what?”

( But that’s not fair! If you’re testing it out that means... you plan to... no! )

What she implied was horrifying to Ricken. How can he even agree to that? Even so, to lose Cordelia in this fight and to go back alone means losing 10 more people. She’s stronger than he is, in mind and skill... if he can’t be the best combatant, he at least plans to bring in someone that is.

Wordlessly, he agrees, only then turning back to camp and trudging on despite knowing of the chaos that lies ahead. There’s no certainty their lives are safe, but Cordelia doesn’t have to test anything out. He’ll try to protect her better this time. The words that formed the incantations he needed played in repeated in his head as they headed back. He needs to get it right next time. No more fumbling... no more dying... he swears it.

darklingdragon​:

Something pinged in the back of her mind - what it was exactly, she couldn’t place, but she had an idea. It was best not to look down, her instinct told her. A familiar question replayed itself in her head; What can we do to end this without any more good people dying? Ephraim didn’t give her an answer that time, and he wasn’t here to do it now. 

Twisting her lance in hand, Myrrh dove down towards the beast and blinked as she tried to  see where to attack, readying herself. There.

roll: 5 (miss!)

cervid husks’ roll: 18

As she stepped back to slash forward, it suddenly turned on her. Without any time to react, one of its hooves came down atop her. The weapon left her hand as she gasped, diving out of the way. Too slow - it clipped her arm. No noise left her at the shock of the blow and Myrrh fell. She knew she was crying (when had she starting crying? she couldn’t recall) and it blurred her vision.

Using her good arm, she re-armed herself and darted away, before returning to the sky. If she’d been human surely that would have been worse, she thought. And yet… How much more could she take? It didn’t matter - she would not stop until her body completely gave up on her. Hopefully that was later rather than sooner. 

-> @prodigiosusmagus​

°。☾ 。° — The small dragon gets knocked out of the air for a moment, and Ricken could do nothing but distract it with wind magic to keep it from pursuing her for long. It docks out of the way, but at least she’ll be safe for another moment. “Just hold on for a while longer! I’ll keep it distracted! ”As he’s about to start chanting again, his body loses strength and he falls completely to the floor, face planted on dirt and mud once more. “H-huh?” He’s confused. He was fine just a moment ago, dishing out spells like usual. All he needs to do is say the incantation, form the sigil, and — “Hgggh!” 

( It hurts... )

He’s endured it long enough. It wasn’t just the cuts from earlier. If he lifted his shirt, he’s sure an ugly purple would greet him if he looks at his chest after being rammed and trampled on by the monstrosity. The blood loss is getting to him too... 

Trembling hands try to lift itself up, but fails.

   Ricken misses his attack on the Cervid Husk! 3.5/40 HP

The monstrosity must have taken pity on him. It’s aim doesn’t improve even if Ricken is the easiest target now on the field. Wind that could have sliced him so easily miss and fly pass him. 

 Cervid Husk misses his attack on Ricken! Status: CRITICAL

cashandaxes·:

Charlotte gains distance on the archer as they prepare to knock another arrow.  She’s hurt and she’s not about to let this asshole do anymore damage to her or the mage boy.  She grapples with them, trying to wrestle the bow out of their grasp.

The enemy archer is quick and uses the arrow they’re holding to stab her in the chest.  Charlotte screeches in pain, eyes seeing red but no longer literally.  She shoves the archer to the ground and slams their head into the dirt until they are no longer moving beneath her.  She stands up, pushes her bloodstained hair from her face, and turns toward Ricken.

“Come on.  Unless you know any healing spells, you’re taking me to a healer.”

°。☾ 。° — Ricken hesitates with his spells as his eyes start to fool him. That happened before, too. At first he thought it was just the fire, but he’s not even using fire spells this time. He blinks repeatedly and shakes his head to snap back. Red. The colors are red.

When he comes to, the blonde was already done beating up the archer. He doesn’t dare look at what became of their head but does look at their uniform. Still red. His eyes must have been deceiving him earlier... he could have sworn, for a moment, it looked like the color of the Alliance.

Charlotte’s voice cuts through his thoughts. It must have been her bloodied state, or the fact she just beat up a soldier with her fists... but Ricken feels compelled to agree with her even if he knows they’ll be alright. “Y-yes Ma’am!”

He’s not sure where the healers or the stock of vulnerary are... but they’re bound to find it somewhere... 

lareinacordelia​:

     ❝ The dreams elude many things. We cannot rely on it. If anything, all it does is toy with us. ❞ There’s a hint of resentment in her tone, unbecoming of Cordelia. Their insult to life still irks her, unable to stop thinking about Phila and the rest of her family. She tunes out some of Ricken’s words when he ponders about how many times they can use this ‘gift’, only to snap back into reality once more when he starts to apologize.   

     ❝ Ricken. Do you hear yourself? You JUST died! I’ll not allow another mention of this! ❞ She shakes him by the shoulder, refusing to let him continue doubting himself even if she herself fell prone to that kind of mentality. He always worked hard to prove himself, even back then with the Shepherds. Cordelia feels responsible over the young mage. If only she was stronger, she would have protected him and saved them both. Alas, she did not deserve the praises she receives and the titles given to her. Clearly, she was still too weak. ❝ Do not blame yourself. I saw what you did – you helped me, Ricken! It is unfortunate that they severely outnumber us. That, and they attacked without getting noticed, no one is prepared to fight back. ❞    

     She lets out a long exhale, her gaze shifting to the way back to camp. Her grip on Ricken’s shoulders tighten, frustration and… anger welling up inside her. ❝ …I’m conflicted with going back. This is not our fight. If our life is being toyed with, we can safely assume the rest are in the same situation. We can fight back without fear nor worry about death– but to depend on this curse is folly and insulting. ❞ 

°。☾ 。° — Sometimes, Cordelia can be incredibly intimidating. Her anger isn’t directed at him... even so, his trembling stops only because he’s freezing under her anger. “If... if you say so.” He wants to argue, but she’ll just insist he has no fault in this. He swallowed the consuming guilty from his uselessness and listens to her.

He already knows she’s angry. The hesitation to return, on the other hand, takes him by surprise. It wasn’t like Cordelia to hesitate like this. Something lied beneath the anger and frustration, he just doesn’t know what it was. Her words make sense... and he wants to agree. However, as he looked around, what he sees  — or doesn’t see — concerns him.

The soldier they killed was nowhere to be found and surely by now, more lives have been slayed. No one else appeared in the road, proving their suspicions its only the time travelers that can abuse this life miracle. He would have been relieved to now he can live and make up for his blunders... if not for the dread he feels for those still fighting without the same blessing they had.  

“...we can’t leave them to die. Those soldiers... they will die if we don’t help them!” He’s not sure why she’s worked up like this, but anger can easily cloud one’s judgement and he needs to have Cordelia thinking straight right now. She calls it a curse... but he thinks otherwise. “We can use this blessing in our favor! It might be painful...” (Very painful...) “...but if we keep at it, we can counter the difference in numbers with it!”

He breaks free from her hold, lessening the intimidation by looking away. No longer caged, he starts marching back to where the camp is, “We can’t stall any longer, Cordelia. We... we have to help. We just have to.” He looks back, hand clutching his shirt as the fear of meeting the same fate returns. Backing away isn’t an option. He’ll work pass the fear... and help!

progenitorheart​:

In hindsight, it was foolish to carry on in spite of the wounds dealt to him by the galestorm.

CW: gore, death.

next: @prodigiosusmagus​ or @sunisoleil​

Keep reading

°。☾ 。° — The books lied when they mentioned Wind is less powerful than the other Animal spells. Ricken kept running as he attacked, out of fear the demonic beast would get to him. He’s seen it pierce his companions throughout this fight, yet what gets to him is not the antlers, but a sharp gust of wind, encompassing the entirety of the open plains. Ill-equipped and with nothing to defend himself with, Ricken feebly attempts fight wind against wind to shield himself.

                                                             𝖜𝖎𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖇𝖑𝖔𝖜𝖘 𝖙𝖍𝖗𝖔𝖚𝖌𝖍 𝖍𝖔𝖑𝖑𝖔𝖜 𝖘𝖐𝖞 —

He fails to even finish his incantation, magic circle shattering before his eyes as he’s bombarded with sharp wind. Robes torn, flesh cut, Ricken realizes it’s not the quick death fire brings upon he should fear, but the torture the deathly winds offer them.  

    Cervid Husk Critically Hit Ricken! Status: CRITICAL

When the wind has subsided, Ricken falls to his knees, cuts of varying depths all over him. In a matter of seconds, he’s painted red. The sweet escape of death tempts him, the stinging pain unbearable. He can still move if he tried — ( do i want to try? )  — a voice told him he’ll awaken back in the roads should he suffer a lethal blow, but another begged not to go down that route. To escape death is one thing, to experience repeatedly is another.

It’s a loud crunch that brings him back to his senses. Where the monster is, another man lies before it. The Professor of their time failed to outrun the beast, and in turn — ( no, it’s okay! he’ll live! he’ll live! ). Death was never easy to witness. The trembling returns, and with a gaped mouth, Ricken extends his open palms once again. He relies on the thought the Professor will return. He speaks through the fear and the doubt, a ruby red sigil right below the monster and what remained of the Professor. 

                                                   𝖑𝖔𝖓𝖌-𝖉𝖔𝖗𝖒𝖆𝖓𝖙 𝖘𝖕𝖆𝖗𝖐 𝖆𝖘𝖑𝖊𝖊𝖕 𝖎𝖓 𝖉𝖚𝖘𝖙,                                                     𝖆𝖜𝖆𝖐𝖊 𝖗𝖊𝖉 𝖋𝖑𝖆𝖒𝖊, 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖜𝖔𝖗𝖑𝖉 𝖊𝖓𝖌𝖚𝖑𝖋!

From below, earth and fire collide, magma erupting in a giant burst, coating both the menace and the victim.

    Ricken hit the Cervid Husk for 3 dmg! 10.5/40 HP

Still on his knees, Ricken expects the creature to charge at him again. Instead, it flails through the magma, summoning forth more gusts of wind, this time, less accurate, more random than aimed. Ricken covers his face with his arms, his cuts deepened, but nothing as severe as the first.

  Cervid Husk Barely Hit Ricken! Status: CRITICAL

progenitorheart​:

The not-quite-flesh making up the stag’s body stretches and knits itself back together, but the process is a slow one and cannot outpace the rate at which it is being cut apart. Injuries accumulate on their side—some worse than others, looking at the bulky swordsman in particular—emphasizing the necessity of ending the battle sooner rather than later with no one in the immediate vicinity capable of using healing spells.

Hooves pound against the dirt, the husk’s head lowered with intent to impale another on its antlers—still stained with blood from its earlier success—as it thunders toward him with a scream that could almost be mistaken for human.

Cervid Husk rolls a 4 and misses! Byleth rolls a 10 to attack with Wrath Strike! Cervid Husk: 21.5/40 HP.

An idea comes together, risky though it might be—Byleth breaks into a run in its direction, nimbly avoiding its wrath at the same time his blade moves in a flash of steel to shatter bone with a resounding crack. The beast howls, now missing a substantial portion of its antlers as the remains fall to the ground in pieces, and the professor falls back to make room for another’s followup. “Don’t let up! Keep hitting it!”

// next: @sunisoleil​ or @prodigiosusmagus​

°。☾ 。° — Witnessing the regenerating monster was mortifying and would have been disheartening if not for the strong resolve of those that stand with him. He has ways to go, much to learn. But if they are to stand tall and fight, then so shall he!

Another long exhale, hands outstretched and lifting the unseen. Focus. A muttered word later, and the fruit of his studies taking form. Release. The ground quakes in the path of the rampaging stag, fire erupting once again and disrupting its movement once more.  

     Ricken hit the Cervid Husk for 2 dmg! 19.5/40 HP

The lava spreads, and the dark eyes of the angered creature finds Ricken mid-casting. The spell disappears, and the young mage makes a run for it. It’s coming towards him again — ( No, the antlers. At least dodge the antlers! Move, legs, move! ) “A-ah!!”

   Cervid Husk Barely Hit Ricken! Status: Injured (Yellow) 

Ricken’s face meets the ground as he leaps to the side, barely dodging another ram. His body already ached from one hit alone. If he’s not careful for even moment..!

progenitorheart​:

This isn’t their war to fight.

They shouldn’t even be here.

In spite of this, they march toward Gronder Field to do exactly that, wary of one another after the tragedy they unwittingly took part in. The Emblem of Trust inscribed on his heart, on the hearts of everyone whisked away from their reality and into this one, seems to mock them, for there is no trust to be found here. Only the opposite, along with a growing sense of unease for what is to come.

If they die on this battlefield, will they resurrect as some of their number did before? Or will they perish for good, never to return to their own world?

          he prays they do not have to find out.

But they never reach their destination—instead, blades are raised in response to the triad of creatures that were once allies, a strategy is formed to divide the foe and neutralize them individually. Twin voids of malevolent red stare back—

          don’t think about how that thing had been claude just a moment ago.                                                                  it’s not him anymore.

—and Byleth dashes forward to attack, sword’s edge singing as it arcs and slices into the deer’s leg as Shigure did before him.

// Byleth rolls an 8 to hit! Cervid Husk: 36/40.

// Cervid Husk rolls 11 to counterattack.

Enraged, the deer’s antlers pulse with dark energy, firing a bolt that collides with him faster than he could have moved to avoid it. The force throws Byleth back, body hitting the ground and rolling a few feet before stopping; picks himself back up with not a second to waste because it’ll take more than a single blow to incapacitate him.

…If he squints hard enough, the beast’s wounds appear to be slowly stitching themselves back together. Fun.

// next: @prodigiosusmagus​

°。☾ 。° — At the far back of the Alliance is Ricken questioning his purpose in this war. Blessed with the gift of life once lost, he contemplates sharing this information without being labeled mad. Cordelia understands him. She died with him. But what of the others? 

( To tell anyone of this might cause them to try away their lives needlessly.... )

In the end, he hasn’t told a single soul of this, his thoughts interrupted by cries from afar. Soldiers scatter all at once, a sea of yellow not nothing more but fleeing ants as if poured by water. Ricken stumbles and crouches down, head protected as he almost gets trampled on.

“W-what’s going on! Please stop!” His cries are answered with further shouting, all of the soldiers pointing in different directions. Some to the sky, some further ahead. Ricken does not have the luxury of finding out for himself, the source of the soldiers worry meeting him face to face instead. When he finally manages to stand up and get his bearings, a force from right behind him shoves him forward, a pair of black antlers the last he sees before he gets rammed and trampled on by some rampaging beast. 

     Cervid Husk Injured (Yellow) Ricken!

Attacks from those more alert and aware of the situation allow him to scramble once more to his feet and distance himself from the monstrosity he now finally sees. A large deer like creature stands before them, hovering not too far are two wyverns-- one skeletal, the other brimming with corruption. Ricken takes a sharp inhale as he processes all of this at once. Already he was bruised and cut all over. 

( Don’t just stand there! )

Monsters were easier to fight than humans  and although he’s confused to what’s happening, he will not cower in fear. He takes a deep breath, hot air let out as he channels fire magic again. With open palms stretched out towards the creature, Ricken shouts out, “Bolganone!”  

      Ricken hit the Cervid Husk for 2 dmg! 34/40 HP

A sigil forms directly below the creature, a pool of magma quickly rising and burning it. It’s sporadic movement lets it get away and while it wasn’t the cleanest hit, the cry of pain indicates it at least hurt it. ( Keep it up! )

lareinacordelia​:

     His words soothe her enough to quell the rain. It takes her seconds to stop holding him tight. She grew more and more aware that the mage in front of her truly is there, and with one final squeeze, she pulls away to finally get a better look at him.

     Like an overbearing mother hen, Cordelia checks up on the seemingly physically able Ricken, no sense of personal space observed as she looked for any injuries he possibly sustained. He doesn’t seem burnt, no indications visible of what he suffered just moments ago. She’s unable to wrap herself around how this could be happening. Did they somehow cheat death? ❝ How are we alive? ❞ 

     Her thoughts return to a story of long ago– of knights in winged horses, and an order for a single unit among many others to fall back. She lived while they didn’t, her life a debt she can never repay. If she was truly able to cheat death from claiming her in her moment of weakness, why couldn’t they?

°。☾ 。° — Trembling hands continue to hold on to the confused knight, every bit as confused as she was but he steels himself enough not to break entirely. When she pulls away, his eyes were still closed, face scrunched up and holding back the fear and dread. Some books detail life after death. Reincarnation being one of the methods, another being the presence of paradise for the souls. Their memories and their bodies remain the same, so it was neither of those. If it was just him that recalled what transcribed, he’d call it a dream. Cordelia’s reaction disproved that. 

“I... I don’t know.” He opens his eyes, amber appearing glassy. He looks down to his hands, the trembling never ceasing even as he grips it tight. The fire that burnt him were no more, and his body, although it ached, was no doubt in better shape. “It might have to do with the fact we’re not of this time... but the dreams never mentioned anything about rebirth, only death and betrayal.”

The dream still makes very little sense from the perspective of an outsider. Ricken hasn’t fully divulged into the intricacies of Fódlan politics and recent events did not make it any more appealing. He’d rather invest his time and dedication to tomes to further his magic — yet even if he did read up on history books, he doubts he’ll analyze this situation well. 

He goes silent while he tries to think this through. No concrete answer comes to mind, obscured by memories of the battle they escaped. As they stayed here, safely talking, others were sacrificing and no doubt losing their lives. They might have the gift of rebirth, but the Alliance soldiers may not have that safety net. “If it affected both you and me, we can safely assume it’s only for those forcibly brought to this time — b-but there’s no telling how many times we can do this! Life and death should not be played with, and — ”

Death... right. He forgot one thing.

lareinacordelia​:

    Cordelia wakes up and sees lavender and orange hues in the sky, the morning twilight ever so beautiful. Yet, despite the beauty and wander, the paragon knight feels her heart ache. There’s something cold running down her cheeks. Her eyes were set on the sky and she finds it odd. There were no clouds directly above her but why was it raining?

    There’s shuffling not too far from her, and it’s only then does she lift her head and rise from the ground. Her body demands rest. It aches just as badly as her heart. Her head follows shortly after. The pain is ignored, however, when he sees a messy mop of brown hair in the distance, innocent amber eyes looking around without a woe in the world.

    ❝ Ricken? ❞ She calls out weakly, her brain still processes seeing him. He looked so innocent as he looked around, confused and dazed. Cordelia on the other hand is closer to hurt than confused. The splitting headache increases as she recalls what just happened, the last image of fire being thrown to her face now so vivid, she recoiled and tried to slap it away even though there was nothing there that was harming her.

    ❝ H-huaah! What is… how… ❞ Cordelia stammers as she stops slapping thin air. She looks at Ricken, horror painted in her eyes, lips quivering. She died. He died. And yet, why were they here now? She pushes herself up and ran to Ricken, her hands reaching for his face immediately. His cheeks can be stretched, and it felt warmth. He’s not an illusion. And more importantly: ❝ You’re alive… ❞

    The rain continued to fall, and Cordelia tightly wrapped her arms around her long time friend and ally to shield him from it.

°。☾ 。° — In the middle of processing what just happened, a voice breaks Ricken’s train of thoughts. A voice he often heard in the battlefields and training grounds  — no, that was an understatement. She’s always all around the camp back in the day! Ricken turns around, ready to greet the paragon knight excitedly until he sees tears streaming down her face. He reaches for her automatically wanting to comfort her somehow, but she beats him to it. She played with his face as if trying to confirm something. “C-cordelia? Hey — stop stretching my cheeks — Cordelia! Are you okay? What are you — ”

The young mage stands perfectly still as she wrapped her arms around him. ( What did she just say...? ) “ — Cordelia...?” Ricken raises his arms to wrap itself around her, still confused as he processed waking up, and seeing her in tears. Waterworks wet his chest as Cordelia continues to weep, and as he reached deep into his brain to figure out why, he remembers.

The Empire’s attack that happened at dawn, the fire that swallowed him, and the helpless feeling at his last moments — everything. He died. If he woke up here after dying, and Cordelia’s here as well, there’s only one conclusion he can think of: she died, too. He died and left her to suffer the same fate.

( Was all of this real? That can’t be... )