#divinexking

/cough 

The high stone walls of the castle before him were unlike any Ephraim had ever seen. It was bigger than Castle Renais, but far less terrifying than Grado Keep often was. The surrounding city was bustling and lively, making the towers and spires of the castle seem secure rather than imposing. 

What was this place? It wasn't anywhere he'd been before. He approached, in something of a daze, so detached from everything but how grand it all looked that he lost sight of everything else. 

Yes, this was what he wanted for Renais. Not the size; that mattered not. What he wanted was this prosperity, this feeling of energy around everywhere. Could Renais ever be like this? If he poured himself into it, could he possibly make his homeland thrive as this foreign place did? 

He was so wrapped up in those thoughts that he barely noticed the voices of the guards -- not until they were loud in his ears. By the time he'd made out what they were saying, his face was already pressed to the cold stone, his arms pinned behind his back. He felt them confiscate his spear and winced as he was pulled to his feet. 

"Wait, you don't understand! I was just -- " 

If they wanted to hear what he had to say, they made no sign of it as they pushed him forward, into the castle he'd just been admiring and deep within.He heard the words "threat" and "exalt", he thought, but most of his attention went to the labyrinthine path they followed into a relatively pleasant dungeon. 

Even their cells are well kept, Ephraim thought, just as he was shoved into one himself. 

Please welcome our newest member, Chrom! Now the Exalt of Ylisse, he begins to lead his people to peace and prosperity! That is if he can stop the awakening of Grima..