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“Now see here – I do not care how tall you make it, or how thick, or what kind of bloody stone you use! I want a wall, and I don’t care what you have to knock down to raise it! I demand you build a wall to defend your country and let nothing get in your way!” Instead of slamming the door, a gesture to match his attitude, Virion simply pointed his finger out the doorway. The worker lingered for a few moments, opening and snapping his mouth closed like a fish on dry land, unable to find the words to fight his archduke. What could he say? When the worker came to this realization, he bowed and walked away, a sour frown etched on his face the whole time.
It wasn’t until the worker was a good meter away from the door that Virion slammed the door. Even in times like these, he hadn’t completely forgotten his manners. With his head held high, he strutted through his mansion and entered his library, the last place left for him to be at peace. Virion’s proud stature soon melted into his chair in the library, his hands covering his face. When he looked up, he saw a small figure peeking out from behind a bookcase.
Virion put on a smile for him. “How befitting of you, my boy, to hide behind books. Why don’t you step out and join your father?”
Laurent scuffled out from behind the bookcase and took a seat in the chair across from him and set a book on the side table. “Why were you yelling?” he asked almost at once.
Virion’s smile dropped and he sighed. “Isn’t there something else you wish to ask me of, dear boy?”
“Why is everyone that walks into here sad? And angry? This place is no fun anymore.”
“Well, there is no easy way to explain this,” Virion added under his breath, “to a child.” He raised his voice to its normal volume. “But I shall do my best. Laurent, tell me something that makes you happy.”
“Like a hobby, or a memory, or-”
“Anything.”
“I like to read.”
“And that you do,” Virion replied, eliciting a chuckle. “Now, tell me something that makes you sad.”
“I miss mom.”
Virion closed his eyes. “Yes, of course. We all do. So you see, Laurent, we all feel happy sometimes, and sometimes we feel sad, because sometimes, good things happen, and sometimes, bad things happen. It’s a natural thing for us to feel these things, but we do not necessarily enjoy it at times. Tell me, what do people do when they get sad?”
“They cry…?” Laurent seemed to be confused by his own answer, then glanced around the room, as if he was searching for a better one. There was a subtle rise of his eyebrows as realization dawned on him. “And they get angry at other people.”
Virion hid a sad smile behind his folded hands; Laurent had the spirit of his mother, right down to the facial expressions as he worked his way through a problem.
“They get angry…” Laurent continued, drawing lines between invisible dots, “like you did with that man outside.”
Virion frowned. “No! I – I mean…yes, you are right in that people become angry with each other…but you are wrong about me. I am certainly not angry at my people. No, I’m…I am frustrated. Never mad.”
“You said everyone gets mad, right?”
“True, but there is a difference between myself and the common man. I am a noble of high birth, so it is naturally my duty to lead others, and let nothing get in the way of my ability to do so. Including my feelings.”
“Is that why you didn’t cry when Mom died?”
“What a quick learner you are.” Virion shook his head and forced a smile. “Enough with all this sad talk, there’s been enough of it as it is. Now let us move onto something lighter, something that would have made your mother happy. Tell me, that book over there…” he pointed to the one resting on the side table. “Have you been reading it?”
“A little.” Laurent reached over and picked up the book.
“Would it trouble you to summarize what you’ve read so far?”
For the first time that night, Laurent smiled. But before he could respond, a servant rushed into the library, eyes bulging with worry, sapping Virion’s attention away from his son. “Milord!” her voice squeaked.
“By the gods, woman! What’s the matter?” Virion demanded. “By the looks of it, you’ve spotted a ghost in the hall!”
“No, it’s not…there’s a mad woman at the front gates. She demands to see you.”
Virion scoffed. “Tell her my ‘bachelor’ days are long dead.”
“Is it my mom?” Laurent asked. “Did she come back as a Risen?”
“Laurent, never say such things.” Virion turned back to the servant. “Have you told the visitor to leave?”
“We’ve tried everything, but she just won’t listen!” She added in a lower tone, “She’s threatened to break down the wall. We thought she was joking, but now we’re starting to think she’s being serious.”
“What?! But we haven’t even finished…Who is this woman?”
“She was dressed like a Ylissean cavalier, and fought like one, too. We didn’t get her name, all that came out of her mouth were swears…”
A sudden smirk grew on Virion’s face. “Tell me, does this fair lady have short red hair?”
“In fact, she does, milord.”
“Ah! Send her in immediately. She is an honored guest in the land of Rosanne, and is to be treated as such, temper and all.”
Despite the panic-stricken look on her face, the servant bowed and walked off.
It didn’t take long for Laurent to come up with more questions. “Do you know this intruder, father?”
“Yes, but she is not an intruder, she is an old friend. We fought alongside each other as Shepherds, years before you were born. In fact, it was she who lead me to Chrom’s army.”
Laurent sort of laughed. “She sounds like she’s angrier than all of us.”
“Which is why you and I are going to be on our best behavior. Not as if it will be any trouble for you, boy, you should be the one teaching me manners.” Virion laughed, and was relieved to find his son chuckling along with him. “Now why don’t you go fetch someone to make tea for us?”
Laurent nodded and scooted off the chair. A few seconds after he was gone, he could hear the familiar angry voice of an old friend resonate through his mansion.
“It’s about time you let me in! Now where bloody hell is he?!”
When her loud stomping grew closer, right to the entrance of the door, Virion stood up and welcomed her in with open arms.
“Ah, Sully! So my ears have not deceived me. Allow me to humbly welcome you to-”
“Can it, Ruffles.” Sully smacked his hand out of the way. “I can survive without formalities.”
“Indeed.” Virion gestured to his library. “Come in, take a seat! I do apologize for the crude welcome. You must understand that my people-”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah…you’re running a nuthouse up in here. I get it. The whole world’s a nuthouse! Which is why I lugged my ass all this way to talk to you.”
“You came all the way from Ylisse to little old Rosanne to talk to me? Still carrying a torch after all, I see.”
“Goddammit, Virion, talk straight for once.”
“Fine, fine. But please, do take a seat. You must be tired after such a long trek.”
Sully ran her hand through her hair, wiping the sweat and dirt on her shoulder guard. “Look, I really don’t have the-”
“Please. I simply could not live with myself if you didn’t accept at least the smallest bit of my hospitality.”
The Ylissean rolled her eyes. “All right.” She sauntered over to the chair across from Virion’s.
“Ah…” Virion raised a finger, “not to be rude, but could you try another chair?”
“What’s wrong with this one?”
“Ahem. That is my wife’s chair.”
“Yeah but she’s-”
“Please, just sit anywhere else.”
Sully rolled her eyes and plopped down in an adjacent chair. Virion smiled and returned to his. “Thank you.”
“All right, I’ve sat down. Now can we talk?”
Virion held a hand up. “Wait just a minute.” Sully frowned and crossed her arms. The two sat in silence, Virion fixed directly onto Sully, and Sully glancing around the room, trying her best to avoid direct eye contact. Soon, Laurent walked in, carrying a tea tray.
“Ah. The moment we have been waiting for,” Virion remarked and took a cup. Tipping the cup in Sully’s direction, he ordered his son to offer her some tea.
“I’m fine, thanks,” Sully said.
“It is customary for the guest to take whatever the host offers. Laurent, go serve her some tea.”
“Yes, father.” Laurent set the tray down and poured a cup for Sully and himself. He handed the cup to Sully, which she reluctantly took.
“Er…thanks, kiddo,” Sully said, forcing herself not to gag at the bitter taste.
Once Laurent was seated with his cup, Virion continued. “My dear Sully, have you met my pride and joy, Laurent?”
“Nope. But I’ve heard a lot.” Sully flashed half a smile to Laurent as she talked. “Back in the Raid on Plegia, you were all Miriel talked about. Whenever we weren’t fighting or eating, all she ever went on about was ‘Laurent this’ and ‘Laurent that’. ‘My Laurent’s so smart’, ‘My Laurent will make a great Duke if he hasn’t made a career cured all diseases first’, stuff like that. It was pretty annoying.” Seeing the look of disappointment on Laurent’s face, she added, “But also pretty sweet, I guess.”
“You’ve got little ones of yourself, haven’t you, Sully?” Virion asked.
“Yeah.”
“You should’ve brought them along with you. Laurent would have loved to meet them, wouldn’t you have, my boy?” Laurent shrunk into his chair, shielding his face with his book. Virion let out a warm chuckle. “He’s a shy one, all right. If he’s anything like me, he’ll grow out of it.” He turned back to Sully. “Tell me, what are your children like? Are they as polite and quiet as you?” Virion said, grinning.
“Very funny, Ruffles. But in fact, they’re a lot like me. Tough as nails, I’ll tell you what. Kjelle – my oldest – has been beggin’ me to train her since she was old enough to talk. And that Morgan…I gotta say, she’s got a knack for riding horseback, but she spends most of her time studying battle tactics. Wants to be just like Robin, ya know? But I like to think they both take after me, mostly.”
Laurent’s eyes perked up from off the pages. “Robin? The tactician?” he echoed.
“So, the boy genius speaks,” Sully remarked. “What about my husband?”
Laurent slid off his chair and walked towards one of the many bookcases that filled the room. “Wasn’t he Chrom’s tactician? I read a book by him.” Laurent knew exactly where to find it. He slipped it from the shelf, marked the spot he took it from, and returned holding the cover up to Sully and Virion. “A Sword and a Spell: My Time Serving as Ylisse’s Prime Tactician. First edition.” With one hand, Laurent struggled to open it up and pointed to a spot in the first page with his other hand. “It’s even signed by him. See?”
Sully took the book and looked it up and down. “Yep, that’s Robbie’s book all right. I always told him it was a stupid title. Way too long for such a dumb story.” Despite her rude comment, she looked at the book with a soft smile and handed it back to Laurent.
“I thought it was a fascinating story,” Laurent said. “I loved reading about all the times he outsmarted the Plegians. He played an important part in Chrom’s army.”
“Yeah, but he couldn’t gotten anywhere without us.” Sully pointed to herself and Virion. “We were the crazy fools who actually listened to all his damned schemes. Where’s our credit?” she joked.
“Don’t worry, he talks about you a lot in his story.” Laurent looked up to the knight, with a new sort of captivation in his eyes. “He said the Shepherds where the most brave and strong fighters he’s ever met.”
“Heh. Well that’s more like it.”
“Have you ever read the book?” Laurent asked.
“Nope. Don’t need a book to experience a battle. I’ve lived through plenty enough as it is. But I’m glad at least somebody’s enjoyed my husband’s work.” Sully’s smile faded as she turned to Virion. “Anyways, Ruffles, I didn’t come here just to reminisce.” As she continued her talk, Laurent returned Robin’s book back to its spot and picked up the book he had before. “I couldn’t help but notice a giant wall being built around your little kingdom,” Sully continued.
“Dukedom,” Virion corrected.
“I’m guessing you’ve noticed the little Risen outbreak’s gotten worse since the Raid. What if I told you I had a solution to this little infestation?”
“It all depends.”
“Right…some of the ol’ Shepherds and I have been traveling around, trying to bring the team back together. Us backed with the whole of the Ylissean army and every last Feroxi soldier – long story short, we’ll be enough to crush every last Plegian to dust. Cut off their connection to Grima, no more Risen. But I didn’t come all the way to another continent here just to recruit some Valmese troops. I know it sounds like we’ve got it all covered, Ruffles, but we could use your bow too.” Sully paused and waited for him to respond. All he did was shift in his seat, leaning forward and perching his chin on his folded hands. His mind was obviously elsewhere.
“Well?” Sully said after a few seconds of silence. “Are ya with us or not?” Another dead silence trudged its way between them.
“Are you aware,” Virion said at last, “that this has happened before? Let me bring you back five years, to when the Risen first rose. You Ylisseans called for a reunion of all Shepherds and led a siege on the source of the Risen. Do you remember this at all?”
“Yeah, but this time-”
“I remember it remarkably well. I remember how we marched in, as high and mighty as we were in our youth. And I remember how we left. Many good men did not leave with us. Your husband included. Don’t you remember?”
“Hey, look-”
“They were are good friends, were they not? Dear Lon’qu, humble Donnel, graceful Sumia, clever Gaius, sweet Nowi…you remember them all, don’t you?”
Sully slammed her teacup on the table. “I never said-”
“Do the lives of your people mean so little to you?” Virion stood up. “I bought into your silly invasion game before. Must I remind you of what I received in return? The people of Rosanne lost their most beloved Archduchess. I lost my intelligent, beautiful wife. But above all, Laurent lost a mother. You may be able to seduce your soldiers with promises of glory, but upon returning home, defeated, but there is nothing…nothing you can do to repay them for leading them to their deaths.”
“This is not about you!” Sully yelled, standing up as well. “It’s not about glory, or our friends, or your wife, your son…or even me! It’s about protecting everyone. And not just everyone alive right now, but everyone after us. Quit being so damn selfish!”
“You are no longer welcomed here. I want you out. Immediately!”
“Hey, I sat through your bullshit, drank your stinkin’ tea, and even suffered the annoying sound of your voice droning on and on and on. I’ve done my part, now where’s yours?”
“I intend to do my part. I intend to protect people – my people, from this threat. And I will do so without the assistance of the liars and maniacs of Ylisse. I refuse to hand in my life to this frivolous coup of yours.”
“Fine! You’d probably die in one hit, anyways, damn archer.” Sully kicked over a table and stormed out of the library. Before leaving, she turned around. “By the way,” she added, “my daughters can totally kick your kid’s ass. Can’t wait to see how he lives up to your legacy.”
A servant ran up to the entrance. “Milord, I heard shouting-”
“Out of my way!” Sully barked as she pushed the servant out of the way.
The servant gasped. “The indignity…!” He turned to Virion. “Milord, may I suggest we pummel this broad for ever entering our lands?”
“Leave her be.” Virion’s eyes sharpened. “She’s walking to her death, anyhow.”
Once the servant left and Sully’s curses subsided, Virion settled in his chair once again. He looked over to his son, who had recoiled in his chair like a mouse. “Not to worry, my boy,” Virion assured, “the scary witch is gone.”
“She was very mean,” Laurent said. “She must be very, very sad.”
Virion sighed. “Yes, Laurent. But let’s not dwell on that.”
“Can I ask one more question?”
“You know I cannot deny a request from you. What is it?”
“What should I do when I feel sad? I don’t want to be like her.”
“Laurent…you’re still young. There is much for you to explore and learn from this world. Do what you want to do with the time being, and enjoy it. Feel happy, feel sad. But know that there will be a time when you must grow up. One day, I won’t be here anymore. The people of Rosanne will look up to you as their leader. Their lives will become your life. Once you reach this point, you must always do whatever you know is right, regardless of what you feel. And you must consider every life that will be riding on your decisions. Am I making sense to you?”
“Yes. It sounds scary,” Laurent said.
Virion chuckled. “It’s fine to feel scared. One day, you’ll step up and realize your destiny. And when that day happens…you won’t be scared. You will know exactly what to do. It’s a shame I won’t be there to see it, when you become great.” Virion had a wistful look on his face, as if he could see a vision of the future glowing before his eyes.
“How do know it will happen?”
“Because! You are the son of the two most brilliant minds this world has ever seen, the heir to House Virion. How can you not have a great destiny ahead?”
“I still feel scared.”
“Trust your father. You will be fine. No, you’ll be great. Bah…let’s not dwell on this too much. Where were we before we were so rudely interrupted? Ah, yes. Your book.”
Laurent showed his father the cover of his book, smiling. “A Complete History on Fire-Based Tomes and Magic. First edition.”
“Ah, that was one of your mother’s favorites. It’s such a big book…I never had time to read it all the way through.”
“Would…would you like me to read it to you?”
Virion nodded. “It would be a pleasure.”
Laurent nodded back and opened the book. “Should I start where I left off, or from the beginning?”
“Whichever you like.” Virion relaxed back into his chair and closed his eyes as his son began to read.
“Chapter One: A General Depiction. In our modern society, tomes are frequently regarded as tools of combat, the mage’s equivalent to the sword or bow. In contrast to this popular belief, such an underestimate is a brash viewpoint to the extremes and nonetheless. When assigned to the hands of a skilled mage or sorcerer, common tomes can be renovated into conduits of boundless power, and with much patience, boundless discovery.”