For the first time in six months, the Shepherds finally returned home from reclaiming Regna Ferox’s shores from Valm. No fanfare, no celebration—just the heavy knowledge that they would go right back into a full war, this time with the Valmese Empire. If Valm’s iron grip on Port Ferox was any indication, then this campaign was going to be long and bitter.
Rather than immediately greet his children like Chrom, Robin took the long way through the castle. He needed to think. This was a war on foreign soil, cut off from Ylisse. Even though Valm won no loyal allies through its brutal conquest, and even if they could find allies on the Valmese continent, they would be completely reliant the supplies they bring and whatever supplies Regna Ferox could send. Retreating wasn’t much of an option either—
“Papa! PAPA!”
Robin snapped out of his thoughts just in time to catch Lucina’s hug.
Lucina asked, “Papa, why are you over here? Did you get lost?”
Robin lifted her up and held her. “I’m sorry, Lucina. There’s a lot on my mind right now. I needed a walk.”
“Can I walk with you?”
“Sure.”
He set her down and they strolled through the halls. “So what did you get up to, today?”
“Nothing. Tell me about how you chased Valm out of Regna Ferox! That’s more exciting!”
“There really isn’t much to talk about with that.”
“Why not? You freed Port Ferox! You’re a hero!”
Robin looked over at her. “You consider me a hero?”
“Of course!”
He smiled at her. “I hope I stay your hero then.”
She gave him a confused frown. “’Stay’ my hero? You will always be my hero.”
His thoughts flittered back to Emmeryn, who never allowed herself a moment of humanity for the sake of protecting others and ultimately died in her own home; to Gangrel, an underdog folk hero of Plegia corrupted by war and revenge; to the weight of the legacies left behind by Emmeryn and the previous Exalt on Chrom.
To the blood of Grima coursing through his own veins.
Robin replied, “I misspoke. Of course I will always be your hero.”
Lucina walked up to her father’s old study. The empty halls echoed with only her footsteps. The palace was too large and too hollow for anyone to stand. She should’ve been with her friends and what few soldiers remain, but she needed to be in that study. Just one last time.
She opened the heavy doors to the study and lifted up her lantern. Books, chairs, a desk, and all sorts of knick-knacks collected over the years all had a layer of dust on them. On a side table, she spotted exactly what she wanted to see: an old phonograph.
From what she could tell, it was already set up and just needed the crank at the side turned. Carefully, carefully, she lifted the stylus needle on the cylinder and turned the crank. Handling the thing felt awkward and bulky, but Lucina could never understand anything invented during her parents’ heyday. Everything after Grima’s return seemed almost backwards, but what survived had its practicalities.
Finally, she set the stylus back down.
A waltz started playing.
Lucina nodded to herself. This sounded like something Chrom and Robin would dance to. They were both fond of dances that let them swing and twirl their clothes. Chrom was particularly fond of playing with his cape, and a waltz was a good excuse for that.
The waltz dipped into a slow tempo. Lucina casually traced the steps of the only waltz she remembered.
“Lucina?”
“Ah!” Lucina whirled around and found Severa.
Severa scowled at her. “What are you doing here? It’s too dangerous to be by yourself!”
“I just…” She glanced back at the phonograph as it fell silent. “I needed something from back then. Grima will likely destroy everything here once he…”
Severa remained quiet for a moment. Then she sighed and approached the phonograph. “Here. Let me get it started again.”
As she turned the crank, she noted, “The entire castle sounds haunted when that thing plays.”
“It kind of does,” Lucina admitted.
“I never pegged your parents as music lovers. Did they play an instrument?”
“No, but they did enjoy listening.” Lucina paused. “…I don’t suppose we could take this?”
Although her voice remained stern, Severa couldn’t meet Lucina’s eyes as she said, “Only what you can carry.”
