She can still remember the exact moment she found her dream: the way the sun shone overhead with that pure sort of sunshine that falls upon you as layers of gossamer warmth ; how the clouds floated along azure sky not as obfuscation, but as white silks dappling endless blue; the lone shadow that sailed through the bounty of nature’s beauty, no ruinous omen but proof instead of Macedon’s freedom, untouchable, indomitable, spanning from the treetops to the very edge of the horizon.
How the quiet susur of awe sounded when the tenor chord of fear entered its veins, an ill and echoing thrum that reverberated until it consumed, and consumed until it roared, and roared, and roared. She remembers when she learned of cacophony, voices uncountable on a child’s ten tiny fingers rising in panic, building in a fever pitch, waves of a crowd turning in on itself until at last there came one final, resounding beat.
No more, the spidersilk sunlight; no more, the cloudspun ribbons; at her side Minerva realizes, at the end of the song, that there are some things a sproutling should not see. She covers her eyes and ears – so small she is that both eyes can be covered with one hand, one ear with another, and the other hugged tight against her sister’s chest.
(Minerva does not realize that this is not unhearing; Maria hears. She hears the way her sister’s heart races, learns to measure the pace of terror in syncopation and the timbre of love in trembling hands. But these are lessons as much as these are treasures, for though no soul can be spared the iron kiss of blood through eternity, before she learns to fear it, Maria learns to endure it with all the love of her two big siblings who would smooth back her downy hair and kiss her on her forehead.)
It is love, too, that brings her to tears when she later finds her brother in his room, Minerva’s dismayed voice calling out her name from the other side of the door that only Maria has ever been so courageous as to throw open all on her own. Michalis recoils in the candlelight, its dim and brooding warmth shattered to pieces beneath his littlest sister’s reaching hands, just as the face of a prince falls to that of ‘Brother.’
“Michalis,” she had sobbed, a tiny thing wont to clinging to him with all her might, now clutching gently to his hands instead with every ounce of her consideration. “Does it hurt? It hurts, doesn’t it?”
Tears roll down her face; perhaps this is why no one else ever understands how she could love him so fiercely, so tremendously – for how were they to know? That this great someday-king of Macedon would shift and fluster, a calloused hand hesitating to so much as land upon her frail shoulder.
“...No, Maria,” he lies. It might be the first time, this time, but it will not be the last. She will forgive him, always, anyways. “It does not…”
“Liar,” she sniffles, cheeks pressed to reddened knuckles. Already, the seed of her dream has been planted; already, it sprouts, reaching for the hand that brushes away her tears like a sunflower to the sun. For whom would her wish bloom? Beneath bedtime songs and bitter herbs, sanguine palms and endless skies–
“Has she fallen asleep…?”
“...I believe so.”
Whom else, of course?
“Haha… She’s not letting go, Brother.”
“Indeed. I suppose we shall have to carry her, then.”
fecipher twitter, 14-7-2020: "Marianne: Holy Maiden Bound for Tomorrow"
[Card Showcase] From a young age, Marianne of the Golden Deer suffered greatly as the result of her Crest, and lived her life avoiding other people. But then she came to the Officers Academy and met her kind professor and classmates, and began to open up to others for the first time. Now, she rides for the front with a smile on her face to aid her allies - and together, they press onward, bound for tomorrow. (Illust. Nijihayashi)
Card stats/skills:
B21-026HN Marianne: Holy Maiden Bound for Tomorrow
Bishop/Cost4(3)
Brown/Female/Tome
60ATK/20SUPP/1-2RNG
"I... I will give it my all as well! For the professor, and for all of you who helped make me as strong as I am now!"
"Bless us, dear goddess." [ALWAYS] All enemies are unable to be moved via your opponent's skills.
A Profound Prayer to the Goddess [ALWAYS] If you have 3 or fewer bond cards, this unit is unable to be moved or untapped.
[CP] Survivor of the Curse [HAND] [ACT] [Tap 1 <Brown> ally] Deploy this card tapped in the Back Line. ([HAND] is only usable while this card is in your hand.)
fecipher twitter, 26-5-2020: "Lucius: Eliminean Monk" and "Lucius: A Light Close to a Lone Sword"
[Card Showcase] The monk Lucius was once a servant of House Cornwell. But the house was abolished, and he has traveled with its heir, Raymond, ever since. He and Raymond - now a mercenary - have grown as close as family, and with beautiful, divine light, Lucius supports him in his battles. (Illust. @uroko-p)
Servant of Cornwell [ACT] [TAP, FLIP 1] Choose 1 "Raven" from your Retreat Area, and add it to your hand.
A Prayer to the Saint [ALWAYS] Enemies in the Back Line who are attacking your lord are unable to inflict critical hits.
Illust. Uroko Naruse
B21-????? Lucius: A Light Close to a Lone Sword
Bishop/Cost3(2)
Purple/Male/Tome
50ATK/20SUPP/1-2RNG
"Lord Raymond, you are not someone who should dwell on revenge! I know you... I have always been with you!"
Beautiful Light [ACT] [ONCE PER TURN] [FLIP 1] Until the end of the turn, this unit gains +20 attack.
"Come what may, I will be with you." [TRIGGER] [Send 1 card from your hand to the Retreat Area] When this unit's attack destroys an enemy, you may pay the cost and if you do: Choose 1 card with the same unit name as your lord from your Retreat Area, and add it to your hand.
fecipher twitter, 15-11-2019: "Flayn: Purehearted Schoolgirl" and "Flayn: Inquisitive Maiden"
[Card Showcase] Flayn is a resident of the monastery grounds, living under the careful, watchful eye of her worried elder brother Seteth. She is pure of heart, not very worldly, and has a bizarre aura about her. One would think that since she bears a Crest, she would be of high birth from someplace... but her origins remains an utter mystery. (Illust. fuzichoco)
"I am so happy to be part of your class, Professor."
Heal, Light Magic [ACT] [TAP, FLIP 2] Choose 1 other ally. Choose 1 card with the same unit name as that ally from your Retreat Area, and add it to your hand.
"A beautiful flower for you!" [TRIGGER] [ONCE PER TURN] When your lord is being attacked, until the end of this combat, your lord gains +10 attack.
[DEF] Miracle Emblem [SUPP] Until the end of this combat, your opponent's attacking unit is unable to inflict a critical hit.
Illust. fuzichoco
B19-???SR Flayn: Inquisitive Maiden
Bishop/Cost4(3)
Brown/Female/Tome
60ATK20SUPP/1-2RNG
"You see, I happen to be quite curious about you, Professor."
Saintlike Power [ACT] [ONCE PER TURN] [FLIP 1] Choose other 1 tapped ally. Until the end of your opponent's next turn, that ally gains +20 attack.
Major Crest of Cethleann [TRIGGER] When your turn ends, if you have used a [CP] from your hand 1 or more times in this turn, draw 1 card.
fecipher twitter, 12-11-2019: "Linhardt: Layabout of House Hevring" and "Linhardt: Sleepy Crest Scholar"
[Card Showcase] The Black Eagle student Linhardt is the son of Count Hevring, the Empire's Minister of Domestic Affairs. Indolent and loathing of being fettered, he takes any opportunity to nap in public without a care for whatever others think, but he is also possessed of a keen mind and a passion for Crestology and gets utterly absorbed in his studies. (Illust. @maturica-y)
Card stats/skills:
B19-????? Linhardt: Layabout of House Hevring
Noble/Cost1
Brown/Male/Tome
20ATK/20SUPP/1-2RNG
"It will be a pleasure learning from you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to take a nap."
Heal, Light Magic [ACT] [TAP, FLIP 2] Choose 1 other ally. Choose 1 card with the same unit name as that ally from your Retreat Area, and add it to your hand.
[DEF] Miracle Emblem [SUPP] Until the end of this combat, your opponent's attacking unit cannot perform a critical hit.
"I... I don't want to kill. I don't want blood on my hands. I just want to lie on my back and soak up the sun filtering down through the trees..."
Investigation Into Hidden Powers [ACT] [ONCE PER TURN] [Send 1 card from your hand to the Retreat Area] From your Retreat Area, choose 1 card with the same unit name as the card which was sent to your Retreat Area as the cost of this skill, and add it to your hand.
[CP] "For a world without bloodshed..." [HAND] [ACT] [Send this card fot the Retreat Area. Choose 1 of your orbs and look at its face. Draw 1 card. ([HAND] is only usable while this card is in your hand.)
fecipher twitter, 25-11-2019: "Rhea: Archbishop of the Church of Seiros"
[Card Showcase] It was Archbishop Rhea who appointed Byleth as a professor of the Officers Academy. She is the highest authority of the Church of Seiros, keepers of the faith of the people of Fódlan. Although she is brimming with kindness and compassion, she has a stern side - one which sinners who threaten the good name of the Church come to know as she hands down her merciless judgements upon them. (Illust. Ayaka Kato)
Card stats/skills:
B19-????? Rhea: Archbishop of the Church of Seiros
Archbishop/Cost5(4)
Brown/Female/Tome
60ATK/20SUPP/1-2RNG
"The goddess is always watching over Fódlan from her kingdom above."
"I ask that you guide them." [ACT] [TAP, FLIP 1] Choose 1 <Brown> card with a deployment cost of 4 or lower from your Retreat Area, and deploy it. Once you do, add this card to your deck, and then shuffle your deck.
[CP] "May your souls return to the goddess's side." [HAND] [ACT] [Send this card to the Retreat Area] Your opponent adds all cards in their Retreat Area to their deck. Then, they shuffle their deck. ([HAND] is only usable while this card is in your hand.)
fecipher twitter, 7-2-2020: "Poe: Giving Angel" and "Poe: Laughing Punisher"
[Card Showcase] Poe is a woman possessed of great beauty, an everpresent smile, and an aura of calm. As a cleric, she is a servant of the gods. On one hand, where the wails of the good ring out, she comes bringing a charitable deluge from the heavens above - but on the other, where the wicked dwell, she comes to hand down divine punishment on the gods' behalf! (Illust. @tetsukurosawa)
"Now, now - do not be cry. I will teach these nasty folk who come after your village a lesson."
Heal, Light Magic [ACT] [TAP, FLIP 2] Choose 1 other ally. Choose 1 card with the same unit name as that ally from your Retreat Area, and add it to your hand.
Angel's Gift [TRIGGER] [ONCE PER TURN] When a card from your hand is sent to the Retreat Area by an enemy's skill or your opponent's support skill, choose up to 1 cards from your Retreat Area, and add them to your hand.
[DEF] Miracle Emblem [SUPP] Until the end of this combat, your opponent's attacking unit cannot perform a critical hit.
"I bring you wicked little darlings a painful, painful punishment! Ahh... One more step closer to justice incarnate, the world is..."
"Which of you darlings could be the mortal sinner?" [ACT] [FLIP 2] Choose 1 enemy in the Back Line, and move them. Once you do, choose 1 enemy in the Front Line, and move them.
fecipher twitter, 9-7-2019: "Artur: Saint of Light" and "Artur: Evil-Purging Light"
[Card Showcase] When the power that protects Magvel - the power of the Sacred Stones - wanes, hordes of repulsive monsters awaken from their eons of slumber. The monk Artur has been tasked by his temple with protecting the people from them. The bolts of light that his magic unleashes consume and purge the impure in the name of the gods! (Illust. Kotetsu Kinoshita)
Card stats/skills:
B17-092N Artur: Saint of Light
Monk/Cost1
Purple/Male/Tome
30ATK/20SUPP/1-2RNG
"What have we done to deserve the trials before us? What is happening to us? How could such abominations walk our lands while the Sacred Stones protect us?"
Deep Devotion [ACT] [ONCE PER TURN] [FLIP 1] Until the end of the turn, this unit gains +10 attack.
[DEF] Miracle Emblem [SUPP] Until the end of this combat, your opponent's attacking unit cannot perform a critical hit.
Light of Divine Punishment [TRIGGER] [ONCE PER TURN] When you draw a card as the result of a skill's effect, until the end of the turn, this unit gains +20 attack.
