Even with Farina promoted, I wasn't taking any chances, given her poor power and durability up until now; she carried the Delphi shield, an unused silver lance, the Brave Lance, the axereaver, and the spear. No ordinary weapons of iron or steel here, no sir. The Brave Lance was particularly useful.
Every problem I encountered on this level was due to item mismanagement. First, I had to restart because Guy got berserked and I hadn't brought a Restore staff. The second try, I forgot again! Fortunately, Pent did have a Silence staff, same as before; the difference was, this time, I was smart enough to not move other units in range until it connected. Then Farina got down to 4 HP and had to retreat for Pent to Physic because I hadn't given her an elixir; finally, I had to discard a lockpick with one use left because I forgot Merlinus' tent wasn't around to dump treasure into.
Turncount does not matter here; hence I used Legault, Karel, and Nino in combat—not much though, since Farina and Pent wrecked everything. I wanted supports with them anyway, so, since it's not like them helping me finish faster means anything, why not have them pitch in? Oddly enough, Jaffar, the most lethal undrafted unit I have, and forced for this level, did nothing.
...Another battle in the middle of the night?...I've barely had any sleep...
-yawn-
...Can't let Nino die...I'm just...so tired...zZz...
"Montago."
Wha—?!
"Apologies. I have heard...interesting tales...of the man Jaffar. You must rescue this 'Angel of Death'. I would test myself against him..."
Oh, Karel, you're back. Don't sneak up on people like that...please?
"....."
Um...Actually, on second thought, do; it's better than caffeine.
Broken spears, swords, and assorted vials and staves lie scattered in the water. In the back of my mind, I wonder if we have enough supplies left to make it through another major engagement....But Sonia and her underlings lie dead, and Queen Hellene promised us a road clear of Bern soldiers. So what am I worried about?
Based on sheer effort and distance covered, Farina wins my "Soldier of the Day"...er, night...award. She swept almost the entire southern half of the Water Temple by her lonesome while we sloshed through the labyrinth, duelled Sonia to the death, then flew north to clear out the last archers. After a rough patch on first hiring, she's more than earned her keep from this battle alone, and I'll gladly write a recommendation for any future mercenary work.
I think the Elysian Whip helped; I wasn't sure what it did when the villager in Badon gave it to us, but now that Pent explained its purpose I'm glad I had Merlinus hang on to it. Apparently, it vastly increases the bond between rider and animal, to a measure bordering on telepathy.
Speaking of Pent, he led the vanguard to the north like a whirlwind. Bolting, healing, killing almost all the northern troops himself, silencing a bishop with dangerous Berserk magic, using his Barrier staff to protect our troops advancing on Sonia...we wouldn't have gotten through Sonia's deadly obstacle course without him.
Bartre remained at the entrance to the temple, protecting us from arriving fliers, and some of our other troops—most notably Louise, but also Guy, Lyn, Legault, Karel, and even Nino—made small contributions in combat, but Pent and Farina definitely carried the day. Hector never did anything, and Jaffar and Matthew only opened a few chests.
Voices echo softly in the now-tranquil Water Temple. Nobody felt like leaving yet. Nino has history here, and we would not deprive her of the chance to make peace with the past. She's had a hard enough life.
And the rest of us need a peaceful break too, whether exhausted from trekking up and down mountains, or merely emotionally weary. So, while I curl up and make a half-hearted effort to sleep, pairs of soldiers drift past me, speaking quietly to one another.
A few spar, or discuss the results of such matches:
"Lyn."
"... ..."
"Lyn!"
"What?"
"I... I, um... I thought it would be disrespectful to hold back, you see... So I went full force, I did."
"... ..."
"But I gotta admit, I was surprised. Your sword arm, it’s... You’re stronger than I thought."
"Why, thank you, Hector. For me, losing to you was a good lesson in my limits."
"...Um, are you listening to me?"
"I’m busy right now. I’m learning some new lunge and thrust patterns."
"Yeah, I thought you were standing different. What is that lunge used for?"
"They say it’s good against axemen in heavy armor."
"Wait, that’s me! You got something personal against me, Lyn? We’re friends, right?"
"Of course we are. But this... this is about me, my limits. I can’t be a burden to either you or Eliwood right now. I can fight. And I will get stronger."
"Lyn..."
Guy, who didn't know who our guest was back in the mountains, attempts to catch Karel's attention now. I wouldn't if I were him, he's in a bad mood from not killing his quota tonight:
"Y-You...!"
"......"
"Hold on! You’re Karel, aren’t you? You’re the Sword Demon..."
"......"
"Oh, forgive me! I am Guy, a warrior from Sacae. I would like you to teach me the art of the sword!"
"......"
"Hm! What’s with you? Why don’t you—"
"Be grateful for your inexperience. If you were stronger... I would cut you down where you stand."
"I... I don’t— What’s your problem!?"
Guy sulks by the water's edge, not noticing me...or Lady Louise braiding his hair. I don't know how, she's rather breathtaking...
"......"
"I wonder if that’s enough..."
"Wha—!?"
"Don’t move."
"Huh?"
"...... Hold for just a moment longer."
"What are you talking about?"
"Yes. That will do it."
"Answer me! Who are you!?"
"I am Countess Reglay, but you can call me Louise. I will be fighting by your side, so let’s try to be more civil."
"......Hunh. All right then... I mean, hold on! What were you doing behind me just now?!"
"I fixed your hair."
"My hair?"
"Yes. You now have lovely braids. That’s all I did."
"Oh. My hair, huh?"
"Now, if you’ll excuse me..."
"She’s gorgeous... but so strange..."
Nino walks by, chatting animatedly with Legault. She looks happy to have found an old friend, and for a moment I can forget what she's been through:
"Oh!"
"Nino! It’s you! Ahh... At least you’re still well."
"Yeah! You, too, Uncle Legault!"
"Err, umm, Nino..."
"What?"
"You see, we talked about this before, didn’t we...? You must stop calling me 'Uncle.'"
"But, why?"
"Well, for one thing, I’m still in my twenties. I’m not much older than Lloyd or Linus."
"Yeah, but you’re... different from them... You’re never angry, for one thing. You’re more like Uncle Jan than like my brothers..."
"So, I’m to be grouped in with Jan, am I? My, but that is so very depressing..."
"But I like Uncle Jan."
"Mm? Oh, yeah, I know that.... It’s just... Aww, forget it."
"Huh?"
When all the others have finally given in to sleep, however, I hear Jaffar's story. As I drift off myself, I am touched at how they've saved each other:
"...Jaffar."
"......"
"Jaffar, can I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"...Well, um... Why were you... with Nergal?"
"......"
"When I first met you, it was after you had come with Moth— I mean, with Sonia and the Black Fang. So I thought at first that you were with the Black Fang. Then, my brothers told me that you had come with Nergal. I had never met Nergal, but... As Nergal’s servants, you and Sonia must have been friends, right?"
"...I was selected by Nergal as a child. He raised me to become his Angel of Death. ...I...did not think. ...I did not feel. I did what I was told... ...and that was all."
"......"
"I entered the Black Fang with the intent of infiltrating them, of using them... I had heard rumors about Sonia and her daughter being there... That child, raised by Sonia... I thought she must be something like myself... But...the first time I saw you, you were with the Reed brothers, laughing... in that dazzling light... as if you belonged there..."
"......"
"...I became very interested in you... When you saved my life... I thought I had you... But I couldn’t do it... Nino, that was the first time I ever had...feelings..."
"Jaffar..."
...For their sakes, for a better future for us all, we will end Nergal's schemes.
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