User blog:GamerNerd i/Trial by Fire - Book III: Castle Crash Course

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Home, Sweet Home
There’s something off about Askr. It’s too perfect.

The weather is always nice. The people are happy. I didn’t see any poverty at all. Poorer people? Yes, but they all had enough to get by with a roof over their heads. I guess the tradeoff is that the kingdom is always at war, but I suppose it’s not that bad with the Order of Heroes being the primary fighters.

The castle, though... Wow. Anna was right. It was indeed a whole other story.

It’s massive. You could live in it all your life and even then not discover all of its secrets. That’s not something I made up, either. Sharena told me herself that she’s still seeing new parts of the castle.

Ultimately, though, Anna told me I’d really only be using the Order’s section of the castle.

We walked in through the Order’s common room. It was pretty bare at this point. It wasn’t busy, and the decor was rather bland.

“I thought you guys were an official part of the kingdom?” I ask. “Doesn’t that mean you get part of the budget?”

Anna shakes her head. “We get a boost occasionally, but for the most part, we’re on our own. The king and queen have their priorities.”

It’s understandable, but you’d think that defense is pretty high on the priority list. Maybe welfare is higher. I wouldn’t be surprised, considering how I didn’t notice any homeless at all.

I felt like a new employee being guided by my new boss. I guess that’s essentially what was happening. Anna’s conversations about financial issues and the things that the Order does besides fighting the Emblians could have easily been placed in a typical corporate “walk and talk.”

I don’t like hearing about that stuff, though. It bores me. As it turns out, I would be getting a lot more excitement than I bargained for in the next few minutes…

Training Tower Test
One of the main working areas is Training Tower. Well, it’s called a tower, but it’s really just a rock in a small empty room. There’s a reason for that, though.

“This stone has the ability to warp space and induce visions that simulate real battles,” Anna explains. “Somehow replacing the gem set within the stone changes the difficulty of the fight. It’s incredibly efficient for training. Costs nothing, and doesn’t take up much space.”

“Can people get hurt while using this?” I ask, approaching the stone. “Like, physically, while they’re in the illusion?”

Anna smirks. “Why don’t you find out yourself?”

I had enough time to think, Anna, you little- before she threw a rock at the stone. It struck the top, seeming to push the inserted gem into it. There’s a flash of light and I shield my eyes from the glare. The next time I open them, I’m in a grassy area surrounded by Emblians.

“God [REDACTED]ing dammit,” I mutter as they all charge me at once. “Anna, I swear to [REDACTED] that I’m going to [REDACTED] your [REDACTED] when this little [REDACTED] is over.”

I swing the Shovel Blade wildly at the Emblians in an attempt to keep them away. I block one’s sword with the handle and parry another’s lance. All I did earlier was jump on that Xander guy. Where the heck did I get all this?

Wait, that’s right, the jump thing! If I can just-

An ax swing nearly takes my arm off, skinning me a little and cutting my shirt’s fabric. Ouch... Yup, this definitely hurts.

I smack the guy square on the side of his face with my blade. He falls over unconscious, his ax embedded in the ground.

I go for the move again. Jump over a guy and bring the blade right down over their head, and bounce.

At least, it would have been a bounce if I hadn’t chosen to jump on the guy with the lance. He jabbed straight up, jamming the tip through my shoe. I fall flat on my face, unable to recover from the hit.

I block the sword guy as he comes to hit me as I’m lying down. Come on, can’t I have a break? With a shove, I toss his sword off of mine and jab the shovel into his abdomen. I hear his winded “oof” as I somehow muster the strength to toss him clean over me. The momentum allows me to jump back up and causes the swordsman to slam into his friend. The two are knocked over as I land on my bad foot. Pain shoots up my leg for a moment…

Then I’m in the Tower again, limping for no reason. Anna chuckles from behind me.

“That was an impressive jump you tried there,” she says. “Would’ve been better for you to succeed, though.”

“Oh, shut up,” I mutter under my breath. “With practice, I’ll be jumping all over you guys,” I tell her. “Just... Not yet. And definitely not when ‘practice’ comes as an ambush.”

Anna laughs again. “You need to be ready for anything, Summoner. Those thieves won’t be giving you any signals.” She smirks. That smile is getting really irritating. “But if you need an inanimate target, we have a few training dummies you can use.”

“Well, I’d like to think that I can trust you guys,” I grumble, walking toward her. “What’s next?”

Arena Assailants
“You’re not actually the only Summoner in this world,” Anna tells me as we walk into a Coliseum-like building.

“There are?” I ask. “Then what’s the point of me being the Great Hero if there are others?”

“There are indeed others... Not in this Askr, but in alternate ones,” she gestures to a woman hurrying by in a white and gold robe. “Some of them gather here to pit their wits against each other. It’s excellent training, and it helps to grow our reputation. There are also prizes if we do well!”

We take seats in the stands and start watching a few fights. The field shifts between battles. Its geographies included a mountain pass, an ancient temple, and an open field among others. Apparently the space-warping technology (or magic, I guess) I saw in the Training Tower is widely used in this kingdom. Considering that Askr is basically a nexus for these different Worlds, I really shouldn’t be surprised.

Each Summoner leads a team of four Heroes. What the Summoner does after that tends to differ. Most Summoners will stay on the battlefield and continue to command and guide their Heroes. Others might retreat into a small booth, leaving the Heroes to devise a plan for themselves. Still others employ a mixture of both, allowing Heroes to fight on their own before coming in to recover from a poor situation or to finish the opponent.

The Heroes themselves... There are so many. For the first bouts I saw, I didn’t see the same warrior twice. Even when I did, their skills and role in the team were very different. The tank in one team might become the damage-dealer in another. The glass cannon might become an aggressive healer. Heck, some Heroes managed to do two or even three jobs at the same time. Seeing all these applications started giving me ideas for how to guide my own teams in the future.

“Some of these Summoners are at rather extreme age ranges,” I note, as an elderly man and a girl who looks 11 emerge with their teams.

Anna shrugs. “That’s who Breidablik chose in their universes. Personally, I’m glad we got someone about in the middle.” She blinks, as if realizing that she doesn’t know my age. “Actually... How old are you? I don’t want to assume, especially since time is unusual and appearances are inconsistent around here.”

“I....” I can’t even flat out say what my age is, I have to think. God, this is pathetic. “Sixteen. I think. With my amnesia, I can’t be sure...”

Anna nods, turning her attention back to the ongoing battle.

As we leave, a kid runs up to me, calling my name. I’m suspicious, but also curious. Someone knows me?

His hair is short and black, like mine. Under his white and gold robe—a staple of the Summoners, apparently—he wears dark clothing: black jeans and a black shirt with “Science rules” scrawled across its fabric. He seems younger than me, maybe by a year or two, but intelligence lurks within his eyes. I’ve seen this kid before. I’ve had to, otherwise he wouldn’t know me.

“Aidan? You play this too?” He asks. Anna gives me a skeptical look that I can’t quite react to.

“I’m sorry, kid, but I don’t think I know you,” I say. “Have we met?”

“Have we met? Seriously?” the boy asks incredulously, “Dude, you saved me a while ago! Remember? Giant chess? The Zoologist guy?”

I shake my head. “My memory is gone, kid. I’ve got nothing.” Chess and a Zoologist? Something tugs at me, but I can’t pin it. “What’s your name?”

“Wow, that sounds bad,” he responds. You think? “My name is Damason Bracer. Does that jog anything?”

Apparently it does. The name hits me like a truck. I grab my head and use Anna’s shoulder to steady myself. Fragments come floating back to me. A lab... A dimension-warping device... And talking with a girl about... Werewolves?

“I... Yeah. Yeah, I think I got something. I know we’ve met, but that’s about it. The other things... They’re not really that helpful.”

Damason nods, but is clearly disappointed. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out an envelope. “Here, take this. I need to go now, but with this I might be able to visit you sometime. It looks like you have a lot of stuff to sort out.”

I smile weakly and take the envelope from him. “Indeed I do. Thank you, Damason.”

Anna and I turn to leave, but Damason calls me one more time. “One more thing... Where’s Nadia?”

If his name had hit me like a truck, this was like being run over by a bullet train. I recoil a little bit, but otherwise I hide it well enough, I think. The name connects itself to a hazy face, but nothing more. I shrug and turn away again. I feel Damason’s eyes follow me as we walk away from him and out of the arena.

Anna doesn’t ask any questions. How thoughtful of her.

Summoning Ground Success
Arguably the most important area, in terms of work, was the summoning ground. This was a wide-open area with a single, intricately carved stone in the likeness of a tree. A spherical indent in the stone, where the tree’s crown meets its trunk, seems to invite something to be placed within it. As I approach, Breidablik glows warmly in my hand.

Anna notices. “That’s the way it looked before you summoned Virion,” she says. “Do you think you might just summon someone else just by coming near the stone?”

I shake my head. “I don’t think so. It can’t be that easy.” I look at Briedablik carefully. “It looks... Weak. As if it needs a power source.”

Something in my pocket seems to shift. Reaching into it for the first time, I find a bunch of spherical objects. I take one out and examine it. It’s small, about the size of a ring. It looks like a typical seashell’s pearl.

I show it to Anna. “Would you know what these are? There are a bunch of them in my pocket for some reason.”

Anna takes the pearl out of my hand and examines it closely. “I’ve heard of these,” she says. “They’re called Orbs. Supposedly they’re born from the aura of command of victorious tacticians. One of our legendary tacticians was said to have had tons of them.” She hands it back to me. “No one knew what to do with them, not even he. His collection is probably stashed away somewhere.” Anna looks back and forth between the Orb and the stone. “Do you think...?”

“If I’m thinking the same way as you, then possibly,” I respond. I touch the orb to the stone. Nothing happens. It’s far too small to even be close to fit the indent, which I can now say was about the size of a baseball.

“Try more than one?” Anna muses. I glance back at her and notice Alfonse and Sharena walk in behind her.

I take a few more out of my pocket. One, two, three, four... At four, they all start to feel really hot. I take a fifth one in my hand. There’s a flash of light and I turn away.

When I open my eyes again, I’m not at the grounds anymore. The area bathes in a soft white lig- Wait a second, this was the vision I had before.

The same voice that spoke then speaks now. “Your first summon, huh? Must be exciting,” it says.

“Well, I don’t quite know what this is yet,” I respond, looking for the speaker.

“You’re getting new troops, kid!” It exclaims ecstatically. “Now, I don’t do this often, but I’ll let you choose who it is just this once. Anyone in particular? You get five.”

For a moment, I have a flash of insight. Names and attributes come floating back to me. From where, I can’t say. But it’s something.

“Marth, a leader to back me up while I’m still learning. Robin, a tactician for when I don’t have a plan. Corrin, an insightful warrior and free-willed royal-“

The voice interrupts me there. “Which Corrin?” it asks.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Which Corrin?” It repeats, “There are two. Oh, there are two Marths and two Robins too, but I can’t let you get those ones yet.”

“I... Both, I guess.” Like I said, only names and attributes come to me. The fact that there were two of each had not. “And last one... Uh... I don’t know. I can’t think of anyone else.” I did say flash, right? It was exactly that. It lasted less than thirty seconds. The names I had said, though, were definitely familiar. I couldn’t quite connect more names with them yet.

I get the strange image of someone taking notes and analyzing my choices. “Hm... You’re missing a part of the weapon triangle,” the voice notes. “Are you sure?”

“Surprise me,” I say. “Leave my last choice for later.”

The voice laughs. “There’s the practical kid I know. Alrighty then. Five Heroes, coming right up!”

I blink, and I’m once again standing on the patterned floor of the summoning ground.

“Aidan?” Anna says. “What happened?”

I briefly consider telling them about the vision but decide against it like before.

Where I had five Orbs in my right hand, there was now a single, large, emerald gem. I held it up for the Askrans behind me to see. Five stars tracing out a pentagon glimmer from within.

“This happened,” I say. “The Orbs merged into... This.”

“What do you do with that?” Sharena asks.

“Good question...” I look at the indentation in the stone, then at the gem in my hand. It looks like it should be able to fit.

I inch my right hand closer to the opening. Breidablik whirs in my left hand, growing hotter.

The gem fits perfectly. I feel it lock into the slot, and Breidablik starts glowing again. It’s incredibly hot, and it feels like it might explode. Instinctively I step back several feet. Breidablik seems to pull my arm to the gem. I allow it to guide my arm, shakily aiming at the glowing gem.

With one final whirring click, Breidablik fires a spiral of light at the gem. The two come into contact, and a gust sweeps outward from the stone. A beam of blinding light grows outward from the center of the stone, like a reverse Mega Man entrance. I notice the emerald shatter before I’m forced to look away.

When I look back, there aren’t even fragments left of the emerald. In front of the stone and facing us is a girl holding a brown book. Her hair and clothing are the same shade of lavender. Her face shows surprise, but overall she seems rather calm.

“I... Oh, hello,” she says quietly. “Who are you?”

I can’t help but stare for a moment, before snapping back to my senses. “My name is Aidan,” I say as cordially as possible. “I’m the one who summoned you just now. I apologize if it was a rough ride. I was summoned in a similar way.” I extend my hand in greeting.

She seems reluctant to take my hand at first, but eventually, she shakes it. “My name is Julia-she who inherited the ability to use the book of the Divine Dragon, Naga.”

I try to smile amicably. “Welcome to the team.” I introduce her to the Askrans. As they get acquainted, I notice that Briedablik is still humming.

“More?” I mutter. I suppose that my benefactor did say that I’d get fIve.

I dig more Orbs out of my pocket. One, two, three, four- Oh, it’s already forming a gem. Wasn’t it five last time?

This one is a ruby, a diamond constellation shining within. I go through the same motions as before: slotting the gem, stepping back, and firing.

This time, when I look back, a blue-haired man with a very long cape stands in front of me. A golden hilt was visible from his sheath. This time, I knew who it was.

“Prince Marth of Altea,” I say, extending my hand. “The Hero-King. Welcome to Askr. My name is Aidan.”

He seems surprised that I know his name, title, and kingdom. (Honestly, I’m not even sure how I know.) Somehow he still manages to retain his composure. “You are correct. I am indeed Marth, prince of Altea. It is good to make your acquaintance.” He starts shaking my hand. “Like you, I-“

He looks past me and stops short in surprise. “Anna?” He asks. I glance back. Anna is surprised but hides it well.

I walk him over and introduce the group, which includes Julia now. Anna and Marth start a conversation as I return to do another summon; Briedablik is still humming, apparently.

The motions engrave themselves more deeply into my mind. Count out the Orbs, get a gem— this time, sapphire, with a square constellation inside—insert it, fire, and...

A man with white hair emerges from the warp this time. A book hangs at his belt, partially covered by a hooded black robe with purple highlights. He seems unsteady at first. I can’t blame him. Under his breath, he mutters, “Where did I wake up this time?”

I knew this guy too. “Robin, tactician of the Shepherds. Welcome to Askr. My name is Aidan. It’s nice to have another strategic mind on the team.”

He laughs and we shake hands. “I can understand that. I was the only tactician at home. Let me know if you need a little help.”

He’s the first one who seems unfazed. But I suppose this wouldn’t be the first time for him.

Wait, when was the first time? I... Dammit. Oh well, the insight thing is better than nothing.

Robin also seems to recognize Anna. I don’t bother asking. I’ll talk to her later.

Orbs, gem (ruby, again), slot, shoot.... Why can’t I just press a button or flip a switch?

Another white-haired man, although he looks slightly younger than Robin. His armor is white with black fabric between the plates. Ruby eyes as intense as the gem from whence he came, a red sash, and a jagged, golden sword add a splash of color to his mostly blank motif. For some reason, he’s barefoot.

“Welcome to Askr, Corrin,” I say, extending my hand like the last three times. “It seems that fate has entwined you with one more kingdom. As if you didn’t already have enough kingdoms to keep track of.”

He seems a bit surprised but laughs off his nervousness. “You’re correct there,” He says, taking my hand. “Raised in Nohr but born in Hoshido. I devote my Yato blade and dragon power to your cause.”

Corrin also seems to know Anna. What’s new?

Dammit, only three Orbs left. I might need to- Oh, never mind. I guess I only need three for this last time. Set the sapphire, step back, fire... This feels like a lot of work for only five troops.

The woman who emerges looks oddly familiar. Ivory hair; ivory armor with black fabric underneath; no shoes; jagged, golden blade... Wait... This is-

“I’m Corrin,” she says, “born in Hoshido, though raised in Nohr. I-“ she stops short as her deep blue eyes—accompanied by a matching sash over her shoulder—affix on the other Corrin behind me.

The two approach each other cautiously but awe-struck. I was worried that if they touched there would be some insane temporal breakdown. Everyone else just stared incredulously as the two mirror images drew together.

“But... How?” the girl asks quietly. “This... There’s no way!”

“I’m thinking the exact same thing,” the boy says. “This can’t be.”

Both look at me for an explanation. I’m the one at fault for bringing them together, but I really don’t understand anything either. “I’m sorry, you two. I’m new to this. I don’t know any more about the logistics of this world than either of you do.” I shrug in uncertainty. “But if you want to talk to me, then you’re free to do so. Just... Try to get settled first. Alfonse and Sharena, can you take them to the barracks? I want to talk to Anna.”

The siblings nod and gesture to the five newcomers. Sharena is already chatting them up. She’ll be integral to putting Heroes at ease upon arrival. Alfonse is a gracious host, although serious. Anna... Well, I need to talk to her first.

“Well then,” Anna says after the others have gone. “Shall I show you your room as we talk?”

I look at the sun setting beyond the summoner’s stone. “I’d like that,” I tell her. “It’s been a long day...”

Genealogy of the Constant Commander
I didn’t realize that Briedablik was smoking until Anna pointed it out. I found it odd that a magical weapon still retained a lot of mechanical properties. The buildup of heat, whirring when it was active, and now even emitting exhaust. I briefly pondered deconstructing Breidablik to see its inner workings, but thought better of it... For now.

“That went well,” Anna says as we walk. “All five of them... They are very powerful in their own Worlds.”

“Are they?” When I’d chosen them, I was looking at their attributes more than their strength.

“To an extent, yes,” she responds. “There are always more powerful Heroes, of course, but these ones are quite strong on their own.”

I wondered why Anna seemed so focused on immediate practical applications for things. She’d talked a lot about finances, the efficiency of the Training Tower, the Arena’s dual purpose... Overall, she always had an eye for the fruit of our efforts. Perhaps...

“Anna, would you happen to be a merchant?” I ask. “By trade, perhaps, or even related to some merchants that are well-known in this world?”

She falls silent for a moment. I wonder if I’d hit a nerve. Then she laughs.

“Wow, you’re fast,” she says. “My family is almost entirely consisted of merchants. And Annas too, for that matter.”

I wasn’t prepared for that second part. I stare blankly at her. “What?”

“Basically every girl in my family is both a merchant and an Anna. Our appearances, personalities, mindsets—a vast majority of traits, now that I consider it—are identical or very similar between all of us. It’s strange, really. I myself am one of about twenty sisters. The only notable difference between us is our parents’ pronunciation of our names.”

It’s my turn to be silent. First, how does one couple have twenty kids? That’s more than ten years in total spent carrying a baby on the mother’s end. Second, how do you manage to pronounce a two-syllable name in twenty different ways? There aren’t even that many ways to pronounce an A in the first place.

Granted, the explanation does answer my other looming question. “So your family is a... How do I say this? A constant between these worlds, then? The others don’t know you, but they know your family members?”

Anna nods. “I haven’t met any of my family from the Heroes’ worlds. I know they exist. My mother always told me about them. Heroes tell me about them, and the Emblians sometimes complain about something I sold them earlier as I fight.” She laughs again. “Of course, it wasn’t actually me, but one of my relatives. It’s nice to know that they’re out there, even if it means I have to deal with a few angry soldiers.”

I nod in understanding as we reach a rather ornate door.

“This room belonged to the last tactician,” Anna tells me. “It hasn’t been used in a long time.”

“Who was the last tactician?” I ask. Please tell me he or she didn’t die horribly.

“That legendary one with a lot of Orbs I talked about earlier,” she responds. “Died of a battle wound, but lived to a good age.” That’s comforting.

She opens the door. I cough as dust comes off from it and off the floor, accentuated by moonlight streaming in through the windows. It’s dark out already? Geez...

The room is well-furnished. A dresser stands beside a bed large enough for two on one side of the room. On the other is a desk and matching chair, accompanied by a coffee table and another set of seats. Everything is in Askr‘s signature white and gold colors.

“Wow, I really have a lot of work to do, don’t I?” I cough. “Cleanup will be hell, but thanks for the bunk anyway.”

Anna nods. “There’s also a Summoners’ robe that’s been locked up in the castle somewhere meant for the Great Hero, like the ones you saw at the Arena earlier. Now that you’ve arrived, I’ll send for it. It should be here in the morning, so get some rest,” she turns to leave, but stops at the door. “I apologize that you’ve had such a long first day. But the Order... We appreciate that you’re here with us. Thank you.” “No no, don’t worry about it,” I say, punching a cushion. Coughing, I breathe in a large cloud of dust. “I’m just glad that I have a place to sleep. See you.”

Anna closes the door.

“Welcome home, Aidan,” I sigh to myself. “Boy, have you got a lot of work ahead of you...”

Restless Rustling
I probably slept past midnight, although I shouldn’t have. I didn’t want to take my chances with the dust.

There was a broom in the corner of the room. If nothing else, I’d be able to gather all the dirt in one place.

As I swept the room, I considered the day as a whole. It had been a long first day. I didn’t even have a clue why I was here. But overall, it wasn’t a bad day. I’d met a lot of new people, learned I have fighting skills, and seen a whole new place.

As I beat the furniture, I thought about the people I’d met. Alfonse had an admirable sense of duty and honor. I was sure he’d make a great king eventually, but he needs to learn to ease up a little. Sharena was incredibly friendly and outgoing—maybe too friendly. It might kill us someday, but until then, I have no doubt that she would make every new Hero feel right at home. Then there’s the matter of her seeming familiar, but that’s not really important... I think. Anna exhibited exceptional leadership skills. She’s amicable, but firm when she needs to be. She seems to have an excellent understanding of finance—her merchant genes, no doubt. Ultimately, these were good people. I was in good hands.

As I dusted and organized the ancient papers in the desk's drawers, I pondered my rediscovered fighting skills. I must have used the Shovel Blade before. I’d felt a surge of power as I picked it up, but no one learns to do something flawlessly the first time they do it. The Shovel Drop isn’t an easy feat, so I had to have done it at least once before to execute it. If my mind didn’t know how to do it, my body did. And the way I blocked attacks, even flinging that one guy. I have experience with this weapon. But from where? Why don’t I remember any of it?

As I shook off the dusty pillow and sheet, I wondered how the Heroes were feeling. They were pulled out of nowhere into this new world, like me. Unlike me, they knew where they were coming from. They wouldn’t be considered Heroes if they hadn’t done something... Well, heroic. And no one does a heroic thing without making a few friends first. These people would have family and fiends that they were ripped away from, and now they’ll be forced to fight in defense of a land they don’t know. And the paradoxical issue with Corrin... That spirit told me there were two Robins and two Marths too. Everyone was shaken by this, not just the Corrins. I don’t even know what will happen with those two. I fear for what will happen when Marth and Robin meet their counterparts.

As I lay down in bed to sleep, I tried to peer back into my mind. I tried to recover the memories I’d lost. Not like I hadn’t been trying throughout the day. But like those times... Nothing. I had fragments, obviously, and Damason had added a few more. My name, that Recreator title I’d come up with, my fighting skills, Sharena seeming familiar... But they’re like corner pieces of a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle; few and far from getting me on track.

Once my memories returned, I’d be a potent force. But until then... I’m just a tactician.