Chapter 9: Act 2- Brother's Shadow
The campfire crackled in the night as Odyn read the anonymous message for the twentieth time, his orange eyes reflecting both the flames and an inner turmoil that Lucina had never seen before. The rest of the Shepherds had retired for the night, save for Frederick on watch and Owain practicing his "sacred sword techniques" in the distance.
"Odyn?" Lucina placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, feeling the tension in his muscles. "You've barely spoken since that messenger arrived. What's wrong?"
The dark elf was silent for a long moment, his blue hair casting shadows across his face. When he finally spoke, his voice carried a weight that made Lucina's heart ache.
"The warrior they described... sky blue and lavender hair, orange eyes like mine, the dragon insignia..." He closed his eyes. "It's my brother. It has to be Roy... though he went by Thallion in our homeland."
Lucina sat closer, intertwining her fingers with his. "I didn't know you had a brother."
"Because I thought he was dead." Odyn's grip tightened slightly. "During the fall of our people, when the corruption began spreading through our ranks... Roy was one of the first to vanish. I searched for him for years before assuming the worst."
A cool breeze stirred the campfire as Odyn continued, his voice growing harder. "But the description mentions something else. Something that confirms my worst fears." He pulled out the message again. "The 'vacant orange eyes' and 'movements like a puppet on strings'... I've seen this before."
Lucina felt a chill that had nothing to do with the night air. "Mind control?"
"Worse." Odyn turned to face her fully, his expression grave. "There was a forbidden art among our people, a technique that could bind a warrior's will to another's. We called it the Dragon's Leash, named after an ancient dragon who once enslaved our ancestors. It was outlawed centuries ago, but..." He gestured to the message. "The signs are unmistakable."
"But who could know such a technique? Your people..."
"Are gone. Yes." Odyn stood, pacing near the fire. "Which means whoever is controlling Roy must have access to knowledge that died with our civilization. The same knowledge that those mutated Risen were using."
Lucina rose as well, her tactical mind already working. "The same person must be behind both. But why reveal Roy's presence to us now?"
"It's a trap." Odyn's voice was certain. "They want me to come. They want to test their puppet against the last free dark elf warrior... or perhaps add another to their collection."
"No." Lucina's voice was steel, her hand finding Falchion's hilt instinctively. "We won't let that happen. We'll save your brother, Odyn. Just as we're working to save my father and prevent Robin's fate."
Odyn turned to her, his expression softening slightly. "Lucina..."
"You've protected me across two timelines," she stepped closer, reaching up to touch his cheek. "Let me help protect you now. We'll face this together."
For the first time since the message arrived, a small smile crossed Odyn's face. He leaned down, pressing his forehead to hers in an intimate gesture. "Together," he agreed softly.
"Well, this is both adorable AND dramatic!" Owain's voice suddenly rang out from behind a nearby tent. "The lost brother! The forbidden technique! The lovers' vow! Truly, this tale grows more epic by the moment!"
"Owain!" Lucina hissed, blushing furiously. "How long have you been there?"
"Long enough to begin composing the next chapter of 'Darkness Dragon and the Sword Princess'! Though perhaps I should add 'The Brother's Redemption' as a subtitle..."
"I will end you, cousin."
"Ah! But you forget – I have already informed Cynthia and Severa of this development! Even now, they plan strategies to support this most noble rescue mission!"
Odyn couldn't help but chuckle despite the gravity of the situation. "I suppose we should tell the others in the morning. We'll need everyone's help if we're to free Roy from this Dragon's Leash."
"And free him we will," Lucina promised, squeezing his hand. "After all, I think it's time I met my future brother-in-law properly."
The implications of her words made both of them blush, while Owain could be heard scrambling to add "The Wedding of Fate" to his growing list of subtitle options.
As the fire burned low, Odyn looked to the stars, thinking of orange eyes like his own, now vacant and controlled. *Hold on, brother,* he thought. *We're coming for you.*
In the distance, a dragon's cry echoed through the night, as if in answer to his silent promise.
To be continued in Chapter 10: Act 2- Dragon's Blood; Odyn vs Roy