Chapter 14: Act 3- Discussion amongst the women Shepherds... Roy and Nowi?
It began during one of their rare moments of peace between battles, as the women of the Shepherds gathered around a campfire some distance from the main camp. Sybyrh had noticed Cordelia and Sumia exchanging meaningful glances throughout dinner, particularly when Roy had offered to help Nowi gather firewood - a task that somehow took them twice as long as usual.
"Well," Severa broke the comfortable silence, twirling a lock of her red hair, "is anyone going to mention how our resident dark elf princeling can't seem to take his eyes off our oldest youngest member?"
Lucina, sitting beside Sybyrh, smiled knowingly. "You've noticed it too? Odyn mentioned that he's never seen his brother quite so... attentive before."
"It's rather sweet," Olivia offered softly, her usual shyness temporarily forgotten in the intimacy of their circle. "The way he listens to all her stories, even the ones about the most mundane things."
Sybyrh leaned forward, her orange eyes reflecting the firelight with an almost mischievous gleam. "What fascinates me is how their dynamic has evolved. At first, I thought Nowi was simply intrigued by another being with extraordinary power, but there's more to it than that."
"You mean how she's actually acting her age around him?" Severa quipped, though there was no real bite to her words. "Well, her mental age, anyway."
"Precisely," Sybyrh nodded, her black hair with its golden and silver highlights catching the firelight. "She's not putting on the childish act nearly as much when they're together. I've caught them having quite profound conversations about the nature of time and longevity."
Cordelia, who had been quietly observing, added her thoughts. "It makes sense, doesn't it? Both of them understand what it means to live beyond normal human lifespans. Roy might not be a Manakete, but dark elves have their own form of near-immortality."
"And did you see them during the last battle?" Sumia chimed in excitedly. "The way they moved in perfect sync? When that Risen chief nearly got through our lines, Roy didn't even need to shout - Nowi just knew exactly where to position herself to cover his advance."
Sybyrh's expression grew thoughtful. "That's what truly caught my attention. As someone who's fought alongside Chrom for so long, I recognize that kind of wordless communication. It doesn't develop overnight."
"Well, sister," Lucina said, touching Sybyrh's arm gently, "you would know better than most how it feels to bridge different worlds. A dark elf and a human, just like a dark elf and a Manakete..."
"The heart knows no bounds," Sybyrh agreed, her voice warm with understanding. "Though I must admit, I'm particularly invested in this development. Nowi has been a dear friend since I joined the Shepherds, and seeing her find someone who understands both her playful nature and her ancient wisdom..." She trailed off, watching the distant figures of Roy and Nowi returning from their suspiciously long firewood gathering expedition.
"They're both warriors who carry ancient power," Cordelia observed. "Roy's abilities rival those of dragons, as we've all seen. Perhaps that's part of what draws them together - understanding the weight of such power."
"And the loneliness of it," Sybyrh added softly. "I've spoken with Nowi about it before - how difficult it can be to connect with others when your perspective spans centuries rather than decades. Roy may not be quite as ancient, but he understands that weight."
Severa snorted, though her expression remained fond. "Well, if they take as long to admit their feelings as these two did," she gestured between Lucina and Sybyrh, "we'll be fighting Risen until the next millennium."
The women's laughter rang out through the night air, causing both Roy and Nowi to look their way curiously. Sybyrh noticed how Roy's orange eyes lingered on Nowi's smile, and how Nowi's steps seemed to unconsciously draw her closer to him as they walked.
"Something tells me," Sybyrh murmured, sharing a knowing look with her sister-in-law Lucina, "that we won't have to wait quite that long."
To be continued in Chapter 15: Act 3- The Search for Lucina's Allies part 1