Chapter 15: Act 3- The Search for Lucina's Allies
"Another village reporting Risen attacks," Chrom announced to the gathered Shepherds, "but this one's different. They mention a male dancer helping defend the villagers."
The reaction from the future children was subtle but immediate. Lucina, Severa, and Cynthia exchanged charged glances, a silent conversation passing between them in mere seconds. Severa's lips curved into a knowing smirk as she stepped forward.
"I know these roads," she declared, her confident tone brooking no argument. "If we cut through the eastern valley, we can reach the village before nightfall." Her eyes met Lucina's briefly, carrying unspoken confirmation.
As they approached the village, the unusual movements of the Risen became apparent. These weren't the shambling, mindless creatures they typically encountered. Their movements were coordinated, almost... choreographed.
Odyn's orange eyes narrowed, his shoulder-length blue hair whipping in the wind as he drew his blade. Beside him, Roy tensed, both brothers recognizing something profoundly wrong about these particular enemies.
"These Risen..." Odyn growled, his free hand rising to his forehead where a luminescent dragon crest began to materialize, pulsing with ancient power. "They're moving like they're being conducted."
Roy nodded grimly, his own dragon crest manifesting as azure and lavender hair caught the dying sunlight. The power of their dragon's blessing surged through them both, their already formidable abilities amplifying to match the threat before them.
From the village center, they could hear the rhythmic sound of dancing bells, accompanied by the clash of steel. As they rounded the corner, they caught sight of their quarry - a male dancer moving with lethal grace through the Risen ranks, his movements both beautiful and deadly.
Lucina immediately took her position beside Odyn, their movements perfectly synchronized after countless battles together. The dancer paused for a fraction of a second, his eyes widening slightly as he observed them. There was something analytical in his gaze as he watched Odyn and Lucina fight in tandem - the way they covered each other's blind spots instinctively, how they seemed to anticipate each other's needs without a word passing between them.
"Their bond..." the dancer murmured, almost to himself, his voice carrying a note of wonder and perhaps... recognition? "Just like in the stories..."
Severa, cutting down a Risen with precise efficiency, called out to the dancer. "Less gawking, more dancing! We could use some of your special inspiration right about now!"
The dancer's response was immediate, his movements flowing into a familiar pattern that caused Lucina, Severa, and Cynthia to fight with renewed vigor. As he danced, his gaze kept returning to Odyn and Lucina, studying the way the dragon crest on Odyn's forehead pulsed in time with his movements, how Lucina's Brand of the Exalt seemed to resonate with it.
The battle flowed around them like a deadly choreography - Odyn and Roy's dragon-blessed powers cutting swaths through the Risen ranks, while Lucina's Falchion flashed in perfect harmony with her husband's movements. The dancer's performances seemed to emphasize these partnerships, his steps weaving an intricate pattern that brought out the strongest aspects of each fighter's abilities.
As the last Risen fell, the dancer's movements slowed, but his eyes remained fixed on the way Odyn's hand found Lucina's, the natural way they gravitated toward each other even after the fighting stopped. There was something in his expression - a mix of relief, curiosity, and perhaps even hope - that spoke of more than just a stranger's interest in their combat prowess.
Severa stepped forward, positioning herself between the dancer and the others, her expression a complex mix of emotions. "Well," she said, her voice carrying a weight of unspoken meaning, "I guess some introductions are in order."
Lucina nodded, squeezing Odyn's hand as she prepared to explain yet another piece of her complex future to her husband and their companions.
To be continued in Chapter 16: Act 3- Past and Present; Inigo's realization