Marianne and the Forbidden Codex: A Fire Emblem Three Houses story

Clash of Beasts

After that unexpected event, Leonard headed toward the tent where he was supposed to sleep. He was halfway there when he met a girl in front of him: it was Hilda. She wore a black and pink dress covering her graceful body. Her angry attitude said it all: she probably saw the meeting between him and Lysithea. He remembered the threat she had given him. The axe she carried was proof enough.

"I told you, Leonard."

"I know..." he replied, his head down. "You won't believe me if I tell you that I didn't look for that, so let's go somewhere further away to pay for what I did."

"Sounds like you underestimate me," she said as they left the camp.

They both advanced towards the small woods where he and Marianne had met a few hours ago. Hilda stopped in the clearing of that forest. He took her axe with both hands, which she had previously carried over her shoulder. Leonard looked at her as she got ready with a carefree attitude. In truth, the only thing he thought about was the guilt the situation caused him.

"Don't ever underestimate my strength," Hilda said, preparing to attack. I don't know why I trusted you could do my friend well.

"Wait," Leonard answered, not moving a muscle. "I don't deserve to oppose or fight. Give me a second."

Hilda was silent, angry. Suddenly, she saw how the boy closed his eyes and took a breath, and when he released it, the guy's appearance turned white, skin and hair. She had already seen the scene, but it continued to stun her and cause her fear and hatred.

"What kind of monster are you really!?" —she screamed terrifyingly.

"Creating a monster is the only way to make a codex bearer successfully. I think I already told you," he said, showing his appearance.

"Do you want me to attack you while you keep that look? Are you provoking me?"

"No, not at all," Leonard replied, keeping his head down. "Just attack me. I'm not going to defend myself."

Hilda hesitated for a few seconds but remembered all those fights with those white beings, just as Leonard appeared to her. She gripped the axe tightly and charged forward. First, she made a diagonal cut across the boy's chest, ripping his clothes on the spot. The blood came out instantly. Leonard only closed one eye, showing that he was enduring the pain.

The girl backed away. She observed that her enemy was not going to fight back. Unconsciously, she felt anger well up in her. "Can I attack him? Actually? It's that he's stupid. He thinks he is an all-powerful guy, and he wants to be forgiven by receiving three blows for provoking an innocent young woman like Lysithea, Marianne... Or even me," she said to herself.

She repeatedly attacked the boy again, on his torso, arms, and legs. She stepped back again, thinking that her blows had already been enough so his rival would not bleed to death.

A few moments later, all the cuts stopped bleeding, and the wounds where the flesh was open closed completely. The girl was shocked. Not even a magic spell could do that. Indeed that guy was a monster. The girl let go of her axe a little without falling to the ground. She looked at Leonard and asked, anguished:

"What the fuck are you supposed to be? Have you told Marianne about this?"

"No, I haven't told him anything," he replied, shedding a few tears. "I do not know how to say it. I am no longer that human being you knew a few years ago. I don't even know what I am."

"Why then do you let yourself be attacked by me like that? Aren't you afraid of dying?"

"I feel like I should be dead long ago," he replied, tears growing in his eyes.