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

Trusts

The group no longer knew what to do. Their army had been reduced so much that it was no longer sensible or even possible to continue. The former members of the houses of the Golden Deer and the Black Eagles were sitting silently around a campfire inside the refuge. On a few occasions, they had experienced battles of this caliber. Mercedes, Ingrid, Sylvain, and Felix already felt like strangers. They decided to fight to the death along with the rest of the group, but they felt a kind of inconsiderate towards them.

Everyone was waiting for some sign from that strong boy like Byleth, his professor. They expected him to guide them just as their teacher did. But, the boy had been reduced to a helpless creature with a blank expression.

Marianne accompanied him as she took his hand. It was no longer worth hiding what was between them. Besides, he needed support, and she wanted to give it however she could. After staring into the fire for a long time with that blank expression, Leonard looked at his beloved. He could no longer lament. If he had lived a thousand years, and that time allowed him to meet Marianne, then it had been worth it. Or so the man thought.

"Enough of regrets," he said, looking at the girl. "It's time to move on."

"Leonard..." she replied, squeezing his hand tighter. "Don't force yourself."

"It's lucky to have all of you, and you, my love, by my side," his forced smile broke out. "Marianne, I thank you for the encouragement you have given me."

Leonard got up and walked over to the group. Claude and Edelgard told him about their plan. They would stay another night, and the next day, they would go down to the Fódlan Locket using a path that would take them much less time to get there, and that could only be taken on foot. He knew which way they were discussing since he used it to escape from the Monastery.

After that, Leonard secluded himself in one of the shelter's rooms. He didn't want Marianne to see him while he continued to moan to himself. The man realized that someone was already sleeping in the room: Ingrid. She hadn't even exchanged a word with the students who seconded Dimitri, and she had no intention of making this the exception. He would only be there for a while and then leave.

Leonard didn't get much chance, as Ingrid immediately woke up. Instinctively, she rose and took her spear as a sign of defense. She didn't know the boy well enough, but everything she'd seen in him was enough to make her fearful.

"A thousand apologies..." Leonard said, getting up from the ground. "I didn't realize you were here; I'll leave immediately," -e looked at her momentarily while he wiped away his tears. "I feel inconsiderate; I do not even know your name."

"I got a little scared... But you don't need to go," she answered, calmer when she saw how exposed that young man looked, whom she considered a kind of hybrid beast between human and Agarthan. "I see that you are suffering."

"Do I look that bad?" Leonard replied while letting out a small laugh. "But the truth is that yes... You will imagine why; the man who sacrificed himself to stop Periander was my father."

"Yes... I imagine the desolation you feel for having lost your father... I couldn't bear losing my father like that," she said with an indulgent look. "By the way, my name is Ingrid, Ingrid Brandl Galatea."

"A pleasure, Ingrid. Leonard Weber, to serve you," Leonard replied, moving to leave.

"You don't have to go... Surely you want to take all the suffering that afflicts you away from the others." Ingrid got up from the bed. "Maybe worse battles will come in the future, right?"

"You're right... Isn't it a problem for you that I stay here, then?"

"No... And you don't mind if I ask you to tell me about your sorrows?" she asked, coming closer. "It never hurts to vent."