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

Mourning and Honor

Almost instantly after invoking the spell, the couple appeared at the same point on their path. The group had split up to search for them. Marianne watched Hilda nearby, calling out to her while waving both arms.

"Hilda!" We are here!

The pink-haired girl ran towards them immediately, without saying a word.

"Marianne, thank the Goddess. You're okay!" Hilda exclaimed as she hugged her.

Despite not getting used to these physical demonstrations, Marianne accepted her hug with joy after the fear experienced in that unknown place.

"Thank you for your concern, Hilda." Marianne looked up at her friend's face with a grateful smile. "We truly feared the worst, but luckily we are back."

"I'm also grateful to see you again," she replied after sighing. "I don't know where they were. After some time, we could identify that the individual who appeared to them was Thales, one of the members of Those who slither in the Darkness."

As the couple and Hilda talked, they saw Edelgard, Claude, and Hubert walking toward them. The couple told them about the situation in detail, stressing that the motive for that abduction was to be able to absorb the powers of the codex, even if it had been unsuccessful.

"I see... They were probably imprisoned in the home of the Agarthans... Shambhala," said Hubert, crossing his arms and maintaining a thoughtful attitude.

"I didn't know about that place," Leonard replied, somewhat doubtfully.

"The truth is that we are not sure yet," the Empress's adviser continued. "Maybe it's somewhere else; we don't know. We don't even know where that cache is located yet."

"Well... The important thing is that we're safe... Right, Leonard?" Marianne asked, keeping a slight panting from exhaustion.

"Definitely." Leonard stroked the girl's head without thinking about it. "I don't know what would have become of me if you..."

"Ahem!" Claude interrupted the love scene. "I think we should pick up the pace again. Now that we know we have more enemies behind us, we must prepare even more than before."

Marianne felt too nervous after that caress on the head. She felt shame, too, and then felt other things. But it was time to continue to reach the Fódlans' Locket.

The group reconvened and continued their course. It had been a couple of hours after what happened. Leonard felt significant fatigue since the energy absorbed was much more than he had imagined. He felt sorry for the souls of his people, who would be lost forever after using the codex with such intensity.

Near the night, they arrived at the fort. Everyone was exhausted from their fast-paced downhill trip and needed to recharge. They fed as quickly as possible in the hall of the defense. They did not have time to settle in their bedrooms or rest for a while: they had received a warning.

In the distance, imperial forces could be seen. Lord Arundel and a retinue of soldiers loyal to him were approaching. Once they could discern the Lord more closely, they realized that he was accompanied by a familiar character: The Death Knight. The surprise was widespread, especially for Mercedes, who felt a strong pang in her chest when she saw him.

"Good evening, all," Arundel greeted the group at the entrance to the fort with an air of false solemnity. "I have heard that this group hides and protects Leonard Weber, accused of desecrating the treasure of the Order of Wards and the Monastery of the East."

"Careful what you say, uncle," Edelgard daringly expressed himself.

"So, my dear niece refuses to respect the jurisdiction of the Church. You should know that the Western Church itself has requested this order."