Fire Emblem Protagonist 02

Bandits.

They were a staple of many first maps of Fire Emblem. Typically being weak as fuck, and ugly as much, essentially generic enemies meant to be used as fodder to teach players the bare basics of the game.

They also tended to wield axes. This was important because Fire Emblem lords tended to use swords, and due to the weapon triangle, that meant the protagonist usually had the advantage against them.

Basically, they were sacks of EXP. Just meant to be killed.

At least that's what Heitor kept telling himself as he jumped out of the carriage. "So, what's the plan?" They had to have one, right?

Priscilla waved her fan. "It is simple, mutt. I will go around exterminating the fire." With her Yang Sword probably. "While Al and Yae eliminate the rats, should they actually exist of course."

The village didn't seem to be too big, so if bandits really were roaming around, they would stumble on them sooner or later. With that said, they had yet to confirm that this was a bandit attack, it was just a possibility at the end of things.

But he knew it was one. What else would it be in a Fire Emblem world?

She continued. "You may or may not join the battle, I care not." She definitely cared.

He could see in her face, that even though he looked as if he lacked an weapon, he would lose whatever scraps of her affection he had if he did not act like a guard dog.

Which was okay. He had to do this anyway. "Okay then, I'll go attack with everyone else."

Alm drew his sword. "You sure, cousin? It's gonna be dangerous..."

Yae giggled. "I think not joining is even more dangerous." Ah, she pretty much confirmed his suspicions about Priscilla's intentions. "Heitor, here, at least take this so you can defend yourself."

She took a knife out from... somewhere, and showed it to him.

He had no need for it. "Actually... I think I might already have a weapon." Should he hide the inventory thing?

Maybe. But it didn't seem sound as scary as knowing people's combat secrets, so maybe it would be okay? Either way, it was something that would be extremely inconvenient to hide in the long term.

So he closed his eyes, and summoned his Rapier. There was no light show to accompany it, one moment he didn't have a weapon, the other he did. "This is much better than a knife." Hopefully.

The maid gasped. "Oh!? Is that some ninja trick!?" She's the ninja!

Aldeberan immediately looked at him as if he was the bandit. "It's definitely a trick that people of my world can't do. The hell is that cousin?" He wasn't assuming it was just his cheat?

Did that mean people didn't naturally get one. "It's... just something I can do, I guess. I've felt it since I got here." And that wasn't even an excuse, it was the genuine truth.

"You for real?" The gladiator didn't seem to buy that truth however.

But then Priscilla interjected. "Al, it is only natural that my stray dog would have a trick or two under its sleeve. Do not waste your very few braincells thinking over it, go and fulfill your duty as mine sword."

The gladiator nodded. "Fine. Let's go cousin." And then he began walking off.

Heitor followed him. "Okay!" But then immediately stopped, grasping his forehead. "Ugh...!"

He had grasped information before with just one look, but what flowed into his head was on a completely different level. Suddenly he knew the terrain of the entire village, the position of its people, of its enemies, and their equipment and abilities. And the worst part, is that it updated every second.

If someone took as much as one step to the left, he knew of it immediately.

Once he saw the boy gasp in pain, Aldeberan stopped. "Cousin?"

"I-I'm fine, but I think I just developed a new power." Or at least a previous power of his upgrade itself.

It reminded Heitor of a dialogue the Avatar of Fire Emblem Awakening had in its beginning chapters. Of how he could see the battlefield and the people in it. In the game this was just a cheeky reference to how tactical RPG's worked, but... But it seems Heitor now shared this ability with that Avatar.

The gladiator tilted his head. "For real?

Heitor hesitantly nodded. "Yes, I can see the battlefield... the entire battlefield." He put a hand to his chin. "For example, I know there's six bandits in this village."

Five axe users! One lame bow user...

And one of those axe users had the Divine Protection of Bleeding, meaning he got stronger the more he bleed, and that he could not die simply from a lack of blood. Without a doubt, he was the boss of this chapter.

He continued. "And I also know that those bandits are currently harassing a woman, something which we should probably stop." It was his duty as a Fire Emblem protagonist! Or something along those lines.

Aldeberan took a step back in shock. "Wow, that's..."

"Super useful!" The ninja maid finished it for him. "Assuming you aren't a dirty liar of course."

He shook his head. "I'm not! I can take you all to where they are to prove it..." They were just in the center of the village... which he now knew the location of.

Priscilla interjected. "Very well, I have changed mine mind. I wish to see if you speak the truth, so use that nose of yours and bring me to mine enemy, mutt." His nose!?

No, he didn't have the time to argue, so he just nodded his head and began making his way to where the bandits were.

He quickly made his way to the center of the town, and as his ability had shown him...

"Stop cryin' lass! Husbands basically grow on trees!" There was a bandit harassing a woman... and there was also a corpse lying next to that woman. "Hell, I'll be ya husband!"

The woman screeched. "Stop! Just...! Just stop!"

Heitor grimaced. "That's enough proof for you, Lady Priscilla?" His hand was grasping his sword as tightly as he could. He really was going to fight.

And that was okay! Who cared about generic brigand enemies...?

Priscilla nodded. "More than enough. You have a fine nose, mutt."

She walked forward, and finally announced their presence. "Scum! A moment of your time!" If her words weren't enough to get their attention, the fact that she summoned a flaming sword definitely was.

Yang Sword Vollachia. A bullshit blade that gave bullshit fire powers. His ability had classified it as a S-Rank weapon, one that could only by used by the family of the Emperor of Vollachia. In other words... It was a super strong personal weapon. The Falchion of this universe.

The bandit leader looked at her, with a confused tilt of his head. "Hah? Who's this lady?" He didn't seem all that scared...

As expected of a first boss! He was so stupid he didn't get immediately terrified of the scary flame lady!

Priscilla grinned. "Mine name is Priscilla Barielle, the baroness that the world. And as punishment for challenging mine sublime rule, I sentence you all to death. You all may carry on this sentence by your own, or ask my servants for assistance."

The bandit laughed. "The gall of this bitch!" He swung his axe around, trying to look tough. "I decided! I'm gonna teach ya a lesson yer ain't gonna forget!"

Priscilla chuckled. "Assistance it is." That was their cue.

Aldeberan moved forward, sword in hand, and clashed with one of the bandits. "Ugh, I'm not really suited for combat like this."

The bandit he was facing laughed. "Ya sure aren't! I'll take your other arm, fuck—." And Aldeberan cut him down.

Not suited for what!?

And... and why did little hearts appear above his allies heads as if he was building support with them!? Did he have such a gameplay mechanic as well!?

No, he didn't have the time to worry about that! It was time to fight, so he moved towards a bandit as well.

The bandit grinned. "Come here to die, stranger? I'll skin ya alive." What a bandit like line!

Hector swung his Rapier at him as a reply.

The truth is that he had never handled a weapon before. Well, that wasn't exactly true, he had done mandatory military service, but they didn't teach you how to use a goddammed Rapier! And even so...

He knew how to move. Not in the best way or anything, but he at least knew the basics of how to use a sword. It must have been his Weapon Ranking of E giving him some information. It was also probably why he had the same information on lances.

And as for the bandit... he was probably unused to combat. Most likely he had used his weapon and physique to simply intimidate others in the past, akin to a pirate.

So when someone sung a weapon at him with intent of doing serious harm, he stepped back in shock. "Wow, you bastard...!" In the end he only got grazed.

However, suddenly Heitor felt a surge of strength flow withing his body.

He shouted involuntary. "Together we ride!" And moved his body with far too much speed, and far too much strength compared to what he had shown before.

"Argh...!" This time the bandit didn't dodge, he was cut cleanly in two.

What had just happened was clear to Heitor he had landed a crit on the bastard.

He had also killed him, killing for the first time in his life... Which felt surprisingly good. Not because he enjoyed killing, but because his body was running pure adrenaline across his veins. In other words, he was in survival mode.

Six bandits had gone to four, and just like that they no longer had the numbers advantage.

The bandit leader scowled. "What the hell are you idiots doin'!? Charge the bastards like a team! This ain't a sport!" And with his order, the way the battlefield worked changed.

The archer was on the roof, he took aim, meanwhile the other two common bandits began rushing at Aldeberan, hoping to overwhelm and kill him. Essentially, this was the moment in a map where stationary enemies began to move!

Should he expect reinforcements as well!?

Aldeberan clicked his tongue, and processed to kneel down and touch the ground. "Dona." A wall of earth busted from the ground, stopping the bandit's advance, and blocking an arrow.

A thought ran through Heitor's mind. "That bowman is kind of a pain, Yae should go and handle it." And he knew she was capable of it, he knew what she could do.

She winked at him. "On it! But your ability is seriously way too scary!" She then proceeded to jump to the roof in one go, as if she hadn't just read his mind.

"That's..." Had he said that out loud? No, right?

As the bandits began to circle around to attack Aldeberan, Heitor tried to test his power once more. "They're both coming from the left of the wall! Don't get flanked!" He also began moving towards the man to give his support in battle.

Aldeberan chuckled. "Honestly, some people have all the luck..." Much like the self-esteem issue, a time looper couldn't complain in such a situation!

Nonetheless, even though he complained, he followed Heitor's order. Showing that part of his ability really was communicating with people telepathically, although he wasn't quite sure of the range...

It reminded him of something actually. A line that Lyn had said on... Fire Emblem Warriors? It was something about how Mark, the avatar of that game, seemingly commanded them the same way Heitor was doing now.

He really had gotten the entire tactician package...

Aldeberan began his clash against the bandits. Surpringsly, he managed to hold his own even though he only had one arm. He was being pushed back however, being more defensive than agressive.

The tides changed once Heitor arrived howeved, the two managed to push the bandits back with their allied strenght, and with one final slash from the two...

"Ugh... Damn it!" The two bandits fell.

For one second a image flashed on Heitor's mind.

Level Up!
+1 Mag
+1 Skl
+1 Spd
+1 Lck

He grinned. "So that really can happen..." And as he commemorated, Yae took down the archer. She didn't seem to have any trouble dealing with the man.

A interesting thing however, is that ther fight did not generate any hearts. Just as Heitor's fight with the two bandits did not generate any hearts with her specifically. Was she just too far away for it? In the game someone had to be close to build-up support.

The bandit leader finally had enough. "Damn it! I'm surrounded by useless idiots! But fine, I'll take you all by myself!" He wouldn't retreat even after his whole group got destroyed in front of him...?

A true Fire Emblem bandit...!

Priscilla yawned. "I'm growing tired of this show. So I'll step-in and end you myself. You may feel honored and thank whatever god you worship, deviant."

So she was gonna join when everybody but the boss was dead!? What kind of attitude was that!?

Aldeberan let out a sigh of relief. "I finally get to take a break. Nice." Don't sound so pleased about it! If she was going to join in, she should have done so from the start!

The bandit raised his axe. "Move one step closer and I'll take the lasses head." Oh, right.

There was that woman who he was harassing. So they would have to come up with a plan to somehow save the hostage. Maybe by sending Yae to his back so she could throw a knife at him? That sounded doab—.

And he was already ash.

Priscilla laughed. "Fool, know your place." She had swung her sword, and thrown fire at man. That was way too broken.

Stupid EXP thief.



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"Thank you! Thank you so much Lady Priscilla!" And she was getting all the credit too, because of course she was. The entire village was singing her praises.

She waved them off. "You are welcome. Now, if you have nothing to give me, move aside. Me and my servants have placed to go." And she was being super rude to them!

Not that the man she was speaking too seemed to mind. Was that the power of having massive tits? "I see... But if you are hungry or tired milady, we could offer you our hospitality! You would have nothing but the best food and the best place to st—."

She glared at the man. "Do not waste resources on me when you need to rebuild the village, fool." That would be a endeavor and a half.

Since Priscilla had decided to watch the show rather than quell the fire, plenty of stuff had been destroyed. The only reason the village had been saved from destruction, was due to the rain that had now started.

How lucky for her, she got her territory saved in the end even though she acted like a arrogant bitch...

Heitor scratched his cheek, and muttered to himself. "Is every moment with her going to be a heart attack?" He wanted to meet a nice Pegasus riding girl so he could forget all about Priscilla.

"Yep!" He almost jumped in shock as Yae suddenly appeared behind him. "She's always stumbling onto messes she can conveniently fix with the minimum amount of effort."

She continued. "It actually makes you believe on that crap she spews about the world working for her. Especially since she went and stumbled onto talent like you, mister tactician." Lord, actually.

He sighed. "Whatever... By the way, don't spook me up like that again. Didn't you just hear my rant about heart attacks?"

She shrugged. "You seem like a healthy young man, I'm sure you will be fine." She raised a finger. "Also, as a ninja, it is basically my duty to spook people up whenever the opportunity arises." Was it though!?

She suddenly took off an item from her pockets. "As an apology though, here, take this."

It was... "A feather?" Why did she want to give him that?

She nodded. "Ayup, it seems pretty normal for me, but since it was a gift from a merchant from the village, it has to be something special..." She put a finger on her lips. "She gave it to me as thanks for helping them. You basically lead us, so I figured you deserved it."

"O-okay then..." He touched the feather.

As soon as he did, it disappeared.

+2 Speed

Ah! It was a stat booster! A Speedwing! Those were actually a thing!?

As one would expect from seeing the feather suddenly vanish, Yae's eyes widened in shock. "Whatta!?" And then in worry. "Shit, are you okay Heitor!?"

"Y-yeah, I'm fine." Better than fine even. "By the way, did you get the name of the merchant?"

"Who cares about that!? We need to see if you're cursed or something...! But her name was Anna or whatever." Of course.



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And so, their little journey resumed once more.

"You've done fine work, dog." And he had been upgraded! No longer was he a mutt!

As if he would be happy about that! It wasn't even the bare minimum, it was less than the bare minimum!

He pouted. "Thanks, Lady Priscilla." Now if she really wanted to make him happy and seem grateful, she should take a hint from her fine servant of a maid/ninja, and give him a stat booster too!

Priscilla crossed her arms. "About your ability... you could see the battlefield and communicate with your allies, while also storing items, correct?" He gave her a thumbs up. "Can you do that right now?"

That was a interesting question, actually.

"Let me try." He closed his eyes and concentrated... and found nothing.

His stats and inventory were still there, but he certainly couldn't see the area like he had done before. He should have expected it, it didn't take concentration to do it before, he was just constantly aware, so why would it change now?

It was simply not active. "I can't. I guess it must have some conditions for its use." The condition was probably being on a 'map'. "Though I can access my inventory."

His cheat seemed to essentially let him play Fire Emblem. Probably because this world was a Fire Emblem... Was he being controlled right now!? Was he gonna appear in Smash Bros!?

The more he thought about, the more he decided it was better to stop thinking about it.

Priscilla hummed. "I see... Very interesting. It seems you are actually somewhat of a rare breed." Wow, he was honored. "But next time, do ask for my permission before you dare to command my man however... or you will lose your head."

He gulped. "Understood." This woman...

He still didn't know how the support mechanic worked, but he needed to raise hers. His life was at risk here!