“Thus Prince Marth escaped Altea Castle with Sir Jagen and company at his side. However, this success would mean little to him once he learned the cost. The boy’s woes were just beginning.”
Marth:
“Cain, how are your wounds? You should rest.”
Cain:
“These scratches? It’s my pride you’re wounding sire. …Anyway, we must talk. There’s a reason I’ve returned. …Sire, I am…I am to deliver to you His Majesty’s last words.”
Marth:
“Last words? You don’t mean…Father…”
Cain:
“My condolences sire. The king died valiantly on the fields of Gra. The traitors took from him the divine blade Falchion and gave no quarter to those of our soldiers who remained…”
Marth:
“I…I see…So they’re all dead. Father, too…”
Cain:
“His last words were as follows: “Tell my son that I leave the future of Altea and our continent in his hands. He must rise now where I have fallen. As Falchion’s rightful heir, he has been born into greatness…Now…he must be great.””
Marth:
“…Father. I will try…”
Cain:
“…Sire, I…I cannot bear this! Failing to protect His Majesty…then leaving my brothers to die, slinking away like some coward…This indignity is too much to bear! One day I will repay them in kind. I will avenge the fallen…I swear it!”
Marth:
“Cain, you speak for us both. When that day comes, we will punish them together:”
Gra, Doluna…all of them!
(Jagen enters conversation)
Jagen:
“Sire! We ought to pay a visit to these homes outside the castle.”
(Home flashes)
Jagen:
“Your countrymen love you; perhaps they have knowledge that may serve us.”
(Houses)
Old Man:
“Just ‘cause you see an enemy over yonder doesn’t mean you should go runnin’ up to him like a fool! Lure one out, then take ‘im down! Then go out and lure the next. That’s how we did it when I was a lad!”
Young Man:
“Sir Jagen is a paladin: the champion of Altea! I’ve never met him, but I hear he’s strong as an ox despite his age. Still, you can’t have a champion like him do everything; that’s not fair to all your would-be future champions! Let our other units fight and gain experience, or you may find yourself in a real fix down the line.”
Old Woman:
“If you get hurt, rest a spell at a fort. A short stay there, and you’ll be feeling hale as ever.”
Young Man:
“Javelins and Hand Axes are versatile weapons that let you attack both up close and from a short distance away.”
Old Man:
“Weapons aren’t indestructible, you know! When a weapon’s durability reaches 0, that’s it:”
no more weapon. So be sure to keep an eye on those numbers.
(End Houses)
(On first Enemy phase)
Jagen:
“Look sire. Not all of Gra’s might harries the castle. They’ve left soldiers here outside.”
Marth:
“Elice will have no plans to escape…Let’s seize that fort across the water. Perhaps we can squash enemy reinforcement at the source.”
(When nearing escape point where enemy Mages are)
Marth:
“Mages…That will complicate things. They don’t need to get as close to do us harm. We’ll need to approach carefully.”
(Chapter End)
Marth:
“There. That ought to do for the enemy soldiers around here. Malledus!”
Why aren’t you with my sister? Did you leave her someplace safe?
Malledus:
“…Princess Elice will not be joining us. She has elected to stay at the castle.”
(Marth runs the way the allies came from and Malledus blocks him)
Malledus:
“Hold, sire! Where are you going?”
Marth:
“Where do you think!”
Malledus:
“Stop! Sire, consider for a moment why the princess would go as far as to lie to you to ensure your escape. Your sister knows that you are the future of Altea- nay, the whole land!”
Marth:
“…..!”
(Flashback to Cain and Marth conversation earlier)
Cain:
“His last words were as follows: “Tell my son that I leave the future of Altea and our continent in his hands. He must rise now where I have fallen. As Falchion’s rightful heir, he has been born into greatness…Now…he must be great.””
(Out of flashback)
Marth:
“I’m…our future…”
Malledus:
“Sire… You must live. Drink deeply now of these injustices; sip on these slights they serve. Remember them! One day you will lead us back here to avenge the fallen and reclaim Altea in their names!”
Marth:
“…Then it seems my life is no longer mine to hazard.”
Malledus:
“In your veins flows the blood of a hero- the blood of Anri. You are a son of House Akaneia, and sole heir to Falchion- our only hope of defeating”
Medeus, Emperor of Doluna. Sire, were’t in my power, I would have you choose you own path…but I’m afraid your path has chosen you.
Marth:
“……”