"-Which is why, Harbinger, it is important to be able to tell reality from fantasy," Elise lectured as she and Lucina sat in their share tent. It had been four days since Lucina claimed the title of The Harbinger of Zulm which allowed the news to spread throughout the Hellhounds and other knight orders on the frontline. Even if they were still waiting to hear back from R'eldrun for their official response that didn't stop Elise from referring to Lucina as 'Harbinger' in their day-to-day life. Like today where Elise was teaching Lucina more about what it means to be 'closer to the gods' and about the hallucinations they keep seeing as a result. "Especially now while at war, you must be able to clear your mind of doubts about if the enemy or ally in front of you is real; this is why those closest to the gods usually don't leave R'eldrun."

"But…" Lucina was still skeptical about this, despite being told otherwise, because of how vivid the Olivia sitting in the corner of the tent humming to herself was. "If she's not Olivia, then who is she?"

"No one," Elise answered before chuckling to herself as her dead brother complained about her not thinking he was real. "The reason the gods live in Sailest is because their very presence distorts and bends reality creating an environment that normal humans can't exist in. Since magic is a gift from the gods, the more you tap into their gift and the more magic you can store within yourself as you increase your magic reserves means you become a conduit for their presence here on Pianeta. You become 'closer' to the gods." Elise picked up a brush and gently started brushing Lucina's hair.

"If we're distorting reality, then why can't you see her? Wouldn't that make her real?"

"That… I don't have an answer for," Elise dejectedly replied. "All I know is that these apparitions aren't real and can't affect reality; they're all in our heads. Those who become closer to the gods usually aren't in a mind to politely speak to others about them and even if they are they willingly choose not to so I don't know much. Some say they're tricksters trying to bring about misfortune while others believe them to be messengers of the gods leading people to their destinies in mysterious ways. I'm sorry I can't give definitive answers to all of your questions, Harbinger."

"It's fine, Elise." Lucina was thankful enough to have Elise by her side to help her through this so she couldn't put any blame on her for not knowing every detail. "…Does that mean we'll both end up like the people you've met in R'eldrun?"

"Even if you do, I'll always be here for you, Lucina~," the fake Olivia comforted.

"…" Lucina didn't know how to feel about the warmth she felt in her heart whenever the fake spoke such kind words using Olivia's face.

"Eventually," Elise admitted but made sure to add, "But I believe you may not."

"Because you believe I'm The Harbinger of Zulm?"

"Yes." Elise ran her fingers through Lucina's unkempt hair with reverence. "Your mastery of magic, and your aptitude with gravity magic especially, led me to believe you are His Harbinger. After witnessing you that night, I feel myself being drawn to you in the same way I felt myself being led to our Hearth Mother back when I was a little girl and first joined Lady Alm's flock. The Harbinger of Zulm is a special existence whose full extent of abilities and influence aren't documented so you may be able to keep yourself as you are if you try. Plus you can't bring about the Violet King's will if you lock yourself in R'eldrun, now can you?"

"…I see." Lucina relaxed as Elise continued to brush her hair and the two sat in silence. When Elise first told Lucina about her thoughts on being Harbinger, Lucina was conflicted. To claim such a title was not something to do lightly as it could get the entire temple to turn their backs on you, and Lucina didn't want to imagine what her mother would think about her getting excommunicated at best or executed as a heretic at worst. But whenever Lucina heard Elise call her The Harbinger of Zulm something inside her felt…right. She couldn't place why but the title of Harbinger felt right to her, and it would explain why her magic was so powerful even though she was still young. There was also a vague memory that calmed Lucina's nerves about the ordeal but whenever she tried to focus and fully recall the memory it would vanish back into her mind as if it was never there. Either way, nothing could be done until R'eldrun gave their reply so Lucina pushed those thoughts into the back of her mind and focused on relaxing with Elise brushing her hair.

"Lucina Felswore?" Relaxing that was quickly ended. A tall man with extremely short brown hair and wearing full plate armor appeared at the entrance to the tent; he was one of Timothy's lackeys. "Let's go, you're on scouting duty with us." Timothy had been oddly quiet the past four days and didn't send them out on any missions as everyone was holding their breath for R'eldrun's response. It seemed the pressure finally got to him.

"I'll also get re-" Elise moved to get up, too, but the knight held up his hand to stop her.

"Only Lucina was called." He sent a glare at Elise who answered in kind. He motioned with his head to follow him and said, "Let's go, Wizard."

"…Okay," Lucina answered, got up, and grabbed her wizard's robe which was still a deep crimson color that refused to wash out. "I'll be back, Elise. Could you replace the lace in my other pair of boots since I won't have time to?"

"Of course, Harbinger," Elise picked up on Lucina's verbal signal and gave a nod of understanding; Lucina didn't own a second pair of boots.

"Then, I'm ready." Lucina followed the man out of the tent and across the Hellhound's camp. Wandering eyes stared at her and probing whispers danced around her as she passed her fellow Hellhounds who couldn't contain their curiosity at the little girl who claimed the place of Harbinger. A cold wind blew through the rolling plains they set up their camp in with the rustling trees of The Crimson Forest lying just down the hill that Lucina and the group of Hellhounds marched into for their mission.

***

"Keep up!" the man who called me barked as he led me and two other Hellhounds into the forest. They were making this rather obvious since this 'scouting' mission wasn't even going in the direction of Peltaira's forces, but they also weren't making any moves yet so I'll see where this goes.

"How much further? We've been walking for what feels like half an hour and I don't see our objective." I wonder if they'd even answer.

"We're almost there." Vague. Thanks.

"…?" But I guess I asked at just the right time as we soon came into a clearing in the forest to meet up with Timothy and two more knights who were waiting for us. Timothy looked anxious and was chewing on his fingernails, but when he saw us a smile swept across his face.

"Ah, sister! You're finally here!" Should I kill him now? Everyone here was wearing plate armor so I could just do what I did that night. I should-

"Not yet~," the fake Olivia appeared behind me and draped her arms over my shoulders while whispering into my ear, "You need proof so it's not murder~. I want to see you again, Lucina~."

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"…" Even if she wasn't real, she made sense; I should wait until they act first and only then retaliate. Just keep it in a little longer and I'll be able to pay him back for that night.

"Hey!?" Timothy shouted and his smile was gone. I guess I was spacing out listening to the fake Olivia that I didn't hear what he was saying. "Are you listening to me?" Let's poke him and make him snap.

"Did you need something for the mission?" I asked innocently and tilted my head to the side.

"…" I think I can hear his teeth grinding in his mouth from here even though he was standing quite a ways away. "Yes," he seethed, "I need you to pay attention because even I feel sorry for you, sister. After all, this will be your final mission. You've served Urldrusk faithfully these past six months and I'm proud to call you my family, but that doesn't always mean we-"

"Can we get on with it?" Honestly, it had only been four days since I'd last run into him but I forgot how much he liked to hear himself talk. My time with Elise was interrupted for this? "I'd like to finish this mission and catch up on some more rest."

"You…!" His face was getting redder so he must be close to losing it. "Are you looking down on me!?"

"I was afraid of this?" I muttered to myself loud enough for everyone to hear. After that night in the forest, everything I had been through up until now seemed so much more insignificant. Once, I trembled beneath Timothy's gaze. Now, I find him pathetic.

"Just who do yo-?"

"Why couldn't you inherit your mother's quiet demeanor instead of loving to hear yourself speak? Was she so quiet all the time because you also aren't her child?" Snap already!

"Fine! Fuck it! You wanna die so bad!?" Timothy snapped his fingers and I heard the two men behind me draw their swords while the one in front drew his morning star, and the two men by Timothy stood by watching. "Kill her slowly!"

"…Finally." Now it wouldn't be murder!

"Let's start with your ar-!" the man with the morning star raised it into the air as he approached me only to have it come crashing down into his head. With a quick flick of my wrist, I changed the point of gravity for the morning star's striking ball to be the man's head and intensified the gravity. The spiked metal ball caved in the man's skull and his lifeless corpse flopped to the ground spilling his brain matter onto the dirt.

"W-What!?" one of the men behind me stuttered and I heard him take a step away from me.

"Huh." Looks like I needed to taunt them some more. "I guess he dropped it on himself."

"The fuck did you do!?" the man behind me to my left yelled and the two men ran at me with their swords raised. They were wearing helmets meaning I couldn't use the same trick, so I guess it was time to stop playing around. "You-!" I raised my left hand to my shoulder and clenched my fist causing the two men's cuirass' to be each other's point of gravity. I couldn't see what happened, but I heard the familiar sound of screaming metal and liquefying flesh, and I felt something wet pelt the back of my robe and hair. The horrified expressions on the last three men's faces were also familiar.

"Wh-What…?" Timothy stumbled away from me so I took a step toward him. "What are you!?"

"What's wrong, step-brother~?" I had to suffer under you for six months! I had to experience what it was like to be in the five pits of Hell that night! "You look pale." I deserved my dues!

"…Well!? Get her!" Timothy yelled at the two men beside him who were trembling with fear as I kept walking toward them. "Just what do I pay you for!?"

"W-We-!" He was wearing a helmet with a raiseable visor so I altered the visor's gravity and used it to crush his head into a paste that squirted out of the crumpling eye slits.

"!?!" The last knight seemed to be the only smart one and started to run away, for all the good it would do him.

"Coward!" Timothy called after him despite the irony of calling five fully grown men to gang up on and kill an eleven-year-old girl. He turned back to me with the panicked look of an animal being cornered by a predator and drew his shortsword. "Y-You can't do this!" Oh? Bargaining now that he's lost the obvious advantage? "I was personally appointed as the commander of the Hellhounds by His Highness! I have the royal family at my back! If you so much as touch me you'll regret it! This is murder!"

"…" That's it? I'll regret it? "You never cease to disappoint, though I guess you inherited that from your father. I'm glad I don't have that issue as mine is at least doing his best at making amends."

"You-!?" Timothy tried to move but found himself stuck in place as I outstretched my hand to him. "W-What is this!?!" He flailed his arms and stomped his feet but no matter how hard he tried he couldn't move since his cuirass' gravity was set to itself and I intensified it to the point it wouldn't budge.

"Haven't you heard?" I taunted and stopped a few feet away from him. "I'm The Harbinger of Zulm, so this level of gravity magic is nothing for me." I played up my strength despite only being able to alter two object's gravity at a time, but that would increase over time with training and there was no need for him to know that.

"That's bullshit! You being Harbinger is just a trick you made up to get protection from the temples!"

"You're half right, but also half wrong." Seeing him continue to struggle under my grasp felt…exhilarating! He was like a bug being pinned down without a single hope of escape. "Claiming to be the Harbinger was a trick, but it wasn't to get the temple's protection; it was to make you crack."

"!?!"

"After that night you betrayed us to Peltaira I've wanted to kill you! The people that died that night, the horror I had to go through! For what!?" I had to control myself to not accidentally crush him with my magic as I still needed him alive for just a bit longer.

"Break him like a brittle wooden doll~." The fake Olivia's words weren't helping me control myself.

"…"

"No more talk?" I needed him to say it willingly, so I kept pressing. "Ming spilled the secret before his attack. It turns out even the enemy leader cared more about us than you did since he gave us a chance to surrender because he felt bad."

"Then you should have accepted it and died!" Seems like he's getting delirious from how hard it looks like his heart's beating and all the sweating he's doing; he can feel death approaching.

"You spent six months trying and failing to kill me only to end up betraying your own kingdom's troops to the enemy and even that failed!" Say it! "You can't even be a traitor without messing it up like the failure you are! Another trait you and your father share!"

"Bitch! I'm not a failure! Everything would have gone fine if Ming had done his part and killed you like I told him to! But you had to turn out to be some monster!"

"…" And there it is. "Did you get that?" I asked while looking over my shoulder.

"Who the fuck are yo-!?!" Timothy cursed but his words caught in his throat as Peter, Jeremy, Carl, and Elise emerged from their hiding places behind some nearby trees. Carl was dragging the corpse of the knight who tried to flee earlier.

"Loud and clear, kid," Peter answered and gave me a nod.

"Why are you all here!?"

Since he was being slow I gave him an explanation, "I said this was all to make you crack, remember? I needed a confession from you about your betrayal so that I wouldn't be charged with murder. You've taken six months so James is probably not too pleased with you, right?" I saw Timothy flinch but he kept his mouth shut; he must be learning. "And if I'm named Harbinger then that will make it that much harder to kill me since the temples will be watching me and notice any foul play. You couldn't wait any longer so you had to act before an official statement was made because of even the slightest possibility that they would name me Harbinger." Peter and Carl approached Timothy, bound his wrists and ankles with rope, and put a gag over his mouth. "Now, there's just one last thing to do."

***

The camp was bustling with activity as all the Hellhounds gathered around the center clearing of camp where Timothy was being dragged. Even if Timothy still had supporters in the ranks, no one dared step forward as an ominous air clung to Lucina who led her companions to the center of camp. Peter held Timothy still while Carl fetched a suitably thick log. Lucina stood in front of Timothy and stared into his eyes with her hollow gaze while Jeremy stood to Lucina's right and just behind her. Elise took her place next to Timothy and began silently reciting a last rites prayer which further spread the unease of the gathered knights.

"Hellhounds!" Lucina's voice echoed across the camp with an unheard-of level of authority as she addressed the knight order. She began reciting the speech Jeremy had prepared for her just for this moment, "We have been betrayed! Under multiple witnesses, Timothy Braxton has admitted to committing treason against Urldrusk!" Gasps and uneasy mutterings circulated the crowd and all eyes were fixated on Timothy. "As many of you know, four nights ago I and my comrades were the only survivors of a terrible massacre where we fought off the Heavenly Crane knights of Peltaira. But what you do not know is that the massacre that night was orchestrated by our very commander, Timothy Braxton!" Lucina spoke with such conviction and certainty that many overlooked her age and became swayed by her words. "Those who were sent to their deaths that night were brave knights who fought with all they had, many of you even fought beside them yourselves over the past six months of this war, but what was their reward? Betrayal from their commanding officer who sold out our mission to the enemy so they could ambush us! Only recently, after attempting to murder me just a while ago, did Braxton admit to his crimes as witnessed by my comrades!" Timothy's supporters were few, and five were killed earlier, which meant the rest of the Hellhounds looked at Timothy as nothing more than a traitor. After all, if he was willing to sell out his country once who knows when he would do it again; and if any of them would also become his victims. Lucina gestured to her companions and Peter forced Timothy to his knees with his head resting on the log. Carl brought out his battleaxe which glinted in the sun's light and reflected in Timothy's eyes who made pitiful muffled noises to try and speak. "Jeremy, as a former statesman, what is the punishment for treason?"

"Under Urldrusk's laws," Jeremy spoke loud and clear for all to hear, "Timothy Braxton is charged with attempted murder, and treason while under war! Under normal circumstances, treason would be punished with the accused being brought before the royal family and having the king decide their fate. But if treason is committed during a time of war by a member of the military then the accused is to be dealt a summary execution."

"!!!" Timothy again tried to speak, but his muffles fell on deaf ears.

"Timothy Braxton!" Lucina continued her memorized speech. "With the testimonies of multiple witnesses, you are found guilty of treason during a time of war and are sentenced to death!" Lucina raised her hand into the air which hushed the crowd save Elise who continued praying. When Elise finished her prayer and stepped back, Lucina brought down her hand signaling Carl who chopped Timothy's head off with his axe. Timothy's head tumbled and rolled across the ground, and Peter pushed the headless corpse into the dirt. Lucina let the scene sink in for a few moments before continuing, "Under Urldrusk's law, a knight order may only be led by a nobleman who still holds claim to their lineage." Since everyone in the Hellhounds were the undesirables of society, any disgraced noble here was stripped of their surname except for the person sent by the royal family to be in charge; all that is except for one. "From this day forth, I, Lucina Felswore of Gauldrin, will be the new commander of the Hellhounds! By our infernal flames will the enemies of Urldrusk be purged!"