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The idea of this realm being a temporary life makes him sick.
This is like never waking up from an atrocious dream that somehow managed to lull you into the false sense of security. Not entirely a mirage, not entirely reality; something in-between dripping with wishful thinking. The kind of dream where everything happening around you feels real enough, where falling from a cliff will fill you with terror and where seeing a loved one cry will make you choke up.
Nils has no idea how he should behave in a place that doesn’t quite exist. The sight of his sister almost made him break down here and there in the summoning hall, in a messy way that hasn’t happened since he was a child, but he swallowed the tears and smiled for Ninian. She deserves to live a happy life, free of the burden brought by knowledge of the future.
Multiple versions of the same person can be summoned, and it sets him on edge. Walking around in the castle courtyard is enough to get a glimpse of at least three people sharing the same face, and yet coming from completely different timelines. Nils is at the receiving end of Lyn’s enthusiasm, from when she was traveling to Caelin, and then he catches a bow-wielding version of her looking at him with sadness so palpable he has to turn away.
“I’m so sorry, Nils,” Lyn says, squeezing his shoulder.
“I knew what was going to happen,” Nils replies through the thickness of his throat. “I did. And so did she. I tried to reason with her, but Ninian is… stubborn.”
Lyn smiles softly. Her eyes are so much more mature. “That’s true. From what I’ve seen since your departure, in our homeland, Ninian was happy. I don’t know what the future is made of, and I don’t know how much time she has left, but… she felt like she found a place in the world.”
Nils’s blood runs colder. He blinks away the mist in his eyes.
The air in Askr is pure. It’s different from Elibe’s, which was heavy and saturated with a mutated form of energy. There is something clean and pleasant when he takes a deep breath in, but Askr’s air still doesn’t come anywhere close to his home’s beyond the Dragon’s Gate—full of earthly scents and fresh waters. The portal to the multiple worlds must be regulating the atmosphere so that heroes from anywhere in the universe can survive in this realm.
Here, nobody is at risk of dying from air poisoning. Every time Ninian so much as coughs or trips over her dress, Nils is one second away from pulling her aside and fretting over her like he would to a young child. But Ninian is healthy, stronger than ever with her powers within easy reach, and she is physically present to card her fingers through her brother’s hair in that gentle gesture of reassurance she favors, as if it was just another day of traveling the rough and hostile roads of Elibe.
“I don’t like the idea of you being on the battlefield and using your dragonstone,” Nils mutters.
“Don’t be silly, you know I can defend myself just fine,” Ninian laughs. “I’m safe here, and our friends can rely on me. Just like they can rely on you.”
“We’ve never fought alongside humans before. Humans are unpredictable... “
A flash of sadness passes over Ninian’s face, but the look she is giving him is full of confusion.
“Nils, you sound…so different. What happened…?”
Nils violently shakes his head. The pit in his stomach is growing wider and heavier. He wants to throw up.
“Nothing,” he says. “Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing.”
“Nils…”
“I’m telling you, it’s fine. Just worried about… all these people we don’t know.”
Ever since they set foot in Elibe, ever since they pretended to be back in a world they thought they belonged to, they haven’t stopped lying—to people they met, to friends who extended their hands towards them, and to themselves. Plaster on a smile, prepare some empty words, and Nils is capable of fooling anyone into believing he’s perfectly fine. Except Ninian; Ninian doesn’t look convinced, and she always knows when something is troubling him.
As if summoned by fate’s yet again twisted sense of humor, somebody approaches them.
“Are you two alright…?”
Nils actually heard footsteps long before this person was close enough to call out to them. He should have paid more attention to this intrusion.
Clad in white, regal in his posture and infinitely warm in his gestures, Eliwood stands before them, his face pinched in worry. He looks barely older, probably plucked from a timeline close to the end of his journey. He’s clutching a lance in his right hand—a blue lance reminiscent of blizzards and cold days, emanating a strange comforting light that makes Nils’s heart calmer.
But Nils is anything but calm at that moment.
“We’re fine,” Nils snaps.
Ninian whips her head at him in shock, but Nils’s eyes are focused on Eliwood, and Eliwood only.
Eliwood stops dead in his tracks and seems to shrink on himself, despite standing as still as possible.
“Ah… I should have given you a warning,” Eliwood says with a feeble smile. “I will leave you two to catch up on anything you might have… missed.”
Eliwood makes a hasty exit. His cape barely brushes the soil and his lance is handled with care, despite its size and the fact this is not his preferred weapon. Nils watches him go away and disappear until he’s just a white dot on the horizon, like he’s waiting for him to turn around and come back to taunt him some more.
Nils knows that Eliwood doesn’t have a single malicious bone in his body. If anything, he’s just as generous and kind-hearted as his father, helping both Nils and Ninian countless times during their journey. But the briefest and simplest flash of Ninian’s corpse lying in Eliwood’s arms, face twisted in misery and regret, is enough to clasp and crush Nils’s heart until only dust and rage remain.
A hand lands on his shoulder. He doesn’t have the energy to deal with this—can’t he simply enjoy the presence of his sister in a world that’s not killing them?
“What was that, Nils?” Ninian demands. She actually demands.
“Do you remember my warning?” Nils asks, lifting his gaze to meet his sister’s. “That you shouldn’t fall in love with Lord Eliwood?”
Lips pursed, Ninian frowns. Of course she remembers.
“Something bad happened,” Nils continues. “A mistake. You… you decided not to blame Lord Eliwood for it. Even if he should have…”
Even if he should have tried harder to obtain Ninian’s forgiveness, Nils’s brain supplies for him. Even if he should have known better than to attack mindlessly, he thinks. Legendary weapons like the Durandal were sealed for a reason; if they weren’t dangerous, they wouldn’t be so coveted and guarded.
Ninian shakes her head, uncomprehending.
“I can’t imagine you being this angry towards Lord Eliwood,” she says. “Your heart is good, Nils.”
“I thought I forgave him, too,” Nils murmurs. “But being summoned in Askr and remembering what happened is too much.”
Ninian looks so devastated, so disoriented by what sounds like the worst news her own brother has ever told her. Nils can’t bear watching her crumble like this. His fingers tremble when he wraps them around his sister’s.
“I’m sorry Ninian. I’m just as confused as you are, I didn’t think it would be this hard. Give me some time to mull over this, okay?”
It’s a struggle to look at Ninian’s face and see how healthy she is, instead of the lifeless expression that’s been etched in Nils’s memory ever since the incident happened. She came back to them, she came back to Eliwood, revived by a hero who did it only to save the world from destruction—but even so, Nils has never forgotten how helpless he felt.
Ninian gives him the tiniest nod, and she squeezes his hand between her own.
“I can’t pretend to know the pain you suffered, but please, don’t go through this alone,” Ninian begs.
Nils swallows. “I’ll try.”
Nils doesn’t hate Eliwood. That is an indisputable fact; if he truly hated him, he wouldn’t have fought alongside him near the end of the campaign, and he wouldn’t have used his powers to help the army progress from one battle to the next. Not hating Eliwood doesn’t mean that Nils cannot still harbor some kind of resentment towards him.
Perhaps he’s being unfair. None of them asked to be at the center of this tragedy. Eliwood already expressed his regret, and Nils suspects that he still blames himself for what happened.
Anger is not an emotion that Nils likes.
He’s exploring the Aether Resort, a beautiful place where heroes gather to relax and to rest. People grow their own food and flowers, use the kitchens to cook some special dishes and go to the hot springs. Nils heard about a concert hall, and this is where he’s heading to, following the signposts as well as the group of joyous dancers talking animatedly between them. Singing and playing the flute will help calm him down.
He spots in the crowd red hair even more flamboyant than Eliwood’s. The boy’s aura is surprisingly tame, considering how luminous it feels and who his parents are. It’s a strange sensation that fills Nils with nervousness and curiosity in equal parts, pulling him towards this boy who clearly looks out of place here.
“Hello,” Nils greets him, tapping him lightly on the shoulder.
The boy doesn’t quite start but he whirls around so fast that Nils almost regrets coming over to him, but the initial shock in these blue eyes quickly leaves place to absolute delight.
“Oh, you must be my uncle!” the boy exclaims. “My mother’s brother? I’m so glad to meet you.”
For a few seconds, Nils simply stares. For a moment, at a loss for words, he stares at this face still marked by youthful innocence looking at him with such eagerness and happiness. Then, he bursts out laughing.
“You’re such an earnest boy!”
Nils didn’t know what to expect, so he’s pleasantly surprised. This boy looks exactly like Eliwood, but his aura is a perfect mix of his mother’s serene calm and his father’s passionate conviction. This is someone destined for great achievements.
The boy ducks his head and wrings his hands together, fiddling with his gloves.
“I’m sorry, I’m just excited to finally meet my mother’s family,” he says shyly. “I was there when you were summoned. Ah, I haven’t introduced myself, my name is Roy.”
A fitting name, for the son of two strong people. Nils smiles at Roy.
“Nice to meet you too, Roy. I’m Nils. I hope we can become good friends while we’re here in Askr.”
Roy nods, a grin splitting his face in two. Nils immediately takes a liking to him; this boy inspires trust and his presence alone seems to put people at ease. It reminds Nils of Elbert, then Eliwood, when he first met them.
His mood slightly dampens at the memory of Elbert, but Nils chases the thoughts away.
“Do you enjoy singing and dancing, Roy?” Nils asks, gesturing to the concert hall in front of them.
Roy shakes his head. “I was taught the basics of dancing, but I’m not very good at it. And I don’t sing either. But I enjoy watching and listening to performances.”
He fiddles further with his gloves, pulling on the edges of the fingerless part of them. He doesn’t look Nils in the eye, and Nils can sense the drastic change of mood in the air.
“I was hoping to see Mother dance, actually,” Roy admits. “Everyone says that her dances were the best.”
“Why don’t you ask her to dance with you?” Nils asks gently. “She won’t refuse.”
Nils watches the way Roy’s mouth curls into a wry smile.
“I know, but I’m kind of embarrassed,” Roy laughs. “I have two left feet, really.”
Nils can picture it—this grown Roy standing next to Ninian, trying to imitate the steps his mother is teaching him, the both of them smiling and basking in the joy of simply sharing such a beautiful moment together. Judging by the wistful tone of Roy’s voice and the way he speaks so reverently of his mother, Ninian didn’t live long enough to see her son grow up.
It’s so, so unfair. Something twists in Nils’s stomach, vicious and sharp. Was staying in Elibe truly the right choice for Ninian? Was it truly worth it to spend only a handful of years with the one she loved? There is so much she hasn’t had to experience. It breaks Nils’s heart that they were all separated too soon.
But they’re here, in Askr. He’s here with them, not on the other side of the Dragon’s Gate, and even if this life is ephemeral, even if it’s one huge lie, they’re living it.
“I can help you, if you want,” Nils says. “I’m not as good as your mother at dancing, but I can encourage you while you practice.”
Roy stops playing with his hands and nods vigorously. His blue gaze is full of enthusiasm and hope, reminding Nils of swaying waves that softly stroke sand and pebbles on the shore.
“Thank you, Uncle Nils,” Roy replies warmly.
Uncle Nils.
Nils can get used to it.
“It’s my pleasure, Roy.” Nils smiles, and his heart is alleviated the slightest bit.
This Lyn doesn’t know anything about the end of the campaign, and she keeps trying to push him behind her so she can protect him. Nils smiles at her back, even if he’s more than capable of fending for himself—this brings back memories of their early days as Lyndis’s Legion, when they were a simple ragtag group of people who met by sheer coincidence.
“Don’t worry Nils, I’ve got this,” Lyn says.
She wields the Sol Katti as if she’s always had it with her; Nils doesn’t pretend to understand how the rules of this realm work, but Lyn’s confidence as she slashes her enemies makes it obvious she’s had time to grow comfortable with the blade. Nils brings his flute to his lip and plays a song of hope and victory, inviting and revitalizing. His companions give him a thumbs-up and keep fighting, until the enemy is decimated and the threat of invasion is annihilated.
Kana grins brightly at her father, who pats her on the head with an equally joyful smile. Corrin doesn’t carry his dragonstone, apparently favoring a bow he’s been practicing with under Prince Takumi’s supervision. It must be nice to have such an extended family and to be able to spend time with all of them.
“Did you see how I blasted this guy?” Kana asks excitedly. “He didn’t have a chance against me!”
“You’re the strongest little dragon girl I know, Kana,” Corrin answers.
Kana wraps her arms around Corrin’s waist and stays there, content to be hugging her father for an indefinite period of time. Corrin chuckles and gives a small shrug when he catches Lyn and Nils staring at him.
“I’m glad I can spend time with Kana here too,” he says. “In our world, it was… kind of difficult to see our children while the war was going on. But there are no such constraints here.”
“Looks like Askr is the perfect place to reunite loved ones,” Nils remarks.
“Prince Alfonse said that the summoner’s powers rely a lot on the bonds that were forged,” Lyn replies. “Summoning friends or family members of a hero who’s already been fighting for Askr is easier than summoning someone who has no ties to anyone here.”
Corrin nods. “It may take time to summon, but everyone will eventually be reunited.”
Lyn turns to Nils and gives him a sympathetic smile. “Ninian was summoned very early in Askr, and for some reason Kiran never managed to pull you out of Elibe until recently. But Eliwood and Hector were summoned rather quickly—well, the Eliwood and Hector from my time, anyway.”
The Eliwood that spoke to Nils clearly came from the future. Nils supposes that it is easier to summon people closer to the timeline of the heroes already present than to risk altering the course of fate. It stings a little bit that he wasn’t there earlier, but maybe his return to the other side of the Dragon’s Gate delayed his arrival in Askr. Then again, he has no idea how long Askr has been fighting Embla and other threats.
“It’s so complicated,” Nils mutters.
“Imagine my surprise when I learned that Eliwood’s son and Hector’s daughter were here!” Lyn laughs. “None of them told me if I had any children, but I think I prefer it that way.”
Nils coughs. “I kind of… sensed someone with your aura the other day. It could have been your partner or your child.”
The look of absolute alarm on Lyn’s face makes it hard not to grin.
“No, don’t tell me anything!” Lyn exclaims adamantly. “I don’t want to know!”
Lyn crosses her arms in front of her face and takes two steps back for good measure. Nils bursts out laughing and assures her he won’t reveal anything, while Kana and Corrin watch them with amusement. Nils glances back at them, and he senses his cheer fade away a little bit. Is this what he missed? Long days of watching a family bond and laugh happily?
Nils has no idea what he’s angry at anymore.
It’s been a week since his encounter with Eliwood. Nils has met many heroes in the meantime, people who are struggling to make the right choice and manaketes who are afraid to wake up one day without their friends at their side. He dodges confrontation with Eliwood at mealtimes and tries not to shrink on himself under Lyn’s and Hector’s curious stares. Eliwood doesn’t come seeking him out; Nils has a hard time deciding whether it’s worse than having him hover.
One day, he sits in the gardens and pretends he didn’t see Eliwood taking a walk a bit farther away. He watches him strike up a conversation with Princess Eir, then meet up with Roy, who was patiently waiting near a plot of land. Their resemblance is striking and Nils wouldn’t be surprised if more than one person confused the two, especially when they have their backs turned. Nils can’t make out what they are saying to each other, but judging by their careful gestures and fingers pointing at bushes, they must be talking about plants. Such an ordinary activity to do.
Watching them like this, Nils wonders. There is nothing wrong with this picture—it warms his heart to see Eliwood and Roy spending time together.
He truly doesn’t like anger.
Nils sees his sister once in a while, talks with her and learns about Askr, but he knows that Ninian is still upset. She’s upset because of his behavior towards Eliwood, no doubt; but Nils recognizes that look of fear in her eyes, the one that haunted her during those days where they couldn’t trust anyone but themselves. She is scared of what Nils has become.
And once Nils realized that, once he realized that he is about to lose his sister all over again, he pulls her aside after their mission and hugs her tightly.
“Don’t be sad anymore, Ninian,” he whispers into her hair. “Don’t be sad and angry.”
Her heart beat against his, and he’s holding her in his arms. There is nothing to be afraid of.
Ninian returns the embrace and sighs, like she’s letting go of all the tension she’s accumulated in her body over the days.
“I’m simply lost,” she says. “I gathered you don’t like my relationship with Lord Eliwood…”
“In the future, he’s going to hurt you,” Nils finally blurts out. “I couldn’t save you. Staying with him will kill you, and I can’t… I couldn’t accept this without trying to prevent it. I know it’s selfish, and unfair to you and to him but…”
He was so, so consumed by rage and grief, when he saw Ninian’s body in Eliwood’s arms—this is the only moment he clearly remembers from those days.
“I don’t want you to suffer,” he adds quietly.
“Nils, I already know what fate awaits me if I decide to stay in Elibe,” Ninian tells him softly. “And the Ninian of your world most likely knew, too. I’m touched you care so deeply about me… but she made an informed choice. And I can’t leave Lord Eliwood’s side, not when I can still stay with him. I’m sorry.”
“You don’t know what he’s going to do,” Nils insists.
“No, I don’t. But your Ninian was happy, was she not?”
In response to her question, Nils squeezes his eyes shut and tightens his arms around her.
Roy doesn’t have two left feet like he claims he does, but that’s a near thing.
People often go to the concert hall to enjoy a moment of reprieve and cheer on their comrades as they sing and dance, so Nils supposed Roy wouldn’t want people to look at him while he practiced. He certainly doesn’t like it when someone watches him play a tune he hasn’t mastered yet.
“I’ve had lessons when I was younger, but I can’t say I was the best,” Roy says sheepishly.
He puts his right foot in front of his left, tries to bend his knees to take momentum for a spin, but he stumbles and almost falls forward. He catches himself and plants his feet in the ground. He remains still for a few seconds longer.
“Maybe I should simply invite Mother over for tea,” he mutters.
Nils smiles. Despite what Roy told him about being awkward and nervous around Ninian, other heroes have reported that Roy and Ninian did speak to each other multiple times, without either of them combusting. Nils also thought that interacting with Roy would be much harder, considering their family circumstances, but the kid is easy to talk to and Nils himself seems to have gained Roy’s trust effortlessly.
“You know that she won’t refuse,” Nils assures him. “And you improved your dancing. You’re not as stiff as before.”
Roy sighs. “Thank you, Uncle Nils. I know my parents used to dance a lot before…” Roy trails off, eyes quickly glancing in Nils’s direction before looking back at the ground. “...before being summoned here.”
Nils doesn’t pretend he hasn’t noticed Roy’s change of words. The kid’s shoulders are tense and he is biting his lower lip, in a way that is reminiscent of children hoping they’re not in trouble after destroying some part of their home. However, to his surprise, Roy lifts his gaze and plows on.
“I… know that you and Father had a disagreement. Mother also seemed a bit down the last time I saw her. I wasn’t privy to the details, but I hope that you will find a solution together. I think none of you are taking this fight well.”
He truly is an earnest kid. He has his father’s eyes and conviction.
Nils finds himself fiddling with his flute, thumbing the cool wood and twirling it between his fingers.
“It’s complicated. I disagreed with your mother about a choice she made,” Nils says. “She thinks it’s the right choice, while I think there are other, less painful options. Better options for her, at least.”
It might not be a good or reasonable idea to discuss this matter with Roy, who probably doesn’t know his parents’ full history. It is also not Roy’s responsibility to shoulder this burden. Nils waves a hand in dismissal.
“Don’t worry about it, we’ll figure something out.” When I sort out my feelings about this whole thing.
“It’s probably not the same thing but… some people have their own point of view on events that happened around them, or on things that others think pointless,” Roy says. “No matter how hard we try to change their mind, they stay true to their convictions because they ardently believe in them.”
Roy’s face becomes pensive, almost like he is having a few realizations himself.
“I met soldiers who wouldn’t join us because they were loyal to their home country, even though they knew they wouldn’t win. They wanted to follow their heart until the end. I myself have to rely on my own convictions to continue fighting in the war, because if I don’t follow my own path there is no point in me leading the army. Anyone else could do it.”
Then, Roy rubs the back of his neck, smiling ruefully.
“Sorry, I rambled a bit there. What I mean is everyone has their own path, and they firmly believe in it. It reminded me of that.”
It all boils down to this, doesn’t it? Believing in making the right choices to move forward. Following one direction means never knowing where another one would have led them. Nils knows what future awaits them, since he’s lived it; Ninian wants to believe she will get the ending she hopes for, or at the very least part of the ending she knows will satisfy her. He wonders, briefly, if his Ninian regretted her choice on her deathbed.
He dispels the thought immediately. He won’t go into that territory.
“Has anyone told you that you have a way with words?” Nils asks, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Roy ducks his head. “Y-Yeah. Lilina tells me I’m showing off, though.”
“I think it’s great. You… have your father’s charm and his earnest eyes.”
Nils recognizes this as much—Lord Elbert was the same. It runs in the family.
Even though he is still embarrassed, Roy grins.
“I’m glad we had this conversation, I think I know what I have to do now,” Nils continues.
“Whatever the disagreement was, I’m sure Father and Mother will understand.”
Nils doesn’t need to be told twice; Eliwood and Ninian are the most forgiving people in the world.
The very next day, Kiran calls Nils over to send him on a mission to collect materials for crafting weapons, and didn’t think it necessary to warn him who was part of the team.
“It seems that Kiran has not thought through the composition of our group,” King Dimitri says, his chin pinched between his thumb and forefinger.
“Maybe they wanted to list down the other versions of us?” Lady Eirika suggests as she readjusts her helmet. “Lord Eliwood and I both wielded a sword and rode a horse, at the end of our respective campaigns.”
“No, Kiran wouldn’t have made such a mistake,” Eliwood replies, shaking his head. “I’m sure they made this team for a reason. Something about lances being the best weapon to collect materials at this time of the year?”
Nils sighs. He wasn’t prepared to confront Eliwood so soon.
Tactics have never been his domain of expertise, but he believes in his teammates. Three people wielding lances and a dragonstone user doubling as a supporting mage should be strong enough to accomplish today’s missions with minimal damage.
Dimitri naturally steps up to take charge, Eirika and Eliwood happily letting him lead. Nils stays close behind them, even though craning his neck isn’t the most ideal position to observe the two horse-riding knights. Reading the group’s aura is easy enough; he’s already acquainted with Eliwood’s, Eirika radiates the same kindness with an even brighter sparkle, and Dimitri’s muddled light isn’t inconveniencing at all. They can work well together.
They actually don’t have many opportunities to draw their weapons. Enemy forces are rare on this side of Askr’s plains; their lances are mostly used as pitchforks to pierce stones or lift rocks to find all the materials Kiran needed. Using legendary weapons such as the Moon Gradivus or the Binding Reginleif for such menial tasks sounds kind of absurd. Nils even transformed once or twice to do the heavy-lifting himself.
Dimitri, Eirika and Eliwood seem to be on good terms. Their conversations revolve around just ruling, keeping an eye on their family and telling silly stories about their friends. It feels nice to be around them—being from different worlds is more of an opportunity to learn than an obstacle to communication.
They decide to take a break, settling under a tree and letting the horses eat to their heart’s content. Dimitri and Eirika went looking for a stream to refill everyone’s canteens, while Nils and Eliwood stayed behind.
Nils’s eyes are drawn to Eliwood’s lance. Last time he saw it, he was too angry to properly examine it.
“This lance was blessed by Ninis, right?”
Eliwood glances at him warily. Something akin to guilt curls in Nils’s stomach.
“Yes. Ninian said it was a gift,” Eliwood answers.
That explains nothing.
“How would you get it?” Nils pushes, frowning. “Ninis is the spirit of Ice. She watches over the tallest mountains of Ilia, and it is said our powers as ice dragons descend from her.”
Eliwood smiles, seeming to recall a memory.
“Kiran gave it to me when I was summoned,” he says. “They told me that Ninian… helped forge it by instilling some of her powers into it.”
Did Ninian know that Eliwood would eventually come? Or did she simply ask Kiran for a favor and have this weapon crafted, to be prepared for his arrival?
Nils bites his lips. He’s being unnecessarily stubborn about not accepting something that is not his place to fight with in the first place.
“My sister… truly loves you, Lord Eliwood,” Nils whispers, clutching his flute. “Nothing I’ve said in the past during the war ever changed that. She loves you more than anything else in the world.”
Eliwood stays quiet, staring at Nils with that understanding and kind gaze of his that he’s directed at them so many times before, when their secret was still jealously kept.
“I’m so fortunate to have her in my life,” Eliwood says, like a prayer. “I can’t imagine what my life would have been like if I didn’t have her unwavering support by my side. I don’t think she knows how much she means to me.”
Ninian’s love transcends realms and realities. She cares so much for this man, and Eliwood in turn treats her like she is the most precious treasure life has given him. Nils knows all this—he’s witnessed their love blossoming during the war, like a persistent light that refuses to be snuffed out. The bond uniting them looks like it has been forged by destiny itself.
Nils has always known this. Looking at the way Eliwood’s face brightens just by speaking about Ninian, there is no doubt he deeply wishes he could spend his forever with her. The years have made him less shy about showing his love.
"Lord Eliwood, I’m… I’m sorry," Nils says, averting his eyes. "I’ve said things I shouldn’t have."
Eliwood shakes his head. "No, you were in your right to be angry. I’ve done something unforgivable."
"But still! I had already moved forward, when we went against Nergal. It’s true I was angry at you for what happened, but I decided not to blame you. I couldn’t blame you when you were as devastated as I was."
Nils hears Eliwood shifting, probably gazing up at the sky or simply respecting Nils’s choice of not looking at him. He speaks with a quiet voice, almost as if talking any louder would shatter the peace between them.
"Nils, at the time I was simply relieved you didn’t hate me and that you were still willing to fight alongside us," Eliwood admits. "I assumed you wanted to take revenge on Nergal. We didn’t have the chance to talk, and I was the last person who would have had the right to speak to you. I apologize for what I did and for making you feel left out."
Nils glances up. Eliwood’s eyes are trained on his, a profound sadness reflected in them. Nils wasn’t the only one who pondered on all these questions and regrets. He opens his mouth and tries to speak, but his throat closes up and no words pass through his lips. Eliwood patiently waits, never pushing. His heart of gold is what drew both Ninian and Nils to him, after all.
"… Near the end of the war, I was simply thinking about ending it once and for all," Nils says, swallowing. "I wasn’t very receptive to what my friends were doing for me. I guess that now I’m seeing things clearly, all my anger came back... It just felt unfair and cruel."
He shakes his head, sighing deeply. Those few weeks between Ninian’s death and Nergal’s defeat are a blur of images and odd sensations—he cannot remember and fully picture how he had lived those days, but he doesn’t need to to know how terribly alone he had felt.
"But I don’t want to stay angry forever, especially since I can’t expect Ninian to make choices that will make her miserable. She… she’s choosing to live a life of happiness."
"I know how dear your sister is to you," Eliwood continues softly. "Askr is a wonderful place where we can all be together for a while longer. If you allow it, I’d like us—all of us, as a family, to take this opportunity and enjoy our time here. Would you accept this?"
The feeling of dread and uneasiness that has accompanied Nils since he was summoned gradually disappears. Eliwood’s words are making him want to look away again to hide how close to tears he is.
"Yeah, I’d love that," Nils replies with a wobbly smile. "We missed our chance in the past. Let’s not repeat the same mistake.”
Whether Nils is doing this for his own sake or for Ninian’s, it doesn’t matter. There is no point in remaining resentful at this moment, where everything looks radiant and hopeful. Nils doesn’t want to miss this.
The music fills the air like an enchantment, spreading a joyous melody that puts at ease anyone it touches. The notes are waltzing, gently swaying in their little dance and creating a rhythm that is now considered a part of himself. Nils plays the flute with his entire being and won’t stop until the emotions he’s feeling around him are soothed.
On the stage of the concert hall, someone steps forward. Nils’s eyes go impossibly fond as he watches Ninian take the first step of her usual dance accompanying his flute—the spectacle to his orchestra. She lifts her stole, extends her arms with grace, and moves like she is only but a feather touching ground. The flute accompanies every one of the dance steps, and the dance steps enhance each note. It is a performance they have done countless times, in front of a bonfire or in a corner of the camp away from the crowd; it is a performance meant to appease minds and to revitalize people to help them go through yet another day of fighting.
Ninis’s powers are coursing through their bodies, granting them the ability to always help those in need. Nils plays, Ninian dances, and they send out their prayers for a better world.
“You were happy,” Nils announces quietly. “When I went through the Dragon’s Gate. You were sad to see me leave, but you were so happy to stay by Lord Eliwood’s side, and to keep living in Elibe.”
Nils is pulling at a loose thread on the couch he’s sitting on. The common room is buzzing with soft chatter, while the crackling of the fire pulls them into a feeling of safety. Ninian turns her gaze from the arm wrestling happening a bit farther away to look at Nils. Her smile is bright and unrestrained.
“I know I will be,” she says. “Being in Askr is already making me so content. I’m ready to face anything that will happen in the future, if it means living this happiness for myself.”
Nils will never be able to convince her otherwise—he can only trust her and wish for her well-being. He’s met her son and her loving husband, as she will come to know them.
“I will pray that you live a fulfilling life,” Nils tells her. “That’s the least I can do.”
Ninian takes both his hands into hers. She’s warm. Her time in Askr allowed her to grow stronger and to become a full-fledged member of the army, without having to hide who she truly is. Nils looks at his sister, and for the first time since he’s been summoned, his smile isn’t tainted by any traces of worry or restlessness.
There are endless memories that have yet to be made.