Corrin's mind went fuzzy. As he opened his eyes, he realized he was walking alongside a woman in a brick city. He tried to use her as a stability as he lost his balance, but when he touched her arm, it felt like it went directly through it. Corrin could not be heard or seen.
This was some kind of vision.
She was young, perhaps in her early twenties, and a Shem. She walked up to the large castle at the end of the road. Corrin recognized the castle, and thus the city he was looking at: The Shem Capital.
A man was standing at the gates, conversing with the guards. He looked around the same age as the woman; early to mid twenties.
"Please, all I need is to get in. What do you mean, there was no letter? We sent it a month ago!"
The girl walked up to the man, who was wearing black dress pants and a black waistcoat with a bowtie. The girl stepped into view of the guards.
"What's going on here?"
The guards instantly puckered themselves up. It was clear that this woman was more than she seemed.
"Princess, this man is trying to get in to see the king without an official letter!"
The man looked shocked. Corrin had a closer look at the man's physical appearance. He had bright blonde hair and blue eyes, typical for an Anees. He had a scar on his cheek, all the same; he was very clearly an Anees.
"Princess Ekki? Ah, forgive my manners. I'm a diplomat, I've been sent from a Vrebathian Kingdom, but it appears our letter was lost in transport."
The girl whose name was Ekki smiled, her facial features delicately complementing themselves.
"Well then, you can be my guest."
The Anees man looked confused for a second before taking an unsure step back.
"Really? Are you sure?"
She giggled, closing her eyes and smiling while tilting her head to the right. The guards and the man looked uncomfortable, and Corrin couldn't deny that he felt the same discomfort as they.
"Of course, come in!"
The guards reluctantly opened the gates for both Ekki and the Anees man. There was a man on the throne who was speaking with some courtiers. He sent them away when he watched Ekki and the Anees man walk in.
"My daughter, what do you need?"
The king looked very familiar to Corrin. As they walked closer, Corrin began to remember where he had seen him. In the room full of paintings, they had all looked at one painting. The painting that was the king before Queen Shem had taken power.
The man had the same black hair, red eyes, and pale skin as before. Corrin watched the king for a moment before understanding what the king had just said to Ekki.
The girl stepped forward. That's when Corrin realized who he was looking at: The Queen of the Shem. The person Corrin despised more than any other.
"You see here, father, that I have an Anees man with me?"
The king nodded, scratching his full beard.
"Yes, what about him?"
Ekki smiled lightly.
"He's here from the Vrebathian Kingdom."
The king looked skeptical.
"What do you mean? Did he approach you in the city? Where were the royal guards?"
"No, no! I saw him at the gates. He wanted in, so I thought I'd grant him entry."
The king swished his hands. Guards began to surround him.
"If he really was a diplomat, then I would have received word of his arrival."
Ekki tried to stop the guards, but they overpowered her.
"Wait! Shouldn't we at least hear him out?"
The guards stopped and looked at the king for orders. He sighed and nodded his head.
"Let him speak."
The man brushed the dust off his clothes. He cleared his throat.
"Your highness, King of the Shem. My name is Corris Hisstion..."
Corrin's jaw dropped. That man was his grandfather, whom he had been closely named after. Corrin's father had never told him much about his grandfather aside from his name and that he fought alongside the Vrebathians against the Shem.
"...I'm from the Vrebathian Kingdom, as your daughter expressed before. The Vrebathian king would like to have a meeting with you in our own Capital of Veris. We would like to discuss possible neutrality and a trade deal."
The king sets his fingers on his chin for a moment, deep in thought. He nods his head.
"I'll have the information verified. If it's true, I'll gladly go. Recent hostilities with Vrebathia are very unfortunate. I would never want to start a war with such a strong power. You may stay as long as you like until I receive confirmation."
Time seemed to warp around Corrin, and he found himself in the same throne room, but clearly at a different date. Ekki was now by the king's side. She was looking down, seeming ashamed.
There was another person Corrin did not know on the other side of the king. He had on a crown and royal attire, so Corrin could only guess he was a prince.
The king was standing, out of his throne, in a fit of rage.
Corris was standing in the same spot as before. He was also looking down in shame. The king was yelling at him.
"I give you my food, I let you into my home, I offer you the services of royalty, and this is how you repay me? By falling in love with my own daughter?"
Corrin's heart skips a beat, and his face grows pale. He looked at Ekki, who was clearly uncomfortable. The king falls into his throne.
"Lock him in the dungeons."
Ekki steps forward quickly, her hands at her chest.
"But- father… he didn't hurt-"
He silences her.
"I will not have you marry… him. It is wrong for a Shem and an Anees to come together in love. Our ancestors taught us that."
Ekki runs to the man on the other side of the king and hugs him dearly. The man comforts her. This cemented the idea that this man was the son of the king and Ekki's brother.
Corrin follows Corris into the dungeons. He watches them throw him inside a dirty, cold cell. Water drips from above and soaks the cell in a humid mist.
Time seems to pass quickly once more. Corrin can't believe that his grandfather had fallen in love with such a horrible person.
Then time stops again, and there's a banging sound. One of the walls burst open. A man in Vrebathian armor comes forward.
"Commander! Come! I'm getting you out of here!"
Corris smiles.
"Leimon, my good friend!"
Corrin looks at the man. He must have been Forrest's father.
Corris looks at the cell behind him for a brief moment before turning away. He turns to Leimon.
"I can always count on the Hidden Vanguard!"
Corrin followed them out and away. As they snuck through the halls, Corrin followed them. Despite his knowing that they could not hear or see him, he still felt that he should be quiet.
They turned a corner and were jumpscared by a man Corrin couldn't recognize in time. Immediately, Corris stabbed the man through his neck. The man fell to the ground and clutched his neck.
Next to the man was Ekki. That's when Corrin realized who Corris had just killed: the prince.
Ekki fell to her knees and held her brother. She desperately tried to stop the bleeding with her hands. The Hidden Vanguard ran, but Corris didn't move. He looked at Ekki and her brother with guilt.
Ekki looked up at Corris. Tears filled her eyes.
"Ekki… I'm sorry– I–"
"Hey! Stop right there!"
A guard turned the corner and chased after them. Corris took one last look at Ekki's tear-ridden face before he ran. Ekki watched him turn a corner and looked back at her brother.
Time passed quickly again. Above her stood the king.
Ekki was now resting her entire body over her brother. She was wailing and screaming. The king put his hand on Ekki's shoulder in comfort.
"This is why Anees and Shem don't mix. We've always hated each other. Curse his name, Ekki. Curse who did this?"
Ekki's cheeks become red and raw from the tears. She looked up, but her face seemed different. She wasn't an innocent woman anymore. She looked angry. The same face of anger that Corrin saw in her during their battle.
"Curse you, Corris Hisstion! I'll kill you!! I'll slaughter your family the same way you slaughtered my brother!! I'll wipe out your bloodline, Corris Hisstion!!"
Corrin looked at her with empathy and sadness. Corrin knew the feeling she was going through all too well.