Alicia was sitting down, together with Prim and a lady with light blonde hair, with servants at their beck and call. It seemed that they were having a quaint discussion as their conversation seemed rather pleasant. Alicia took a moment to breathe in the atmosphere of the mansion, surprised to know that it was only built within a few weeks. No less due to the help of the Beastpeople. Alicia then sipped her tea and said.
"Quite nice of you to invite us to your new mansion Madam Irina." Alicia thanked.
"Yes! Thank you milady!" Prim bowed with her head.
"Well, I just felt generous to invite a fellow sister-in-arms." Irina replied before suddenly looking away wistfully.
"Something wrong milady?"
"Oh it's nothing, just a little worried about Weiss." Irina replied.
"Weiss, you mean the man sent to search for the Far East?" Alicia asked.
"Yes, him."
"Why? Can he not take care of himself?" Prim asked.
"Yes, but he's not the most... stable person I've met." Irina commented before muttering. "Not since that day..."
"Why? What happened to him?" Alicia asked.
"I don't usually share this to others, but you two look like you need to be filled in." Irina said while adjusting her chair. "It all began on a march to Prague..."
Irina took a deep breath as the rocky terrain and the cold wind indicated only one thing, that they had arrived. The army walked on the thin mountain path, careful not to fall to the side as they marched on. Irina could see the large rebel fortress come into view as they reached the highest point of the mountain pass. Since it was summer, the peak was not covered in snow, and the large army was able to rest easy without the harsh terrain and weather. The Turkish fortress was built on the mountain pass that led to Iconium, a city of the Turkish Empire. From there, the Turks could block any assault on the capital itself. But now that would change, for the Duke has decreed 10,000 men to take the fortress, with Irina volunteering to lead.
Irina had volunteered for this mission for one reason, and one reason only. Her childhood friend, Herr Weiss Von Schnee was the only surviving knight who was captured by the Turks, and she wanted to save him. To achieve her goal, she would have to be crafty in their negotiations, since the enemy held only one knight hostage.. She chose not to dismount her horse, instead choosing to make negotiations on horseback. After all, she was a natural at diplomacy.
Irina herself was a natural, owing her diplomatic skills not only to years of practice, but also to her natural looks. She had an aura of seriousness and nobility that commanded respect from all she spoke to. Her long, flowing, light brown hair was tied to a twintail, so that her hair wouldn't get in the way of combat. Her armor was stocky, but under all that steel, was a woman of callipygian figure. Her face was not that of a seasoned warrior, as it was smooth, flawless and white, making the woman quite a sight when she took off her helmet. No man has had the pleasure of seeing her without armor as her personal life, including romance, was a mystery to those who weren't close to her.
Irina decided to move in. She signaled the archers to ready aim. She then rode up to the front gate, where a man already waited at the castle top. She eyed the walls and towers of the castle, seeing many patrols and archers peering down at her.
"I wish to speak to your leader!" Irina shouted from her horse, trying to keep it under control.
"He refuses to speak!" the messenger replied as he leant over the wall… "He wishes not to be involved with you!"
"Then tell him to come down here, or we will invade!" Irina threatened. "I wish to negotiate the release of our knight, Herr Weiss Von Schnee!"
The messenger then leaves for a moment, before returning, saying,
"He says that he will release the prisoner as an act of good will!" the messenger replied.
Irina couldn't complain. If the leader really was planning to release Weiss, then what was the worst that could happen? She calmly retreated back behind the lines as she and the army watched the gate open. Irina gasped as she saw the guards drag out a bloody man as she tried to get a look at the prisoner.
The injured prisoner was dragged in chains, his body being pulled by the guards. His body was shirtless, showing how bruised and bloodied it was from days of torture. His body was dragged to the horrified army outside the castle. After the guards had dragged the prisoner to the front, they unchained him and quickly ran back inside. The commander didn't know what to do as she observed the prisoner kneeling before her and her army. The prisoner seemed to be looking down, as no one could even see the face behind his shaggy hair.
But the moment the prisoner looked up, his face sent chills down the spectators' spines. He wore a wide, toothy grin which eerily contradicted with the state of his body. His eyes were wide and bloodshot, indicating his lack of sleep, or perhaps, his immense stress. The army flinched as they saw the prisoner begin to move. He opened his mouth and let out a huge sound of laughter, terrifying the onlookers. It was painfully apparent that this man had lost his mind, as they took a step back, already frightened by his insane laughter.
But one person wasn't afraid to approach him. The commander, Irina Hauteclere, dismounted her horse and walked towards the man. She wore a face of seriousness and fearlessness as the other soldiers stepped aside to make way for her. The only thing that stood in the way of Irina was her personal guard.
"What do you think you're doing?" Irina asked calmly, giving her soldiers a questioning look.
"M-Milady! We can't let you get close to this dangerous man!" the guard cried as he raised his halberd to block her way.
"Please let me pass, just this once." Irina pleaded, with a grave look in her eyes.
"But we would be forsaking our duty as your guard!"
"P-Please... For my s-sake." Irina pleaded once again, with her eyes watering up.
The guards could hear the shaking in her voice as they realized how important the prisoner was to the commander. They slowly stepped aside as Irina made her way to the prisoner.
Irina slowly approached the insane man as his back was turned. Though she seemed unafraid, the man's insane laughter frightened her. She struggled to muster up the courage to get nearer.
"Herr Weiss...? A-Are you okay?" she shakily asked as she got closer to him.
Weiss made no response as he was still laughing dementedly. Irina creeps closer, holding out a shaking hand, trying to reach out to Weiss. But before she could even touch him, Weiss suddenly grabs her, subduing her and holding a dagger to her neck. Irina couldn't even breathe as Weiss held on to her so tightly. The guards instinctively moved forward, only held back by the fact that their lady commander was held hostage.
"Herr Weiss! Unhand her at once!" the guard growled as he readied his halberd.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!" was all that Weiss voiced out.
Irina couldn't believe what was happening to herself. She was being held hostage by her friend and comrade who had gone insane. She cursed herself for misunderstanding the gravity of the situation. She thought the mere sight of herself would snap her dear friend out of his moment of insanity. She felt so egotistic and naive, now that her life was on the line. Tears flowed down her face as she screamed.
"Weiss! Don't do this!" Irina wailed, hoping that the mention of his name would stop him.
Weiss began to hesitate as he drew closer to killing his hostage. Irina closed her eyes as she awaited the killing blow. But it never arrived.
Weiss dropped Irina, as Irina looked up at Weiss's imposing figure. The guards immediately rushed to Irina's side as they eyed Weiss warily.
Weiss's stance began to falter as he kept laughing and laughing as he stood idly. His terrifying grin turned into a deep frown as he dropped his dagger. Tears streamed down his face as his psychotic laughter turned into miserable sobbing. He clutched his head in madness as the sobbing became louder. The poor man broke down on his knees crying, with no one to comfort him, as he knelt alone staring emptily to the sky, as if he were asking God why this was happening to him. Irina broke herself free from the guards as she rushed to Weiss's side. She held him close as she tried to comfort him.
"It's okay Weiss... It's okay..." Irina comforted as he grit her teeth. These bastards sent out Weiss for one reason, and that was to break the spirits of her men, who were already terrified by what had happened to the poor man.
"And that's how Weiss became... less stable. Though he tries to hide it under his normally cheerful facade."
"My word... That poor man..." Alicia said solemnly.
"How is he doing now?" Prim asked dumbly.
"That's the same thing I'm wondering..." Irina said while staring out the window. "Weiss, if you're out there, please be safe."
Weiss had a dream that he was fighting. Against an endless horde of monsters. That he was most likely the only man left on this world. He fought savagely as he began to brave many injuries. Weiss fought with tooth and nail as he was slowly getting overwhelmed by the monsters. Soon the injuries began to take their toll on Weiss as he felt like he was so close to collapsing. And he was laughing.
Satsuki was a bit unnerved by Weiss's sudden laughing in his sleep but dismissed it as a good dream as she cuddled up in her blanket and dozed off as well.