Chapter Twenty-Four – The Father of Crestology

It took a week for Hanneman to make it to Garreg Mach. He continued his research on Crestology after retiring from teaching at the Academy a few years ago out of the comfort of his home on the former border of the Kingdom and Empire. The express letter reached him quickly, it seemed, and he did not even reply before appearing at the monastery with his bags packed with all sorts of probing tools.

Luckily, the Agarthans remained quiet again. Their unexpected defeat—if one could even call it that—must have brought them temporarily to a halt again. They had been held off, at least, and their leaders pushed back. Theron would have to take care of that hand if he wanted to meet in battle again, but I would be happy to take the replacement off for him.

The unexpected arrival of the Father of Crestology—if only because we received no reply and did not know he intended on returning to Garreg mach—triggered a slight panic among the guards. Dimitri and I were convinced of his identity, however, when he immediately began asking us about our children and if he could examine them.

"With your supervision, of course," Hanneman assured us. "It is always fascinating to look at children who are the product of parents who both have crests. There is some evidence that—"

"The only person whose crest you will be looking at is Byleth's. And… well…" Dimitri hesitated, and I shook my head. Not here, not in front of the guards.

"Oh, of course, of course—as I read in your letter. Hence why I am here! Fascinating, simply fascinating. You know, I had the opportunity during the war to speak with Linhardt, goddess rest his soul," Hanneman bowed his head, but then looked back up at me. "He was wise beyond his years and would have made an appropriate apprentice to carry on my work. Nevertheless, his research during the war indicated that he had been looking into removing crests from individuals. You see, both he and I knew that Lysithea had twin Crests, and he had been looking into the possibility of extending her lifespan by removing one. Upon hearing of their deaths in the war, I vowed to carry on that research!"

I gestured for Hanneman to follow me. Dimitri took his suitcase, glancing down nervously at it. Even with his strength, he found it heavy. I could tell from his grimace.

Hanneman had been a kind colleague to me, exceptionally thoughtful after the passing of my father. And I found amusement in his bickering with Manuela (sometimes). But he had always made me… well, slightly uncomfortable. And the idea of him poking around with my crest again could open up a can of worms for which I was unprepared. Still, this was the best option for my family.

His office had been taken over by one of the new professors at the Academy, so we set up shop in the cardinals' office. Dimitri set the suitcase on the end of the long table, and Hanneman immediately flipped the locks. The suitcase practically burst open; several metallic tools fell out of it and onto the floor. Dimitri and I exchanged a look, his brow low over his eye.

"Hanneman," I began. "Obviously… you're here. But may I ask how confident you are in your ability to safely remove a crest?"

Hanneman pulled object after object out of the suitcase, setting up something that looked more dangerous than helpful. "Unfortunately, most of the process requires a great deal of magical theory and background, as well. The church has always been hesitant to rely on more gruesome methods of medicinal healing and experimentation, even though this would open the doors for those without magical proficiency to practice these skills. I have been working with both magical Crestology and non-magical Crestology, but I would appreciate it if you did not mention it to Rhea."

"I am afraid that did not really answer Byleth's question. And I feel I should remind you that Byleth is the archbishop now, not Rhea, so she wouldn't need to mention it," Dimitri corrected.

"Ah, that's right. Well, then, we have nothing to worry about as long as you don't mention this to the cardinals," Hanneman said, looking over his shoulder at me and smiling. "What I am trying to say is that I am confident in my ability to remove your crest, but it will be through unconventional methods that the church may not like."

"How soon can you do it? We are unfortunately in the middle of a… situation. The sooner the better," I said.

Hanneman nodded, returning to his set up. It was amazing how he fit so much stuff into that suitcase of his.

"Allow me some time to finish setting up. Perhaps an hour? I may get some lunch first, as well… let's say two hours, yes?" Hanneman suggested.

Dimitri and I left him to his work, shutting the door behind us as we left the room. I bit my lip and looked at Dimitri, who reached over and patted my shoulder.

"Are you still sure about this, my beloved?" he asked.

"'Unconventional,' he said. I think that sounds promising."

"You know I'm no good at jokes, but I think you're joking?" Dimitri wondered, and I nodded. He took my hand, and we walked down the hallway back towards the infirmary. "We can find another solution."

"Like what?"

Dimitri didn't say anything. We walked silently into the infirmary, where Alexi was playing cards with Sylvain and Katrina was hitting her dolls' heads against the floor. Felix was sitting up in his bed, which was a welcome change compared to his sulking as of late, but he still avoided my gaze whenever I tried to meet his eye.

"Did I hear that Hanneman is here?" Sylvain asked, placing a card down on top of the pile in front of him. Alexi set his card down and then scooped everything up.

Sylvain and Felix were, for the most part, healed up. But Mercedes ordered them to rest for at least a week, as any stress on their wounds—magically healed or otherwise—could lead to internal damage. Felix was itching to get out of bed, but Sylvain seemed to enjoy the break. Tomorrow, though, they would be free again, and Alexi and Katrina would have to find new entertainers.

"Hanman," Katrina repeated. "Hand man!" She stabbed another doll's head into the floor.

Felix growled and stood up. "I'm going for a walk."

"You're not supposed to go out yet," Dimitri said.

Felix, of course, just brushed past Dimitri, knocking him in the shoulder as he left the room without another word. The room remained silent for an extra couple of seconds after until we could no longer hear his footsteps.

"Mommy, why is Uncle Felix so grumpy?" Alexi asked.

Sylvain laughed and ruffled his hair. "This kid." He put down another card and then frowned when Alexi did the same. "This kid… is kicking my butt."

"Why is he in such a foul mood?" Dimitri asked. "Just because he can't train?"

Sylvain shrugged. "I'm afraid it's more than that. It has to do with your dear wife."

Aha. I knew it did. He had been off since Theron and Adonis spoke about my crest extending my lifespan. But I didn't entirely understand why. Did it have to do with Glenn? Felix held a strange view about life and death, at least compared to others from nobility. But having an extended life didn't mean one couldn't die, so it wouldn't have helped Glenn. Why was he so bothered then?

Not so much your crest as the crests of others, perhaps, Sothis suggested.

Others?

"Byleth? What about Byleth?" Dimitri stepped closer to me, just a little, and I looked at Sylvain to see if he noticed. He grinned at me, a sure sign that he did, and he enjoyed the implications.

"Oh, he's madly in love with her, just jealous is all," Sylvain jested.

Dimitri crossed his arms. "Enough, Sylvain."

Sylvain put another card down and whooped when he claimed victory over Alexi for once. My son stuck out his tongue while Sylvain looked away.

"This kid is seriously good. I have a feeling he's cheating somehow, but I can't catch him in the act." Another card down—another loss for Sylvain. "Damn, he's good."

"Felix?" Dimitri prodded.

Sylvain rolled his eyes. "One-track mind, huh? Fine. He's bitter."

"That's enough gossiping."

Felix walked back into the room, deliberately walking around Dimitri this time. We watched him sit back down on the bed, eyes not on any one of us in particular, and then it was silent. No one spoke, except for Katrina whispering to her dolls as she launched one across the room.

"That was a fast walk. I feel like we were set up," Sylvain said.

"We weren't—" Dimitri began, but Felix held up a hand.

"Ask me yourselves instead of being a bunch of cowards. It's pathetic," Felix said, picking up a book from the small table beside him and opening it to a leafed page.

"You're not exactly the most approachable," Sylvain pointed out.

"Uncle Felix," Alexi said. "Why are you grumpy?"

Felix looked up from the book and raised an eyebrow towards my son. "This kid is yours?" he asked Dimitri.

"Okay, that's enough," I said. "Can you just be clear with us? Something happened the other day when we fought with Theron, Adonis, and Sybil. You've been avoiding talking to me since that happened, and I don't think it's just because you're injured. It's something having to do with what they said, but I don't know what I've done to offend you. I'm the same person I've been."

Felix shook his head. "Don't flatter yourself. It's not you."

"Then what?"

"It's not your business."

"But you just said—" Dimitri began angrily, but I put my hand on his arm.

"Let's not push it. Come on, why don't we go see if Claude is around?" I offered instead. Katrina jumped to her feet, leaving her dolls scattered around the room but grabbing her stuffed wyvern.

"Uncle Claude!"

"Can I finish my game?" Alexi asked, and I smiled. It was hardly a game. I had to wonder if there was some truth to Sylvain's claim that he was cheating. Maybe it was more of that magic that was suddenly rearing its head.

Katrina, Dimitri, and I left the infirmary. Sothis was probably right—I didn't know exactly what she meant, but she wasn't offering up anything more than what she said. Not my crest, but the others'. Who? And why did that bother him so much?

Well, it was no use bothering Felix about it now. He would tell me when he wanted.

Don't be offended. He's always mad at someone.

True… it just usually wasn't me.


Hanneman was still tinkering with some of his tools when Dimitri and I returned two hours later. But the cardinals' room appeared more like a medical office now than a war room, which was not the improvement one might think. He had apparently claimed some fresh sheets from the storage room to lay out across the floor, and spread out across the table were vials and beakers, each with a different colored liquid inside.

"Just finishing up," Hanneman assured us. "Professor, if you could please take a seat?"

"Um." I glanced around, and Hanneman pointed to a chair on the opposite side of the table from his equipment. Dimitri sat down next to me, staring at the sharp metal rod hooked up to one of the vials.

What should I feel as I looked at all these items? Fear? Anxiety?

I shall miss the opportunity to speak with you again. I've been watching all these years, unable to say anything to you, and it was quite lonely. To have been able to enjoy my time with you once more was… a blessing I may not deserve. But at least we were still together. Now… Sothis sighed. As I said before, I support your decision, and I understand. But…

But this was the end of everything. If Rhea knew what I was about to do, she would be beside herself. Would she understand, though? This was for the sake of my family. She ought to know about that, right?

I wish for you to know, Sothis continued, that I have enjoyed the gifts you bestowed upon me, however unknowingly. I am proud to have been your friend.

"If my son wishes it, you'll see me again," I whispered to myself.

Thank you for everything.

"I am ready. Professor, if I may."

I looked up to find Hanneman before me with his hand outstretched. I put my hand in his and glanced back at Dimitri. He nodded at me, but it was a mistake to look. My heart. I could feel it somehow. And suddenly I felt sick to my stomach, ready to run out of the room if I knew no one would stop me.

"It's okay, Byleth. I'll be here," Dimitri said.

I followed Hanneman to the sheets and lay across them. He walked back and forth from the table, carrying different vials over and setting them down beside me. I closed my eyes, rubbing my hands over my protruding stomach.

This was for us. For my family.

"You will feel a pinch. Please do not worry. This is to make sure you stay asleep longer than magic will be able to manage," Hanneman's voice said from above me.

He stuck my arm with something, and I winced.

Yes, this was… for us… for my family…


When I next opened my eyes, I was in a familiar place. The darkness of the room around us was not frightening, but comforting. I did battle here once. When? Oh. It wasn't a pleasant time. It was the start of Dimitri's downhill battle with himself. And yet my memories here…

"I wasn't expecting guests."

I climbed the stairs towards the voice. Sothis lounged on her throne, one elbow propping her up, but when I stopped in front of her, she sat up straight and smiled.

"You're asleep," she told me.

I nodded. "Hanneman must be getting to work now. It will be any moment now."

"Well, you must have been brought here for a reason. Usually I summon you here, and yet here you stand, uninvited. This happened one other time. Do you remember?" She smiled. "The first time we 'met.' You so rudely woke me up."

"Sothis… if you are the beginning, what does this mean for me? That this is the end?" I asked.

Sothis leaned back on her elbow. "Well, I am the reason you're alive. It could very well mean that."

I sighed. Sothis was not the goddess to go to if you were looking to feel better.

"However," she added, "you have changed. You know how your father wrote in his diary that you were a child that never cried or laughed. You know how to cry and laugh and smile and feel now, after all. Perhaps this evolution is evidence that you don't need me anymore."

"Aren't you the reason for that?" I asked.

Sothis frowned, brushing a lock of her bright green hair over her shoulder. "If all else fails, I am sure Hanneman can give you another crest to save you again."

"I don't think he goes around harvesting crests like the Agarthans."

Sothis laughed. "Oh, I believe you underestimate him."

Perhaps so. He was a tad eccentric.

Sothis stood and gestured for me to come closer. She stepped out of the way of her throne and held her tiny hand towards it. "Byleth, this is yours."

"Why?"

She stomped over to me, pushing me from behind. "Do not argue with a goddess."

"I'm not arguing. I just want to know why."

"You will still be you. I never defined you. You will never be able to use the Sword of the Creator again. You cannot utilize the power of the progenitor god to turn back the hands of time. You may find yourself weaker than before. And yet." She pushed me harder, until I stumbled over my own feet and had to catch myself on the arms of the throne. "And yet you are still you."

I turned back and looked at Sothis. She was tiny. A child. But this child was the one who gifted me with all I had.

She nodded at me, and I sat down.

As soon as I hit the seat, the room began to change. The Holy Tomb was engulfed in darkness, until all I could see was Sothis in front of me. I held my hand out towards her, and she reached for me. But before our fingers could touch, she was ripped away from me, swallowed by the darkness that had taken over the room.

"Sothis!" I called, before the darkness took me, too.


Author's Note: Um, so, let's just pretend that this didn't take me over a month to update, okay?

I hope everyone is surviving the plague all right. I am currently working from home, and it's pretty darn awful. But I'm hanging in there, so I hope you all are, too. I'll try to be better about updating now that I'm pretty much stuck inside forever.