Byleth eventually woke from her deep and uninterrupted sleep when Seteth lifted her from the chair in which she slumbered. She wrapped her arms around his neck instinctively and sleepily looking up at him in some confusion.

'Seteth?' She murmured.

'I'm taking you to bed.' He advised her softly.

'About time too...' Sothis muttered with a snort of amusement.

'Ahem... I mean, I was going to lay you down.' Seteth corrected himself, unable to prevent the heat that rose to his face. 'You looked uncomfortable slouched in the chair, and there was no rousing you, at least – not till I picked you up.'

'How long have I been out?' Byleth blinked a few times, trying to clear her head. 'Did I miss anything important?'

'You were asleep for a couple of hours.' Seteth smiled at her. 'Flayn retired to bed a short while ago. We did manage to talk over a few things – mainly we attempted to reach some sort of basic understanding as to what might be going on.'

'Did you come up with anything?' Byleth asked, somewhat breathlessly. As her mind shrugged off its inertia from the depth of her slumber, she was becoming more and more aware of just how warm and pleasant it was being held so tightly.

'Hmm. Without speaking directly to Rhea, I'm not sure how much we will actually be able to surmise.' Seteth's brow creased slightly, and it was all Byleth could do to prevent herself from reaching up to massage the worry-line away. 'There is just no precedent for this situation.' He continued in explanation. 'If Rhea did instigate something at the root of all this, then I fear that her motivation and method would be impossible for us to simply guess at, although I cannot believe that she would have acted intentionally to cause any harm.'

'I have requested some additional time be afforded before confrontations take place or questions are asked beyond the four of us.' Sothis added. 'I feel it would be wiser to leave things as they stand for the moment and not to rock the boat. It's always possible that further information might be forthcoming now that we have more eyes on the issue.'

'I'm not going to argue with that... ' Byleth agreed, then swallowed heavily when Seteth shifted her weight and balance slightly but made no move to set her down, seemingly contented to keep on holding her.

'Heh!' Sothis snorted smugly directly into Byleth's mind. 'Do you still want to contest the fact that you aren't hungrier than normal for intimate contact Byleth? You are looking a little bit hot and bothered there my dearest... not that I can blame you... ahh if only I had a sense of touch of my own...'

'My main concern right now is this increase in power that Sothis is experiencing and the effects that it's having on me...' Byleth scowled when Sothis broke into peals of laughter. 'I mean how much it is wearing me out!' She grouched at the little Goddess.

'It was alarming how your body temperature rose so quickly.' Seteth agreed. 'You were literally burning up, then it just went back down to normal again... That can't be doing you any good at all! I would assume is was why you crashed so hard into sleep.'

'I rather suspect that her heat is spiralling right back up again just about now.' Sothis speculated wickedly.

Seteth looked quizzical for a moment then suddenly seemed to realise that he was still holding Byleth in his arms.

'Ah, sorry!' He apologised, growing flustered. He moved as if to set her down gently on her own two feet. Byleth mewled quietly in regret at the thought of losing contact, and her grip around his neck became tighter as their eyes met for a brief second. With a tender smile, Seteth acknowledged her reluctance to be discarded and instead of releasing her, he sat himself down in the chair with Byleth nestled securely in his lap.

'Oh! How adorable...' Sothis cooed happily.

'So...' Seteth cleared his throat with some difficulty. 'Helping Byleth to manage over the next few weeks must be our main priority for the time being.' He asserted.

'Well, I do believe that your daughter's suggestion earlier is very likely to be helpful with that.' Sothis mused, her demeanour suddenly serious again. 'Flayn pointed out that the power that is surrounding me and growing stronger by the day is the same kind of energy that generates faith magic.' She went on to explain. 'I suppose that stands to reason since it is likely being produced by all the additional worship that's being afforded to me right now.'

'We can't discount that the re-emergence of the Blue Sea Star could be part of the overall effect as well.' Seteth added. 'It is true that your power was renewed upon the star's return each year.' He insisted to Sothis.

'Maybe...' Sothis sounded unsure. 'Regardless of the cause of it though, Flayn suggested that it might be possible for you to actively drain some of that energy yourself Byleth, lessening the amount you are being bombarded with it from me.'

'You have been taking some tuition in faith magic from Manuela I believe.' Seteth noted. 'That will give you a good grounding to push the discipline forward and manage to positively release some of the pressure.'

'I've only really learned the basic principals and an emergency heal for use on the front line.' Byleth fretted. 'It's just a practical lesson and not one I've taken any further than that.'

'Regardless, quite aside from the healing applications it is best known for, faith is also the fundamental tool used in the operation of growth and nurture.' Sothis lectured. 'I know you love gardening. Flayn is keen to teach you some methods of pouring your energy into the earth to assist with that. It's something that the gardeners themselves are skilled in.'

'Oh!' Byleth's eyes lit up excitedly.

'Of course, you should also consider that there is another much more fun way that you could expend some of that pesky build-up of energy...' Sothis sniggered.

'Mother!' Seteth groaned.

'Eh?' Byleth looked between the two of them in confusion.

'Well, study the options, dearest!' Sothis tittered a very amused laugh. 'How could you possibly rid yourself of a smidgeon of your overwhelming feelings of... ahem...frustration? Let me think now...'

'Oh!... OH!'

'Well, I think it's time to get myself some sleep now...' Sothis was still laughing at the roaring blushes on both Seteth and Byleth's faces. 'Don't do anything I wouldn't do!' She added as she disappeared from Byleth's view and back into her usual place in her mind.

'That was unnecessary!' Byleth moaned into the silence.

'A thoroughly interesting character...' Seteth observed ironically.

'Perhaps you understand now why I asked if it were possible she was just messing with you about coming from a star!' Byleth agreed.

Seteth choked out a laugh. 'Indeed, I do!' He nodded.

'Do you believe that she really is the Goddess?' Byleth hid her face in his shoulder as she asked, strangely nervous about hearing his thoughts. 'While she did remember the name before either of us learning about the deity status that is attached to it – I think we have both wondered...'

'I have no doubt whatsoever!' Seteth absently stroked reassuring circles on her back. 'The feeling of her is unmistakable, even if the personality is somewhat unexpected. I should have picked it up. Flayn too especially as she has such an affinity for faith. It's just so outlandish an idea though – I doubt that either of us could have ever possibly guessed... How in the world do you deal with sharing your headspace as you do?' He looked genuinely interested.

'I don't actually know anything different.' Byleth closed her eyes, listening intently to his heart as it thundered in his chest. 'Its a bit like that...' She pointed out, touching lightly where the drumming was coming from. 'You deal with having that beat relentlessly all day every day because it has always been there.'

'So you have always been aware of her then?'

'Not as an individual or a personality...' Byleth tried to wrap her head around how to explain. 'The feeling of her that you talked about... I was aware of that. It was less than a year ago that the awareness became more conscious, and it never really seemed remarkable or out of the ordinary. If anything, it was a reassurance.'

'Is she... listening in to us right now?' Seteth inquired.

'She's sleeping.' Byleth smiled. 'Honestly, you think I was deeply asleep earlier? That's nothing compared to how Sothis sleeps. An extreme situation or emotion would likely awaken her, or if I am very persistent. Mind you, sometimes I am also unaware of just when she has woken up, and she suddenly startles me with a particularly rude or obnoxious comment about whatever I'm doing...'

Seteth chuckled. 'Did you just call my ultimate Mother and the cornerstone of my religion rude and obnoxious?' He teased lightly.

'Oh, I'm sorry... I also forgot to mention grumpy and mean as well!' Byleth laughed. 'So... ah, Seteth... can I ask about you and Flayn...'

'After all that you have shared tonight, it would be positively churlish of me to refuse you.' Seteth sighed a tiny sigh of resignation. 'I am a little surprised that Jeralt didn't tell you she was truly my daughter. He worked it out for himself.'

'Well, I did suspect.' Byleth admitted. 'I didn't put together that Flayn might actually BE Saint Cethleann though, despite their shared birthday.'

'You overheard that?' Seteth's brow raised. 'Sothis said you were asleep!'

'I didn't overhear it... but Flayn did mention that Sothis was not how she remembered her.'

'You don't seem surprised Byleth.' Seteth noted quietly.

'I'm not. I assume you heard how Sothis allows me to manipulate time?'

'Yes. We did discuss that.' Seteth nodded.

'When Flayn wasn't affected by it, I knew she must be special in some way.' Byleth mused. 'Her manner is so calming too. She has wisdom well beyond her years at times.'

'She really isn't as careful about her identity as I would like.' Seteth admitted.

'I don't know any of the histories though.' Byleth said. 'My education in the Church is sorely lacking, and what you keep close to protect yourselves isn't information that I need to know... unless you decide that I do.'

'Are you okay with that?' Seteth sounded stunned.

Anything that helps keep Flayn safe... and... you too...' Byleth nodded. 'It isn't really a matter of trust or a lack of it. The more people who know a secret, the more potential there is for it to blow up in your face.'

'Most individuals would be demanding more information. You are genuinely content to leave things as they stand for now?' Seteth asked.

'Mhmm.' Byleth smiled at him. 'It's not that I'm not interested. I am! One thing, though...' She reached up as pushed back his hair, revealing his ears. 'Just like Sothis's' She breathed.

'Your mother's were the same, according to Jeralt.' Seteth's voice was gruff as Byleth ran an inquisitive finger over the sharp folds. 'Um... as well as being a unique shape... they are also extremely sensitive...' He was having a problem getting the words out as he gritted his teeth against the overwhelming sensation.

'Is that so...' Byleth murmured right up against it so that her breath tickled over the skin. Seteth's growl came from deep within his chest.

'That's probably not such a good idea...' He managed to grind out.

'Right! Sorry...' Byleth was red-faced as she pushed herself off his lap and practically ran to the window on the other side of the room.. pressing her hot cheek against the coolness of the glass. '...That was totally out of order of me... Sothis was probably right that I'm having some problems with...'

'It's fine, Byleth...' Seteth interrupted as he took a deep breath. 'I understand the situation you are in...'

'That's no excuse. You are genuinely too nice to me...'

'You surprised me is all...' Seteth looked down at his hands.

'I should go. It's a school day tomorrow after all...' Byleth had managed to pull herself together somewhat with a bit of distance, although the loss of the warmth and comfort was already cutting deeply.

'I'll walk you back.' Seteth stood.

'Please. There is no need. I am absolutely fine now.' Byleth bolted towards the door before he got too close again.

'Are you sure?' He asked quietly.

'I am!' She nodded. 'Thank you, Seteth. I can't even begin to tell you how much of a relief it is to have someone to share this with.'

'Cichol.' He corrected firmly. 'You can find out from just about anywhere who Cethleann's father was... but I would rather you heard my true name from myself.'

'Cichol.' She repeated earnestly, tasting the name on her tongue. 'It suits you!'

He bowed to her gravely as she let herself out of the door.

'You are an absolute fool. What in the hell are you thinking?' Seteth reprimanded himself as soon as she was safely gone, acutely aware that he wished that he'd asked her to stay.