Chapter 20: Heartbound

Byleth grunted as he fumbled outside of his father's room. "Fifteen days of tearing apart my father's room...and there's nothing…" he muttered. "No connection as to who the Flame Emperor could be, why he was so interested in me and my father, why my father left this monastery. What people could possibly be hiding."

"Each thing we uncover, only asks more questions. Questions that may pose problems if we ever asked anyone." Sothis said. "Who is this Gigigas? What is his relationship with everyone? Who is the Flame Emperor? Why does he hate the Church? Who really is Rhea? What is her connection to you? I have been gathering knowledge...and I can feel I'm really close."

"Hurry up then, please." Byleth said. "Because if your memory can come as to how we may be intertwined, if we can figure that out, that may determine whether or not I stay here."

"And where will you go from there?" Sothis asked him. "You wish to abandon your students? You are clearly so important, and with my power? What will you do then?"

"I am not sure...but...all I can say...is I'm probably better out there and away from Rhea according to my father."

"I cannot help but feel as though you are right with that assumption." Sothis said. "I mean...Hmm? Wait a second...Oh! Oh dear!-" her voice was cut off as Byleth bumped into someone. He shook himself back to reality and found himself face to face with Edelgard and Moon, both of whom looked extremely irritated.

"Oh...is something wrong?" Byleth asked.

"Oh...Professor." Edelgard seemed to realize that he was the one talking. "Yes, actually, something is wrong...in fact...we were just looking for you. Moon found out where Solon and Kronya are hiding." Byleth raised an eyebrow.

"It is true." Moon said, "I was coming back from town with Annette when I saw Kronya run into a forest outside of Garreg Mach. Rhea calls it the Sealed Forest. Apparently, she knew that they've been hiding there, so she called for the scattered knights to return and begin a search."

"More importantly, she's been doing this in secret, behind our backs." Edelgard said.

"Why in secret?" Byleth replied. "With no knights around the Monastery, it would be more logical to go now."

"I'd assume she's afraid that a thirst for revenge will compel you to seek them out."

"I can't' say she'd be wrong." Byleth muttered. Truth be told, he wanted to see Kronya dead.

"What are our orders?" Edelgard asked.

"NO!" the three of them jolted their heads towards Rhea, who walked up to them with Seteth. Byleth did note that Rhea had that sort of...animalistic glare of fury as she approached them. "Absolutely not! I will not allow it!"

"Why?" Byleth asked furiously. "She killed my father! Your best Knight! Let us go after them!"

"This discovery comes just when the knights are at their busiest!" Seteth said firmly. "It is all too likely that our foes revealed themselves to lure you out there. They are the ones who took Jeralt from you… I know how you must despise them, but I must ask you to rein in your personal feelings for now."

"You honestly think that's going to stop him?" Moon asked. "If you honestly believe that asking someone to use caution at a time like this, when the Monastery is left undefendable if Solon and Kronya were to bring an army. Then I'm beginning to question your ability to rule a continent!"

"Please!" Rhea said, in a not so calm voice. "Losing you so soon after losing Jeralt, would be unbearable! To the students, staff, and myself."

"Lady Rhea, our professor is not acting out of revenge!" Edelgard said. "Like Moon just said, the Monastery is lacking in the Knights capable of defending this place! What if Solon and Kronya brought an army? What if the Flame Emperor is with them?"

"The Flame Emperor is not with them." Byleth said, reassuringly, startling Edelgard, who looked at him with a shocked expression. He quickly noticed Moon making a sort of panic look that screamed No, No, what the hell are you doing?

"Somehow, I know he is not with them." Byleth said quickly. "After what happened in Remire, if he is there with them. Then I know he is a liar!"

"Even if that is the case!" Rhea said. "I will not allow it!"

"Seteth and the few remaining Knights can't leave this place unattended!" Edelgard snapped back. "Our Professor wields a Hero's Relic! We have fought under his command countless times. The Black Eagles are the best army you have here at the moment. And all of us want Solon gone for what he did to our home! So if you won't give us the order, then you're going to have eleven people, twelve if Flayn wants to join us, defy your rules. What could you possibly be afraid of losing that is worth more than the Monastery?!"

"I will not-" Rhea started. Moon held up a hand to silence her.

"If I may have a say, Archbishop." he said quickly. "I believe that deep down, you know it's that time." Byleth and Edelgard looked at him curiously. Rhea seemed to be shocked by his statement. "Time for you to stop complaining and worrying, and actually make a logical decision! That could benefit everyone here!"

Seteth looked enraged. "Are you suggesting that…"

"Halt Seteth." Rhea said. "Moon is right, I am not thinking straight. We do not have the ability to defend the Monastery if Solon and Kronya have an army."

Seteth looked mad about her idea. "Lady Rhea, it seems unreasonable too…"

"I gave the order." Rhea said.

Byleth nodded. "Moon, go alert the Black Eagles, we need to go!"

The group arrived outside of the sealed forest...well...everyone except for Flayn, who Seteth had ordered be left behind.

"We are now within the sealed forest...so it would seem." Hubert said. "It would be wise not to let our guard down."

"The area has the appearance of having strong places to hide." Petra said. "Compared to the other places we've fought...I cannot imagine trying to hunt prey in this."

"Don't worry professor." Bernadetta said. "We'll avenge Jeralt for you!"

"It's nice to see that you've come out of your shy and cautious shell since Remire." Sapphire said, smiling a little. "That's one thing good that came out of this."

"Remember though. It is a bad idea to get distracted by revenge...even though we all feel some sort of hatred towards Solon." Ferdinand continued, looking at Byleth.

"This will also give us an opportunity." Byleth said. "If the Flame Emperor, or Death Knight show themselves in this fight, then we'll know that everything we've been told is a lie."

"Well, it's not like we have any other missions this month." Linhardt sighed. "I suppose this is as good a way as any to spend our energy." Everyone looked at him in shock.

"Linhardt spending energy?" Caspar asked. "We had better finish this fast before the pigs start flying everywhere."

"Lower your voice." Dorothea scolded. "The enemy could be close."

"Uh...guys…"

"Professor, I know I'm the one who insisted we come here, but don't doubt for a moment that the enemy is waiting for you." Edelgard said.

"Guys…"

"Lady Edelgard? What do you mean?" Hubert asked.

"What other objective could they possibly have at this point?" Edelgard asked. "It'd be much too difficult for them to try something like Remire or Garreg Mach again. We have no clue what type of trap could be waiting for us. Please be careful, Byleth, we can't lose you too."

"Have faith," Sapphire said. "The enemy is strong, but you will prevail. You must."

"GUYS!"

"What Moon? Can't you see we're in the middle of a…"

"GROAR!" Everyone flinched as a large Demonic Wolf beast came charging out of the forest.

Moon's hands flashed a yellowish color. "Swarm Z!" A black hole of darkness opened around the beast's foot as it exploded on it releasing what looked like a bunch of little black bugs. The beast's foot was severed completely from its body making it howl in pain.

"A Demonic Beast? I guess they aren't going to hold anything back." Hubert said.

"Hehehehe." Kronya suddenly jumped down from the edge of a tree. Bracing some sort of weird, Black Sword. In all honesty, it looked like a weird combination between a scythe and sword. She quickly dashed downwards and did a swift kick through Petra and her sword struck Caspar's axe, knocking it out of his hands.

"Did you honestly think I was going to let you little cutie pies get away?" Kronya Hissed.

"There's eleven of us and only one of you."

Kronya looked at Edelgard, and the rest of the Black Eagles, who all looked equally pissed.

"What the...what are you? Are you here to kill me?"

"Why else would be here?" Moon asked.

"Prepare yourself for death while you still can Kronya." Edelgard snapped.

Kronya frowned. "I would've thought my old friends would've come to back us up."

"Friends?" Sapphire spat. "After what you did, you think we're all still your friends?"

"Misma Δ!" Hubert snarled. The purple sphere of goo blasted Kronya backwards.

"Grr. Alrighty then...Black Eagles, Prepare to have your graves dug nine feet under!" Kronya ducked under a quick Cutting Gale blast from Linhardt and moved around quickly. She quickly punched Dorothea before landing a quick blade flip, as Petra attempted to shoot her off her course. The arrow shot into the back of her leg as she kicked off Dorothea.

Kronya dug her blade into the ground as she twirled around and kicked upwards, striking through Caspar as he attempted a rogue Punch with his gauntlets.

Byleth quickly grabbed the Sword of the Creator and extended it outwards, the blade whip sliced and cracked as Kronya jumped and ducked over two swipes and stabbed him with one of her weird mechanical tails.

"Thoron!" The electrical beam shot from Dorothea's hands as Kronya quickly ducked under it. She took her mechanical tails and used them to launch her own Thorons, the beams blasted Sapphire and Bernadetta backwards.

Ferdinand quickly threw his Javelin, which blasted into Kronya's back leg. Once again, the weapon didn't seem to damage her.

"Hehehe." Kronya giggled. "All you cutie pies don't know half of what you're doing. Why come destroy me. You don't know half the shit that dastardly church does." She quickly took her blade and blocked Moon's quick sword slash.

"You all are freaks." Moon hissed. "You and your group!"

Kronya tilted her head, she gave him a sly wink and a little giggle. "I'm a freak?" she asked. "You think I'm a freak? Heh. That doesn't mean shit coming from you!"

Moon klanged his blue sword against her obsidian black scythe sword. He did a quick leg sweep to knock her upwards before swiping his own sword with a quick up slash. Kronya grunted a little as she fell back, clutching her side.

"What the…" She hissed, she flinched. "Er…" she charged again, after ducking under spells and flying axes and arrows. She quickly diagonally slashed, which Moon jumped up and bounced off her sword.

Kronya, however, grabbed his sword from him, and yanked it off. Moon landed on the ground with a small smirk on his face.

"Get her!" Ferdinand threw his Javelin at her once again, however, as Kronya noticed and prepared to dodge, however, before she could she let off a hiss.

"What the...AHHHHHHHHHHH!" Kronya suddenly started screaming hysterically. "GET AWAY!" She hissed. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU?! STAY BACK! STAY AWAY." she swung her sword about as she moved around aimlessly.

"Luna Λ!" Moon summoned a faint magical image of the actual sky Moon and a blast of dark light shone upon Kronya's flailing body, the light exploded and blasted Kronya, as Saphria fell to the ground with a loud clang.

"What...was that?" Linhardt asked curiously. "Do your powers suddenly allow some hallucination method of torture?"

"If you could make our enemies hallucinate something that frightens them? Why not do that from the very beginning?" Caspar asked bitterly. "Surely that would've been more useful then having all of us take a beating!"

"Easy now Caspar." Hubert snapped. "As Moon has told us, his powers are quite limited here due to our different atmospheres, he has to be extra cautious with how he approaches the use of his psychic powers. That's why he finished her off with Magic from our world."

Byleth walked over to the Blue bladed sword that laid on the ground. A few feet from where the sword had landed, Kronya laid, twitching occasionally out of some weird paranormal reason. He shook his head and focused his eyes on the sword, strangely, he felt an evil lurking presence all around the blade and hilt.

Granted, as a Mercenary, and Swordsmen, he was quite used to seeing all sorts of strange swords. The Levin Sword, which allowed magical lightning properties and the ability to summon a small bolt, The Sword of the Creator was nothing to laugh at with it's whip-like properties, you had Venin Edges, made out of Venom Stone, which allowed for poisoning, you had all sorts of strange and interesting weapons, made out of various metals. But...Sapphires and Emeralds? That wasn't exactly a weapon structure ready.

"Lady Edelgard wai-" Byleth was snapped back to reality as Edelgard went to pick up the sword, However, in the blink of an eye, Saphria shot over towards Moon, who caught it in his hand.

"There was no need for you to do that for me." Moon said. "It's much easier for me to just summon it back to me, telekinesis doesn't affect my PSI on lighter objects."

"I was just a little curious about it's design, that's all." Edelgard replied.

"You...You little…" Everyone's heads turned towards Kronya as she stood back up, still shaking from whatever Moon had done. "What...What the actual hell was that shit?!"

"It's over Kronya," Byleth said irritably, bracing the Sword of the Creator. "You're finished, you're going to pay."

"How could…" Kronya coughed and clutched her chest. "How could I lose to...a bunch of mere beasts! No...I will not allow it…" The oranged haired demon witch turned and began to run through the forest.

Byleth's eyes flashed a little, she wasn't going to get away, not this time. He quickly charged after her.

"BYLETH WAIT!" He ignored the calls from his students as he charged after Kronya.

Byleth didn't know how long he chased her for, but the more she ran, the more determined it made him to see her go down. He chased her out of the woods and into an opening, it showed a weird stone platform with columns all around it, Kronya looked back and made a small sound as she saw him.

However, she wasn't paying attention and tripped over a raised part of the area, causing her to fall flat on her face.

Byleth arrived at the center of the area as she struggled to get up, eventually she did force herself up. That was when Solon warped next to her.

Kronya turned to Solon. "What the hell are you doing?!" She snapped. "Don't just stand there, I need help!"

Solon gave a wicked smile as he slowly trotted up to her. "Yes." he said. "You most certainly do."

Byleth instinctively swiped the Sword of the Creator through the air and brought it down, however, a dark shield similar to that of what Thales had used came up again.

Solon placed his deformed and sparking hand around Kronya's neck and lifted her up. Kronya had the look of terror upon her eyes as her body twitched and flailed in his grasp.

"Have no fear, Kronya," Solon said calmly. "Your sacrifice will help us rid the world of the filthy vermin that have long infested it!"

"W-W-Wait!" Kronya gasped. "Th-This-This wasn't…" Her voice was suddenly cut off as a wall of black flames erupted around the stone platform Byleth was standing on, surrounding the entire area he was standing in.

Solon stepped backwards, still clutching onto Kronya, he just barely made it out as the wall of Flames reached his side, but he still held Kronya inside.

Byleth made a movement to attempt another slash, before he felt something snag. He glanced down as some of the black flames had grabbed onto him, locking him in place, and rendering him unmoveable.

"S-Sol-Solon!" Kronya gasped. "S-Sto-Stop...this." Solon suddenly let go of her, her body dropped to the ground in front of Byleth as Solon stood, clutching what looked like an odd black spirit...or maybe a soul.

"The time has finally come!" Solon shouted, contracting the flames towards his staff. "To unleash the Forbidden Spell of Zahras UPON OUR ENEMIES!"

A giant ghastly looking figure that Byleth thought looked an awful lot like an alien suddenly shot through the black flames and pushed him, he felt his body eviscerating as his whole world was cut into nothing but an eternal black void.

Edelgard and the rest of the Black Eagles had arrived just in time to see what had happened, Kronya's and Byleth's bodies had both vanished from the altar platform in the center of the sealed forest.

"Begone with you...Fell Star." Solon hissed.

"SOLON!" The old evil wizard turned his attention towards the ten teenagers looking at him in fury. Out of all of them, Edelgard seemed the most infuriated.

"That could only have been Magic…" Sapphire said. "But...that's no magic I've ever heard off. What happened? WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?!"

Solon let off an evil cackle. "They were swallowed by the mystical darkness of the forbidden spell of Zahras. They are now damned to a life of eternal wandering in the darkness of an outer realm! Never to return to this world again."

Almost if instinctively, everyone's heads turned towards Linhardt. The Sleepy Green haired boy looked at them with the same sort of confusion.

"Zahras?" Moon asked. "How did you get your hands on a spell like that?"

"You're familiar with it?" Dorothea asked.

"Not in the slightest, but, I remember reading the name in a church book. It referred to an outer realm similar to that of a Mindscape, the sort of thing you see in fairy tales, only difference is...well...it's more like a black hole of nothingness."

Edelgard looked at him in horror, "So...is there anything we could do too…"

"Unfortunately, I don't know." Moon said quickly. "But, it would most likely take a god to get out."

"No! This is nonsense!" Edelgard snapped. "Surley, this is an impossibility, Byleth can't actually be dead...can he?"

"I find it hard to fathom that our professor would fall at a time like this." Hubert said.

Solon chuckled. "It is indeed possible that death has yet to find your friend. But...then again...I suppose there are worse things than death after all. Drifting and sitting in the darkness with no chance of escape...Overwhelmed with hopelessness...that would be tortuous...Isn't that right...El…"

"NO!" Much to the horror of everyone Edelgard all but tackled Solon to the ground and started hacking away at the man with her silver axe.

"Lady Edelgar-" Hubert made an attempt before Moon put his hand in front of him.

"Let her let it out." he said calmly, as Hubert looked at him in disgust. "Trust me...it'll be better that way. I should know. Letting this much pent up rage in you, only spells disaster."

Byleth stood in the same area that he once stood in, when he talked to Sothis for the first time.

"YOU FOOL!" He flinched as he looked up at the throne, Sothis appeared in front of him with a deadly look in her eyes. "What were you thinking charging right into an enemy's trap?!"

"I can exp-"

"Are you just a boulder that rolls down whatever hill it's on? No, even a boulder has more sense than you!"

Byleth looked down in disappointment. What HAD he been thinking? Edelgard, Rhea, all his students reminded him that he was most likely the target in this trap. And now...he had just been banished into...a scary black void of nothingness. All that was here was the stone throne Sothis sat upon, the floor they were standing on, and him, the normal weird tomblike area they were normally in, was now a dark, empty void.

And what would become of his students? He wasn't there to protect them, there was no telling if Solon still had an army of demonic beasts, or if the Flame Emperor had been waiting for him to disappear. No, surely they'd stop him.

"I'm...I'm sorry." Byleth said.

"Apologizing won't make things right!" Sothis snapped. "This darkness is terrifying." her expression changed to an upset one. "As you and I are one… I, too, am trapped within this void. But please consider this…"

"Consider what?" Byleth asked.

"This realm of darkness we are in, it is separate from the world from which you came. I mean that it would take a god to leave this place. In time, our hearts and minds will cease to be! Are you prepared to die?"

"I am not…" Byleth replied.

"I thought as much. I also do not wish to die." Sothis said. "And yet…" she sighed. "I guess there is no other choice."

"What choice?" Byleth asked.

Sothis looked at him uncomfortably. "Do you remember your father's diary?"

Byleth felt himself ready to facepalm, but this was Sothis, so it had to go somewhere. "Yes." he said. "I remember, it's all I've been thinking about recently."

"Your father said you were a child that never cried nor laughed. I think I am the one to blame. Your emotions and my emotions were tied together, with me being asleep for most of life, they never developed until recently. But...even then, I feel I was a part of you."

"But how?" Byleth asked. "How did you become a part of me?"

Sothis shook her head. "I do not know how Rhea managed it, but...she allowed me to exist inside of you. I suppose that I have always been with you. And it is within you that I found my powers yet again. The power of a goddess. The power of the progenitor god."

Byleth stayed calm in front of Sothis, but inside, he felt himself fuming. So it was Rhea who had done something to him, his mother, and his father. But...why though? Why give the power of the goddess to a baby? What were her intentions? Well, whatever they were, he wasn't sure he wanted to stick around and find out.

"My name is Sothis," Byleth felt himself get snapped back to reality. "I am the one who watches over Fódlan and the creatures dwelling there. I am Sothis, she who died and then returned."

"Somehow...I know it to be true." Byleth said, completely unaware that he was even speaking.

Sothis smiled. "There is but one thing left to do to save us from this darkness of eternity. I must now use the power of a god."

Byleth waited for her to do something, however, she didn't move from her stone throne, almost as if she was waiting for something.

"Um...are you doing the thing?" he asked.

"No," Sothis said calmly. "I lack a body of my own to use my power. So, I must relinquish all the power that I have...to you."

"To me?" Byleth asked, his eyes widening.

"Yes, the time has come for you and I to join as one. And when that comes to pass...then I shall disappear from your mind."

"Wait!" Byleth said. "Sure, being stuck here isn't the greatest, but there has to be some other way. I don't want to lose you as well."

"When I say disappear, I do not mean that all I am will be no more." Sothis replied, smiling a little. "My soul will join with yours, and you and I will never be apart...and sure...I may never have the opportunity to speak with you again."

"Sothis...I…"

"You are very modest," Sothis said. "Do you know how many people would scramble at this opportunity? I just offered you the power to be god. And yet, you'd still choose to only let me use my powers when you really needed it." Byleth silenced himself, Sothis seemed prepared for this, and it wasn't like she was going to give him an option at this point.

"So long have I been on this path with you." Sothis said, standing up from her throne. "Through you, I go to see and hear this world. I even got to chastise you from time to time. I may not have acted like a goddess...but...I cannot deny that it was fun." She took a step closer to him, holding out her hand.

"For all that you have done, Byleth." She said. "Thank you. I'm glad that it was you to whom my fate was bound. Now… We must pray. For if we share this wish, our spirits and hearts will join as one. Your wish...is to return to the forest, stop the enemy, and rescue the little ones. No need for words. I know your heart as though it were my own…"

Byleth placed his palm in her palm. "Thank you, Sothis, for everything."

Golden light began to flash around them, petals and leaves fell, creating a swirl of light that seemed to tear through the darkness. Sothis began to fade away.

"Your will and mine are now as one." She said. "Both sides of time are revealed to you...and you alone. You know I am the Beginning. I suppose that makes you the ending. What shall you do? Other than cut a path that is your own." Her small body moved closer to his, fading into sparkles of lime green light, that entered his own.

Byleth felt power that he had never felt before, he wasn't sure how to describe it, but it felt incredible, he had never imagined such a warm and welcoming feeling as he gained knowledge that he didn't even understand himself. He opened his eyes, which had now become light green like Sothis, and he caught the brim of light green hair as well. Though Sothis was now gone within him, he knew what he must do. He became the Enlightened One.

"I, Byleth Eisner, have a dream." Byleth said.

The Blade of the Sword of the Creator pierced through the sky and sliced an opening of light as Byleth flew out of it and landed on the platform. The thing that concerned him, there was no sign of Solon, or his students."

"Lady Edelgard, calm yourself!" he heard Hubert say. "Everyone is watching you."

Byleth turned and saw his students watching Edelgard violently severe off bits of Solon's flesh.

Edelgard ignored Hubert as she stabbed her dagger through Solon's mangled corpse, which by now, looked like it had been blown up by a spike bomb. His arms and legs had been sliced off and his head decapitated, which Edelgard was now stabbing his eyes with. Blood and guts poured out of the person's body.

"You...Killed...ALL THOSE PEOPLE!" Edelgard hissed, stabbing Solon again in his large dismembered brain. "Byleth, Jeralt, Those Families in Remire! I...Will...Kill...YOU!"

"Your majesty, I'm going to ask that you stop." Sapphire said calmly. "You've already turned Solon into a salad."

"He...killed...everyone…"

"How could he have killed everyone?" Byleth asked, making all of his students, except for Moon, jump in surprise.

"Professor...I…" Edelgard stuttered, her face going bright red. "How much...did you see?"

"More than I probably needed to…" Byleth said, "All of you, start heading back to Garreg Mach, give me a moment to talk with her."

Most of his students, except for Hubert, nodded silently and began to walk.

"Fine, I guess you can stay." Byleth muttered, after Hubert didn't budge.

"Professor...I'm...I'm sorry...I don't know what…" Edelgard's face became bright red.

"Everyone gets angry. After what Solon has done to the Empire's Territory, I do not blame you for acting the way you did." Byleth said. "But, in case the church gets word, as I'm certain they wanted Solon captured, I am going to have to give you a detention. Just know that, I'll be helping you get through this, try not to let it happen again."

"Of course…" Edelgard replied. "Thank you, Professor."

"Anytime,"

"Now, Professor," Hubert said, speaking up. "Pardon my interruption, but, can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Byleth braced himself for some sort of rebuttal from Hubert.

"Your eyes...and your hair…" Hubert said. "They have changed, what happened in this Darkness of Zahras that Solon spoke of?"

"The goddess gifted me her power." Byleth said.

Edelgard and Hubert both looked at each other. "The goddess?" Edelgard asked. "Surely you must be…well...I guess that's...that does make sense...Solon and Moon said it would take a god to bust you out of there...well...before I mauled you...well...with the power of a god...what do you intend to use the power for?"

"For you guys." Byleth said. "I said I would help you achieve your dream within the Empire, so it only makes sense that I continue to follow it."

"Professor…" Edelgard continued, ignoring Hubert's blatant attempt to cut her off. "If things took a wrong turn...and the world went to war and we were to become divided? What would you do...Professor?"

Byleth suddenly collapsed to the ground, almost in a trance like manor.

"Byleth!"

Huber quickly ran over and checked for a pulse. "He is alright Lady Edelgard, it seems he may have just fallen asleep, perhaps a weird side effect of his recent...inheritance."

"We cannot simply leave him here." Edelgard said. "Help me carrying him back."

"As you wish, your majesty.

"In time's flow...see the glow of flames ever burning bright…" The sound that music Rhea was singing at the Foundation Ball flooded Byleth's ears. How long had he been passed out? And...was he with Rhea?...uh oh…"

"On the swift...river's drift, broken memories alight…" Yep, that was definitely Rhea. Byleth shot his eyes open and made a motion to sit up as Rhea gently forced his head back down.

"Professor. You must remain still." Rhea said.

"Where am I? What happened?" Byleth asked quickly. "Where are my students."

"Everything is alright," Rhea said calmly. "There is no need to worry. Those who are trying to harm you, and take you away from us, they are far away." Byleth wasn't really satisfied with that answer. But he didn't want to cause a scene or freak out, anything that would make Rhea suspicious of him.

Rhea closed her eyes and hummed the melody of the song she had been singing. Now that Sothis' mind and his were one, he remembered singing that song, that same song to...four babies? Yeah, four babies, three male, one female, and he remembered their names too, Seiros, Cichol, Indech, and Macuil.

He paused his thoughts. Wait, weren't there five Saints? Yes, there were, Cethleann, no, but she wasn't his child, she was Cichol's daughter, making her his granddaughter...wait...what the hell? Where were these thoughts and memories coming from?

"Damn it," Byleth muttered. "Stop thinking about that, she's trying something, does she know?"

"How Lovely," Rhea said, snapping him back to reality. He sensed a clear...creepy sort of joy to Rhea's tone. "It would be so...very lovely...if this moment could last forever." Byleth silently hoped that someone would bust into whatever room they were in so this moment could stop.

"I wish I could hold on to this time we have stolen...that you and I could create a world without end…" Byleth twitched, so Rhea did know, maybe coming out to tell someone he had been given the goddess's power wasn't the brightest idea.

"I have heard whispers of what happened to you." Rhea continued. "Your appearance… You have received power from the goddess Sothis…" Byleth made a motion to get up again, but he found himself strangely weak, some sort of happiness being held by Rhea. No...No...get her away.

"From the moment you took hold of the Sword of the Creator, I knew that one day, the radiant power of Sothis, which bathes Fódlan in its celestial light, might reside within you." Byleth wanted to scream, so Rhea did know about Sothis from the very beginning. That did it, after this year at the officer's academy, which was already approaching its end, he was getting the hell out of here.

"But you are so much more than the light." Rhea said. "You are my…" she seemed to catch herself mid sentence.

"Close your eyes, dear one. Sleep, just a while longer. I will be watching over you, always, always and forever." Byleth, though he really didn't want to, nodded and closed his eyes.

Moon walked into the audience chamber a few days later, Byleth had gotten back up and had resumed teaching duties, but Rhea had called him up here early. Seteth was also there as well.

"If you wish to bother me at a time like this, I must ask why." Moon said.

"Ever since the foundation ball...we've noticed that you've been acting a bit more...unruly." Seteth said, his eyes narrowing. "What exactly are you hiding."

"I was just concerned about a timeline mishap." Moon replied calmly. "What I do regarding the timeline is none of your business. I simply advise you on what steps to take should you need to take to get the future you so deeply desire, Lady Rhea. Because after all, without her future, there is no future for me."

"I see…" Rhea said, before Seteth could quickly jump in and ask another question. "And...according to you, I must take Byleth to the Holy Tomb, beneath Garreg Mach. And, once there, we will finally see our dearest wishes to fruition?"

"Possibly…" Moon said. "According to my historical sources, what happens inside of the Holy Tomb with Byleth is...unknown, but, seeing has how the rest of the text does. Yes, I can guarantee to you that all your wishes, all your waiting, it will finally come true."

"Right, I shall accompany Byleth to the Holy Tomb...alone…"

"Not...quite." Moon interrupted. "I am going to insist that you take the Black Eagles with you. After all, such a glorious and triumphant event for Byleth would surely want to be watched by his students. I will not attend, for I am concerned that my presence may cause...a disturbance."

"That is understandable, it's nice to see you being reasonable." Seteth said.

A knock on the door and Byleth entered the room. He looked a bit tired, probably from being overrun with students asking him question after question about...everything.

"I have been awaiting your arrival, Professor." Rhea said. "Moon was just talking to us about what we must do, now that you have granted the gift of the goddess."

Byleth grunted as he looked at Moon, so much for wanting to not do what Rhea said.

"You must go to the Holy Tomb, so that you may receive a divine revelation from the goddess."

"The Holy Tomb is where the goddess's spirit sleeps." Seteth said, noticing Byleth's confusion. "This Monastery was originally built for the purpose of protecting that temple."

"Myself, along with most of your students will be accompanying you." Rhea said. "At the end of the month, we will go oversee your blessing. I'm so very proud of you, Professor." Rhea and Seteth both walked up and past him, leaving him in the room with Moon.

"Byleth, I know that you wish to now distance yourself from Rhea and leave the Monastery." Moon said, as Byleth opened his mouth to speak. "However, you will not be receiving a revelation from the goddess, you were wise to not say that you absorbed Sothis."

"Not telling Rhea that, not at all." Byleth said. "But, if I'm not getting a revelation, what will I-"

"You will be receiving a choice." Moon said. "You will have the choice to cut the path to Fódlan's new dawn. Also, I have something to ask of you."

"What?" Byleth asked.

"Edelgard wanted to know if you'd accompany me, Sapphire, and Hubert to Enbarr, she's going to be crowned Emperor a few days before your trip to the Holy Tomb."

Willow sighed as she stood up from behind the stove that she had to prepare soup on. She was foolish for not asking Sapphire to smuggle out food from the Monastery...at least then she could've given her mother a decent meal.

"Wi-Will-Willow?"

"I'm here mother, don't worry." she called over.

"D-Door, open...guests."

Willow frowned. Guests? At this time? Her mother never left the house, and it wasn't like any nobles from the Kingdom were eager to talk to her at the moment. The Church people couldn't possibly be back already...who would be here at a time like this.

Regardless, her mother was right next to a window to look out into the garden, so she was right when she heard a loud, rather obnoxious knock. Nothing like the formal stuff given by Lords and the Church.

She opened the door and was greeted to a rather...interesting sight. She was greeted with a boy who appeared to be around her age, he was rather chubby...that was being generous, quite a sore eyed sight if you asked her. At least he was dressed in a red and black striped suit of somesorts. Though, she couldn't see his eyes, since his messy golden hair draped down over it.

"Um...hello?" she said.

The boy gave a creepy little smile as he looked at her. "Hello, you wouldn't happen to be Willow Malum Giegue, would you?"

"Who's asking?"

"I'm...an old...family friend...name's Pokey, Pokey Minch."

Willow gave him a deadpan stare. "What do you want?" she spat. "Do we owe you money? Are you a suitor? A Church Ambassador? If you aren't a doctor, get the hell out of here!"

Pokey frowned. "Harsh, I was only asking if you could...provide me with some insight. I was told you house the Staff of Orcus? I was hoping that I could-"

"Sorry, but it's not for sale, and no, I'm not letting you come in and see it. Orcus is not a weapon for you, I'm sorry, but if you want to learn about my family's history, go see Lady Rhea." She then slammed the door in the boy's face and walked back to the window, only to watch Pokey stand there for a few minutes, she blinked, and he was gone.

"Wil-Willow? Wh-Who...was...that?"

"Someone looking for the Orcus staff...called himself an old family friend. His name was Pokey?"

Her mother looked more pale than usual. "Whe-Where's...the...staff?"

"I have it...don't worry." She took out a staff made out of a blue gemstones, it had a bloody red stone edged in at the top. "I...just...wish I knew how to use it...maybe he can?"

That's all for today's chapter. A few plans fell through, so I was finally able to get something up. Sorry about the lack of chapters, I needed a bit of time away from writing this story, I usually have chapters written in advance. So if I ever need a break, I can just slowly crank out an upload for a bit.

Anyway, the school year is starting up in one week, I'll probably get one more chapter of this story out before I have to slow production down on this. You never know what bullshit High School can throw at you, especially with the whole Online Learning where I live. I'm much more confident learning in a schoolroom where I can ask a teacher for help if I ever need it (Looking at those crummy prompt essays and research projects).

Seriously though, I'd love to go to a fictional school like Hogwarts, Beacon Academy, or Garreg Mach, Sure, the stuff they train you for there is dangerous and life threatening. But they make it look so fun.

Fun little Bound By Earth Fact; the Orcus Staff was originally meant to serve as a component to Saphria, Moon's special sword. Though, in theory, it seemed really complicated to try and justify giving Moon two special weapons at the time, even though Dyson, Erick, and Sarah all got their own. I haven't initially abandoned this idea, but, since I needed a name for the Giegue Hero's Relic, which I already decided would be a Staff in advance, I thought that just giving it the Orcus name would be better.

I'm fairly certain you all weren't expecting Pokey to make an appearance again, but, let's just say him and Moon have a...complex relationship.

Anyway, Sorry again that I'll have to slow uploads coming up, I'll try my hardest to get the next chapter out by next Sunday before we may see an upload drought.

As always, any thoughts you have are greatly appreciated, even if it's just saying great chapter.

FYI; I already decided that the chapter will end with Flame Emperor's reveal, and, as a bonus, I'll include an Omake dedicated to the reveal for the Blue Lions. The reveal won't make much sense without context, but the scene is just too good to be ignored.