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Verdant Wind
Fodlan's New Dawn
Day 4 of the Horsebow Moon
"Hey Ignatz, how's this look?" Raphael asked, flexing his muscles.
"Ooh, are we doing poses? I have a few cute ones I could try out," Hilda suggested brightly.
"Hang on, if this is a historical painting, shouldn't we look more...natural?" Leonie questioned with a small frown.
"No, no, it's fine. Keep posing, Raphael," Ignatz laughed. "It adds more character to the picture, you know?"
It had been several days since the Fell King Nemesis had been defeated and peace had finally returned to Fodlan. There were still a few loose ends to tie up, including a handful of high ranking imperial loyalists trying to resist annexation as well as instability within the Faerghus region. But with the main threat quelled and Claude set to become king of this new unified Fodlan, they were finally on the road to recovery.
Currently, the Golden Deer and their allies were assembled in the Cathedral at the request of Ignatz, who had spent the last thirty minutes sketching their likeness in preparation for his newest painting, 'Fodlan's New Dawn' featuring the Alliance and Church of Seiros in their moment of triumph. Standing center of the group was Claude, the leader of the Alliance who would now lead all of Fodlan to prosperity. Next to him was his right-hand, the professor, whose contributions made their victory possible.
"Poses, hm? Ah! How about this?" Lorenz proposed, placing his hand to his chin. "It looks quite distinguished, wouldn't you say? As if I am deep in thought, contemplating the future of Fodlan."
"Heh, it's very fitting Lorenz," Ignatz chuckled.
"Oh, perhaps a more intimidating stance!" Flayn added, making an angry face and positioning her hands like outstretched claws
"You...want me to paint you like a pouncing tiger?" Ignatz asked with a confused frown.
"No, I wish to be depicted as 'fierce'. Do you not recall?"
"I suppose, but I'm not sure if 'fierce' is appropriate in this situation..." Ignatz muttered.
"I want all who look back on this painting to know of my ferocity in battle!" Flayn insisted.
"Uh, Ignatz, how long is this going to take?" Lysithea asked tensely. She didn't like standing around doing nothing for prolonged periods of time.
"The painting? Oh, two to three weeks, I imagine," Ignatz estimated.
"Two to three weeks?!" Lysithea exclaimed. "That's far too long!"
"Quite right," Seteth added in agreement as he forced Flayn's arms back down, much to her annoyance. "We are creating the foundation for a new age, we cannot afford to stand idly about while Fodlan is at the brink of collapse."
"Oh no, don't worry, I won't keep you here for nearly that long," Ignatz assured them. "I'm only preparing sketches that I'll use for reference when I make the final piece. The official painting will depict us during the coronation ceremony."
"Besides, this is exactly the sort of thing Fodlan needs to boost the people's morale," Claude pointed out.
"I...suppose you do have a point," Seteth admitted with some reluctance. "Very well, for the future of Fodlan, let us make this a truly inspiring masterpiece."
"That's the spirit!" Ignatz cheered. "Shamir, do you think you could move a little closer to the group?"
"Must I? ...Fine," Shamir sighed.
"You sure know how to kill the mood, don't you Shamir?" Catherine laughed.
"Hmph."
"Marianne, do you think you could smile for just one moment?" Ignatz requested.
"Oh! L-Like this?" Marianne asked, making her best attempt to smile.
"Almost but try making it less...forced," Ignatz said tentatively.
"Forced?"
"Like this, Marianne!" Hilda cheered, making a silly expression.
"O-Oh, I see now." Marianne said, smiling widely as she giggled in response.
"Just like that!" Ignatz nodded encouragingly.
"Marvelous." Lorenz added endearingly.
"I'm almost done, it shouldn't be much longer." Ignatz assured them.
The room was quiet again as Ignatz resumed his sketches.
"Well, I'm bored..." Hilda sighed. "Does anyone have something they want to talk about while we wait?"
"Hmm, we could discuss our plans after the monastery," Claude suggested.
"Ooh, good idea!" Hilda said. "Although I guess your next move is obvious, Claude. You being Fodlan's new leader and all. It's too bad, I was really looking forward to visiting your hometown."
"Oh, still interested, are you?" Claude smirked. "I'll have to consider that the next time I visit."
"And what about you, Lorenz? What will you do when you return home?" Hilda asked.
"I'm afraid I won't have any time for celebration. The raids conducted by Nemesis have left Gloucester territory in shambles," Lorenz hummed softly in thought. "In addition, my father chose to flee during the assault when his people needed him most. This has earned him a bad rapport with the common folk."
Lorenz let out a tense sigh, but retained his composure as he resumed speaking.
"As such, I must begin preparations to succeed him as Count Gloucester. After which I intend to restore my territory as well as the people's faith in the nobility...and to that end, I will need to ally myself with capable individuals." Lorenz smiled as he glanced towards the others. "Raphael, Ignatz, would the two of you consider joining my house as Knights of Gloucester?"
"W-Woah, really?! You would take me as a knight?!" Raphael exclaimed excitedly.
"Certainly. Although you will need to work on your...courtly manners, you have shown yourself to be a capable warrior and a stalwart friend. Can I count on you, Raphael?" Lorenz asked with a pleasant smile.
"Of course!" Raphael exclaimed. "Don't you worry, I'll be the courtliest knight you've ever seen!"
"Wonderful." Lorenz beamed. "And what about you, Ignatz? Will you accept my offer as well?"
"Oh! ...Hmm..." Ignatz paused for a moment in the middle of his sketches. "I'm sorry, Lorenz, but I'm afraid I must refuse. Once I have finished this piece, I'm hoping to draw acclaim and convince my father to let me follow my artistic passion."
"Ah, I see...well, that is certainly a loss for House Gloucester, but I suppose it wouldn't be fitting to keep your talent all to myself." Lorenz chuckled. "Yes, for the good of Fodlan, you must continue to pursue your dream."
"Way to go, Ignatz!" Leonie congratulated. "As for me, I plan to resume my mercenary work. There's still plenty to be done in the aftermath of all this. How about you, Shamir? Do you intend to continue your life as a mercenary too?"
"That remains to be seen," Shamir said shortly. "There's little reason for me to remain in Fodlan, so I may continue my travels."
"Hold on, you're leaving the knights?!" Catherine objected.
"I am," Shamir said. "I repaid my debt to Rhea and the war is finished. And you? Will you stay when Rhea is no longer around?"
"I..." Catherine paused. "...I'm not sure."
Tension filled the room at the grim reminder that Rhea wouldn't be around for much longer.
"With the Archbishop gone, many of her duties shall fall to me..." Seteth sighed. "And the burden of restoring the church will be mine to bear."
"Fear not, Brother. I shall assist you however I can," Flayn promised.
"Thank you, Flayn. And although postwar duties shall keep me preoccupied, I intend to stay by Rhea's side whenever possible."
"Yeah...me too..." Catherine sighed.
"And what of you, Alois? Will you continue your service to the goddess?" Seteth asked.
"Now that this war is finally over, I really ought to visit my family," Alois considered. "But with Garreg Mach rebuilt, I'm sure they will move back into town. After that, I intend to carry on the captain's legacy!"
"That is understandable." Seteth nodded. "I will seek out a temporary replacement to fill in for your duties while you are gone."
Hilda turned to Lysithea next, a mischievous smile on her face.
"Sooo, Lysithea...any special plans?" Hilda asked in a playful tone.
"Nope." Lysithea said, her flat tone masking her annoyance.
Ever since Lystithea's run-in with Claude in the library, it was evident that he had shared some of the details of their conversation with Hilda, who was now taking every opportunity to make suggestive comments regarding her non-existent love life with the professor.
"My only goal is to help my parents and my people," Lysithea explained. "After Nemesis' raid on the Hrym and Gloucester territories, things have become particularly unstable. Because of this there's been a notable increase in bandit attacks. I doubt I can even stay long enough to attend the coronation ceremony."
It was at Claude's suggestion and with Seteth's approval that the coronation ceremony was set to take place on Day 20 of the Horsebow Moon over two weeks from now. This would give the church enough time to finish restoring the cathedral, where the coronation would take place, and allow the messengers to spread the word of the coming event. For Lysithea, however, this would be too long a wait.
"I'm not sure if I will be able to take part either..." Marianne sighed sadly. "My adoptive father wishes me to come home right away. Apparently, I'm being hailed as a sort of hero."
"Well that's good, isn't it?" Leonie asked. "It sounds like he's finally starting to appreciate you."
"I-I suppose that's true, but...I was hoping I could stay here just a little longer..." Marianne mumbled.
"If that's the case, then attend the coronation as the representative of House Edmund." Lorenz suggested.
"Huh?" Marianne frowned in confusion.
"You are here to pledge House Edmund's support to Fodlan's new leader and forge connections with the other noble houses." Lorenz explained. "Margrave Edmund is reasonable, I'm certain if you make your case from a diplomatic perspective, he will come to an agreement."
"Oh! That's a wonderful idea! Thank you, Lorenz," Marianne said sweetly.
"Haha, no need for accolades. I am merely doing my duty, after all," Lorenz chuckled. "Which reminds me, what are your plans, Professor? Where will you go when we have concluded our business?"
Everyone turned to face Byleth, who had been silent this entire time.
"...I'm also headed to Ordelia territory," Byleth said after a slight pause.
"Is that so?" Claude asked with an amused smirk.
"The professor's assisting me, offering his services as a mercenary while I aid my parents in political affairs," Lysithea interjected, blushing slightly when Hilda let out an audible 'aww'.
"Returning to the mercenary life, huh? I'll admit, I'm surprised," Shamir said. "I always thought you would be roped into politics."
"Oh, but you will attend the coronation ceremony, won't you, Professor?" Flayn pleaded.
Byleth gave a small smile, but simply shook his head.
"We'll be leaving in a few days," Byleth replied.
Claude's amused expression immediately faded as he and Seteth exchanged worried glances.
"Hold on a moment, Teach...you don't really mean that do you?" Claude protested.
"The war is over; I'm no longer needed," Byleth stated.
"But Teach we do need—"
"My role was on the battlefield; I'm not cut out for politics," Byleth insisted in a polite but firm tone.
"Ha! I expected as much," Lorenz chuckled. "Ordinarily I would extend my offer of knighthood to you as well, Professor. But alas, it would seem you are destined for greater things."
"You know, I wouldn't mind doing mercenary work with you someday—if you're up for it," Leonie offered. "I'm sure many of the mercenaries from Jeralt's group would be happy to see you too."
Byleth nodded.
"I'll keep that in mind."
"I'm afraid that will not do," Seteth said disapprovingly. "For your role in all of this, it is vital that you maintain a presence during the ceremony."
"Oh, come on, ease up," Hilda said defensively. "Hasn't the professor done enough? It's not as though you need him for this, do you?"
"We've all been working really hard lately, but out of all of us, the professor's been working the hardest," Raphael added. "It's time we started carrying some of that weight so the professor can rest up."
"That's..." Claude hesitated for a moment. "Teach, we've made it this far. I'm begging you, please lend me your support just one last time."
"I'm sorry, Claude, but our journey ends here," Byleth said, shaking his head with a patient smile.
"Aaand done," Ignatz hummed. "I think that's all the sketches I'll need for now. Thank you so much for your help, everyone. You're free to go."
"Oof finally..." Hilda sighed. "Come on, Marianne, let's go sample some pastries!"
"Oh, OK!" Marianne said.
"How about you, Lysithea? Wanna tag along?" Hilda offered.
"I...uh..." Lysithea paused, glancing to Byleth who simply nodded. "Yes, I'll be right there!"
"I'll meet you in the library later." Byleth whispered in her ear before exiting the Cathedral along with the others.
While the others made their way out of the Cathedral, however, Claude and Seteth stayed behind.
"This does not bode well..." Seteth muttered when he and Claude were the only two remaining.
"Yeah, I know. That wasn't the sort of response I was expecting," Claude sighed.
"You will have to tell him the truth."
"I'll find a time and place for it, don't worry."
"Mmm, mm... these are delicious..." Lysithea sighed contently, stuffing her face with pastries as she sat with Hilda and Marianne under the gazebo.
"Woah! Slow down, Lysithea!" Hilda exclaimed. "Leave some for the rest of us, OK?"
"Err...sorry," Lysithea mumbled awkwardly, wiping a bit of frosting from her cheek.
"No need for apologies. I'm glad you came," Hilda said brightly. "Marianne was just telling me the other day how much she missed you."
Lysithea raised an eyebrow and glanced towards Marianne.
"Oh, um...it's just with the war coming to end, there will soon come a time when we all part ways..." Marianne said quietly. "You're always so busy studying with the professor and I—well...I thought this might be our last chance to see you."
"I know just what you mean..." Lysithea sighed. "The thought has weighed heavily on my mind as well."
Lysithea's shortened lifespan wasn't the only thing she was worried about. Even if she and the professor managed to find a cure, there was still the matter of restoring her territory and renouncing her nobility. Once Lysithea saw to her family' dissolution, she would no longer be a noble woman, but a commoner. And a commoner like herself wouldn't have much opportunity to associate with the nobility, such as Hilda or Marianne.
"You know, when this is all over, we should take the opportunity to meet up from time to time," Hilda suggested.
"It would be nice to have a peaceful class reunion." Lysithea nodded. "But with the state Ordelia territory's in, I can hardly afford to travel."
"That's fine, we can just meet up at your estate," Hilda suggested cheerfully.
"We can visit the professor too," Marianne added with a soft smile.
"Oh, that's right! The professor did say that's where he was headed, didn't he? Will he be staying with you, Lysithea?" Hilda asked.
"I—hmmm..." Lysithea frowned. "I...hadn't given it much thought. I guess I'd better ask him during our next study session."
"Now that you mention it, you two sure do a lot of studying," Hilda noted. "The war's over, silly! This is your chance to relax, take a break for once!"
"Hmph. That might be all well and good for someone like you, but I have more important things to attend to," Lysithea said a little impatiently.
"Someone like me? What does that mean? And what sort of things?" Hilda asked.
"The sort of things you would understand if you took any responsibility in your life," Lysithea replied.
"What?! I have plenty of responsibilities!" Hilda pouted.
"Anyway, I'm studying in preparation to help my parents."
"And the professor?"
"He's assisting me, of course."
Hilda and Marianne side-eyed each other briefly before turning back to Lysithea.
"The professor...is helping you study economics and diplomacy?" Marianne asked, frowning in confusion.
"I...uhh—" Lysithea froze. Even Marianne had been able to see through that lie.
"Wait a second, I see what's going on here," Hilda said with a mischievous smile.
"Y-You do?" Lysithea stuttered nervously.
"Yes!" Hilda affirmed. "The reason you're always studying...is to prepare the professor for when he marries into House Ordelia, right?"
"Marriage?!" Lysithea exclaimed, looking flabbergasted. "I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about."
"Oh, but it's true, isn't it?" Hilda pressed excitedly. "Admit it, the two of you are secretly engaged!"
"Ugh, will you knock it off already?" Lysithea grumbled. "There is nothing going on between us."
"But there is !" Hilda insisted. "Claude told me all about it! Come on, there's no need to be embarrassed, I only want to help."
"Have you even been listening to a word I've said?!" Lysithea exclaimed angrily. "For the last time, I don't need your help and I don't appreciate you prying into my personal life."
"But I don't understand why—"
"Hilda!" Marianne interrupted.
Hilda paused and glanced to Lysithea, now realizing that her comments hadn't merely left Lysithea feeling flustered, but genuinely upset. Her head was lowered, she bore an intense frown on her face, and she was shaking slightly. Lysithea's bangs fell over her eyes, making it difficult to tell if she was crying or not.
"Oh, I...did I say something wrong?" Hilda asked tentatively.
"I should be going now. Thanks for the sweets," Lysithea muttered, rising from her chair.
"Lysithea wait—" Hilda called out, but it was too late, she was already gone.
Verdant Wind
Fodlan's New Dawn
Day 6 of the Horsebow Moon
"Lysithea, do either of your parents have a Crest?" Byleth asked as he continued his note taking.
"My parents? No, they don't. Crests are strong in my family's bloodline, but my father was born without one and he married a commoner," Lysithea explained. "His brother was meant to be heir to House Ordelia but...well, when the Empire came, he was put to death along with the others. My father was only spared because he played no role in house politics at the time. Neither of my parents were prepared for the struggles of governance and even now, they don't have any family members they can rely on for help so..."
"...You want to be the sort of person they can rely on." Byleth finished.
"Yes." Lysithea nodded, grateful towards the professor's understanding. "But why are you asking?"
"We need Crest-bearing blood for our experiments," Byleth responded. "Even if Hanneman's gone, I'm not sure it's OK to take the Church's blood samples with us."
During the Alliance's raid on Shambhala, Byleth and Lysithea had scoured the various research facilities of Those Who Slither in the Dark, seeking out any information that would aid them in their goal to remove Lysithea's Crests. Although they never found research notes on the experiments conducted in Ordelia territory, they did discover various texts on ancient blood magic techniques that had the potential to cure Lysithea.
At the moment, the two of them were conducting their research in the privacy of Byleth's room. While Byleth studied the ancient blood rituals of Those Who Slithered in the Dark, Lysithea was developing a serum referenced in the documents they found. Supposedly this serum could be used as a poison to temporarily dampen the power of Crests. It would be instrumental in performing the blood ritual that would save Lysithea.
"We have to. It's the only way we can obtain the blood discreetly," Lysithea said. "Speaking of which, have you made any progress with your research?"
"I can convert Major Crest blood into energy now," Byleth said encouragingly. "But without the serum, I can't practice the ritual. What about you? Any progress?"
"No..." Lysithea grumbled.
"Didn't you say you had the formula figured out?"
"I did! ...Or I thought I did..." Lysithea sighed. "It worked when I tested it on a blood sample containing the Crest of Charon. But oddly it failed with the Crest of Gloucester."
"Is it possible that different Crests require different formulas?"
"You're probably right." Lysithea nodded. "I did stumble across other formulas during my research, but the terminology they use is completely different from our own. It will be hard to decipher what ingredients will be required."
"The greenhouse should provide us with anything we'll need."
"That's true. And while I'm no botanist, I'm sure the library could give us some clues as well. But it will take time."
Byleth frowned for a moment and placed a hand to his chin.
"We should consider staying longer and taking advantage of the monastery's resources," Byleth proposed.
"Perhaps, but since we're on the subject there's...something I've been meaning to ask," Lysithea said, her face turning a faint pink.
"Alright, let's hear it."
"Err, I was wondering...were planning to stay with me once we returned to Ordelia territory?"
"...Would that be OK?" Byleth asked after a moment of hesitation.
Byleth was still inexperienced when it came to social norms and personal relationships, particularly those that involved the opposite sex. But after all this time even he was aware how...questionable it was to sleep under the same roof with a woman he wasn't married to.
"I wouldn't raise any objections—I-I mean it's not like you have anywhere else you could stay." Lysithea said in a slightly flustered tone. "But I should probably write a letter to my parents if that's your intention. Actually, even if it isn't, I should send them a letter anyway."
"You haven't told them about our research?" Byleth asked with a small frown
"No...and it's better that they never find out," Lysithea muttered. "So, for now, we'll simply tell them that I've hired you on as a mercenary."
"...Because you don't want them to know that you're afraid of dying?" Byleth suggested shrewdly.
"I-I—no!" Lysithea stammered. "I just...don't want to give them false hope, in case things don't work out."
Lysithea swallowed nervously. The professor knew his students better than anyone, but sometimes it was unsettling just how well he knew them. As though he could read her mind. But thankfully Byleth nodded, seemingly content with her answer. For the first time, Lysithea had managed to successfully fib to him. Or so she thought.
"Anyway, I can provide you with the working formula I have, if you think it will help," Lysithea offered.
"It would. And I'll also need a blood sample from you," Byleth requested.
"A...blood sample?"
"Your blood is more powerful than anything I've worked with. I'll need to practice with it."
"I suppose that makes sense, but um...would you mind using your blood instead?" Lysithea pleaded with a slight shudder. "Spilling my own makes me feel...queasy."
"I can't. My blood doesn't bear a Crest."
"Huh? But how can that be? You bear the Crest of Flames, don't you?"
"My Crest comes from the Crest Stone Rhea implanted in me when I was a baby," Byleth explained. "It doesn't flow through my blood like yours."
"Oh...I see..." Lysithea said with a dejected sigh. "Well, I guess it is my blood you'll be dealing with in the end."
"Do you need time?"
"No...l-let's get this over with," Lysithea said shakily. "Um, do you mind helping me out, please?"
Byleth nodded and Lysithea rolled up her sleeve before extending her right arm, shivering slightly as dark childhood memories resurfaced. Byleth held her trembling hand in his unusually warm one, staring her into her eyes as he did so. Lysithea blushed and turned away, both embarrassed and comforted by this gesture.
"Just make it quick, OK?"
"I will," Byleth assured her, pulling out his dagger with his free hand.
Lysithea closed her eyes, bracing herself for pain but...it never came. After nearly a minute of waiting, Lysithea opened her eyes once again and turned towards her professor.
"Professor, I'm ready."
"I've already finished," Byleth said, pointing to a small vial of blood on his desk.
"Wait—what?!" Lysithea exclaimed, withdrawing her hand and inspecting herself.
There was no sign of a cut, nor any bleeding on her arm or sleeve. Were it not for Byleth cleaning his bloodied dagger, Lysithea would have thought he was pulling some kind of trick on her.
"I didn't even feel it..." Lysithea muttered. "You...have learned white magic remarkably quickly, considering you grew up without the church."
"You said blood magic was dangerous. It's important that I can heal you if things go wrong."
"Hm, good point. Anyway, I should get started on that letter. Would you mind brewing us some more tea while I do that?"
Byleth nodded, grabbing the nearby teapot and refilling it with water before applying fire magic to steadily heat it up.
"Oh and what should I tell my parents about compensating you?" Lysithea asked.
"Room and board are enough; you don't need to pay me," Byleth said, dismissively.
"That's unacceptable, Professor," Lysithea objected. "Now that the war's over, you need to consider your financial situation. Just tell me your usual fee and we'll pay you, don't worry."
"...I don't know," Byleth said after a slight pause. "Jeralt always handled all the money."
"Hm, yes. I think you mentioned that before..." Lysithea said with a small frown. "But surely you have some idea from your previous contract negotiations."
"Jeralt handled those too."
"Did you learn anything from watching him?"
"I was never around. He always kept me away from people."
Lysithea gave Byleth a concerned look, remembering him once saying something similar five years ago.
"Professor that's...awful," Lysithea said sympathetically.
Lysithea had always admired and respected her professor, even seeing him as something as a role model back in the academy...it was only now starting to dawn on her just how young and inexperienced he really was. Byleth was always so focused on taking care of her but...if he was taking care of her, then who was taking care of him?
"You really ought to start considering your future," Lysithea continued in a worried tone. "Have you given it any thought?"
"I have." Byleth confirmed with a nod.
This was mostly true, but Byleth had no desire to divulge the details to Lysithea. At least not yet. Before their battle with Nemesis, he had paid a visit to his parent's grave and vowed then and there that he wouldn't let Lysithea die an early death. That he wouldn't lose her the same way Jeralt had lost Sitri. Once Lysithea was cured, Byleth planned to propose immediately afterwards and pass on Sitri's ring, just as his father had always wanted.
"Do you intend to resume your mercenary work?" Lysithea asked.
"I've considered it." Byleth said vaguely.
Continuing his life as a mercenary was one option and probably the most financially stable. Even if Byleth lacked social experience, he had built plenty of connections with the nobility that he could use to find contracts. However, as powerful as Lysithea was, Byleth doubted that the nomadic lifestyle of a mercenary would suit her. Not to mention it was a less than ideal environment to raise a family.
Alternatively, the two of them could become knights. It wasn't as lucrative as mercenary work, but it was certainly more stable and Byleth was sure that one of his students or the Church would take them in. With the Church in mind, it was also possible that the Officers Academy would reopen and the two of them could become professors. Likely a more suitable option considering their talents. Or perhaps the two of them could find a place to settle down and sell sweets...Lysithea would like that.
"Professor...are you smiling?" Lysithea asked, mirroring his smile with one of her own. "What's on your mind?"
"It's nothing. I just—"
Knock knock knock!
"Professor? Are ya there?" A voice called out.
"What is it?" Byleth asked, opening the door.
It was Cyril.
"Oh, there ya are! I came to deliver a letter," Cyril said, pulling out a note and reading it aloud. " 'Let's meet up at the Goddess Tower at midnight. Come alone.' That's what it says. Kinda strange, isn't it?"
Byleth nodded, but Lysithea gave Cyril a look of disapproval.
"Cyril! You can't read someone's mail!" Lysithea scolded.
"Huh? But you told me I should read whenever I can," Cyril said, tilting his head in confusion.
"Yes, but you can't read another person's mail, it's an invasion of privacy!"
"Ah, I get ya. I should ask first, is that it?" Cyril said, causing Lysithea to sigh in response.
"Thank you," Byleth said politely.
"Alright then, see ya later," Cyril said, turning to leave.
"Oh! Wait, do you think you could deliver this for me?" Lysithea asked.
"Sure thing, Lysithea," Cyril said, giving her a moment to hastily write a letter and tie it into a scroll.
"Thanks, Cyril," Lysithea said, offering him the scroll.
"Alright, I'll get this delivered quick."
Byleth shut the door behind Cyril as he headed out and glanced back to the note.
"'Goddess Tower at midnight,'" Byleth repeated.
"It's unsigned..." Lysithea noted, glancing over his shoulder.
"It's from Claude."
"Hm? How do you know that, Professor?"
"I've graded enough papers to recognize my student's handwriting."
"Ah, that makes sense but—hold on a moment, does that mean you knew who was sending you those messages in the Advice Box?!" Lysithea blurted out, her face going red.
Byleth intentionally chose to ignore this, instead glancing to his desk where Lysithea's letter to her parents remained unfinished.
"Lysithea, you didn't give him the letter," Byleth pointed out.
"That will have to wait until later." Lysithea sighed. "I need more time to explain the situation to my parents."
"Then what did you give to Cyril?"
"Just some...final words."
:::
Meanwhile, as Cyril left to resume his duties, he glanced towards the scroll Lysithea had given him.
"Now who's this for?" Cyril wondered, glancing down at the name. " 'To Ci...cey...ril...' oh! Cyril! That's me, right? She addressed this to me...so I can read it, yeah? Huh...now why would she write a letter if I was standing right there?"
Cyril frowned for a moment in confusion, wondering if there had been a mistake, but merely shrugged his shoulders and untied the scroll. He glanced down towards the contents of the message and read them out loud.
"'Dear...Cyril. You are work...working so hard and I am pr—proud. You have...so much pot...poten-tie-all.' Oh! Potential, OK. Let's see... 'I hope you...apply yourself. I be...beli…eveh in—believe in you. From Ly...sit...he—Lysithea! From Lysithea!'" Cyril finished. "...Wow. That's real nice of her to write those things. ...Huh, but how do I 'apply' myself? Well...I guess I could do more work until Lady Rhea gets better."
Later that night, Byleth made his way to the Goddess Tower, which was notably unguarded. This was likely done on Claude's orders to ensure privacy between himself and his professor. Byleth sighed as he made his way inside the tower and up the staircase. Knowing Claude, his former student was likely planning to coax him into doing something ceremonial or political. That's what Claude usually did whenever the two of them were alone.
Upon reaching the top of the Goddess Tower, Byleth's gaze fell upon a familiar scene. Claude stood before an open door, bathed in moonlight as he stared out into the night sky. He looked distinctly similar to how he did when Byleth found him here all those months ago during their reunion.
"Ah, Teach, I'm glad you could make it," Claude said, turning his head and smiling just as sincerely as he had then.
"You called?" Byleth asked, returning Claude's smile despite his apprehension.
"I did. I was hoping we could talk," Claude said, beckoning Byleth over.
Byleth nodded and stood side by side with Claude, gazing outside the balcony. The Goddess Tower was one of the highest points in Fodlan, from here you could see all of Garreg Mach, including the nearby town beneath the starry sky.
"Incredible view, eh? It's thanks to your hard work that this bountiful land can once again know peace."
"It's not over yet," Byleth said wearily.
"True." Claude nodded. "There's still much to do before Fodlan can become a stable and unified country. Once the coronation ceremony is complete, a new ruling system will be founded, and we can begin developing a new value system for the people."
'Here he goes with the 'we' again...' Byleth thought.
Byleth didn't respond. He knew what Claude was going to say next. He was going to ask Byleth to attend the coronation ceremony and offer 'spiritual support' in place of Rhea or 'raise the people's morale' or something to that effect. But Byleth wasn't going to do it. Not this time. He had protected his students and helped Claude complete his objective...and now he had his own goal to see to.
"Two weeks from now," Claude continued after a few moments. "Day 20 of the Horsebow Moon. Do you know the significance of that date, Teach?"
"It's the day you're crowned king?" Byleth answered, unable to think of anything else.
For some reason, Claude burst out laughing at this response and Byleth turned to him in confusion.
"Teach! It's your birthday!" Claude exclaimed.
"...What?"
Byleth turned towards Claude, raising his eyebrows in perplexion.
"It was in Jeralt's diary, remember?" Claude said. "Day 20 of the Horsebow Moon...that was the day you were born. And it's because of you that Fodlan can finally know peace and unity. What better day to celebrate Fodlan's New Dawn than the birthday of its savior? ...How old will you be anyway?"
"I have no idea..." Byleth muttered.
19? 22? 26? 27? Due to the way Jeralt raised him, Byleth always had a hard time remembering how old he was supposed to be. And spending five years asleep only made the situation even more complicated.
"By the time you're forgetting your own age, you're past the point of caring."
That was an accurate way to describe how Byleth felt at the moment. And more importantly, what was Claude playing at? Was setting up the coronation on the day of his birth Claude's way of emotionally manipulating him into attending the ceremony? Well, it wasn't going to work.
"You never change, Teach," Claude smirked. "Anyway, the reason I called you here was because I wanted to discuss your birthday gift."
"My...gift?" Byleth repeated slowly.
"I've been thinking about it for a while now and I believe I've found the perfect gift for our favorite professor," Claude winked. "I know it's a bit early but...here you go."
Claude simply pointed out the window and Byleth stared in bewilderment
"...I'm giving you all of Fodlan, Teach." Claude said with a small smile.
"What are you talking about?" Byleth frowned.
"On the day of the coronation ceremony, you will be the one who is crowned king." Claude explained. "But unfortunately...this is also where my path diverges from yours."
Claude exhaled for a moment before letting out a loud whistle, summoning his white wyvern to the tower. As the wyvern perched by its master's side, Byleth stared on in disbelief. King?! He didn't want to be king—no, he couldn't be king! Byleth didn't know how to be a ruler! And if he was king, then Lysithea...he wouldn't be able to—
"No," Byleth said in an unusually firm tone.
Claude paused as he approached his pet and sighed, having expected some reluctance.
"I can't stay here, Teach." Claude said gently. "I've done all I can for Fodlan, but there's more that I need to accomplish. I must return to my homeland."
"You're running away."
Claude bristled at this. There was something accusatory about the way Teach said this...as if he were suggesting that Claude was some sort of coward, fleeing from responsibility.
"I'm not running away." Claude said as patiently as he could. "The people of Fodlan have you. You're the successor Rhea appointed, and you're also the hero who saved Fodlan. The people want to see you on the throne, Teach, not me."
"You set me up."
Claude frowned. Now he was definitely being called out.
"Teach, I promise I wouldn't—" Claude started.
"You used me as a symbol for your war. For your agenda." Byleth interrupted. "You made me into a public figure so Fodlan would have someone to turn to when you abandoned them."
"I did this for you, Teach!" Claude exclaimed.
Claude wasn't lying when he said this.
"You did this for yourself, Claude." Byleth stated.
...But he wasn't telling the entire truth either.
"Teach I...I thought you wanted this." Claude said with a small frown.
"Why would you think that?" Byleth asked, arms folded.
"You once told me how happy you were to be our professor. That we were your first friends and that guiding us was the most meaningful thing you ever did in your life." Claude elaborated. "Well isn't this the same? The people of Fodlan look up to you. They rely on you. And you'll guide them the same way you guided us. In a way...you will be the professor for all of Fodlan."
Byleth's expression softened a bit. He hadn't thought of it that way. There was some truth to what Claude said. Whether he was good at it or not, guiding his students was what filled his life with purpose. It was helping others that gave him a sense of personal worth and value. Claude noticed this shift in demeanor and immediately capitalized on it.
"What's more, with this position you'll be able to keep in touch with the Golden Deer." Claude added. "Think about it, all of your students—even the commoners—are going into high places. Nobles, knights, renown professionals in their field...the sort of people you wouldn't often interact with unless you also held status. You will be working with them to rebuild Fodlan. Admit it, Teach, this is the best situation you could ask for."
"...You're right," Byleth confessed after a short pause. "This is ideal."
"I knew you'd understand." Claude said with a satisfied smile, offering his hand.
Byleth didn't take it. He did understand and, if the situation had been different, he might have seen things Claude's way and accepted the role of ruler. A life where he could help others and stay close to his students was a dream come true, but with the way things were...
"I still can't accept," Byleth said flatly.
Claude blinked, tilting his head and staring at Byleth with a disapproving frown.
"I don't get it, Teach. You...just agreed with me, didn't you?"
"You're right. You don't get it." Byleth sighed wearily, fully aware that Claude couldn't truly understand the situation without knowing Lysithea's plight.
"And what does that mean?"
"It means I'm making my own decisions now. And I promised Lysithea I would help her."
"And you still can," Claude assured him. "With the power you wield, you'll be able to supply Ordelia Territory with all the troops and funds they could ever need. Lysithea will have her territory restored in no time! ...And then you'll have her at your side. You won't need to handle this alone."
Claude gave a reassuring smile that Byleth didn't return. It was clear that Claude had given the situation a lot of thought, but for Byleth, fulfilling the promise he made to Lysithea, to Jeralt, and to himself was the most important thing right now.
"I'm not going to be ruler," Byleth reaffirmed.
Claude frowned sternly at his professor who—from Claude's perspective—was being completely unreasonable at the moment, before climbing onto his wyvern and mounting himself on its back.
"It's already been decided, Teach." Claude said in a firm tone.
"By you. By Seteth. By Rhea. By everyone who has taken control of my life."
Claude lowered his gaze. He didn't have a good rebuttal to this.
"I'm sorry..." Claude muttered.
He meant it.
"Sorry enough to take responsibility for the kingdom you founded?" Byleth asked.
"No."
"If you leave now, Fodlan will be left without a ruler and will fall into chaos." Byleth warned him.
"It won't. Because in the end, I know you will do the right thing, Teach. ...You always do."
"Like you're doing, Claude?"
"I hoped we would have parted on better terms." Claude sighed bitterly. "But this is something I must do. In the end, my conscience is clear."
"And what do I tell the others?"
"Whatever suits you, Teach," Claude said with a sad, fake smile. "Say I ran away from my responsibilities if that makes you feel better. But...I do have one request."
Byleth grimaced. Claude was hardly in a position to request anything of him right now.
"What is it?" Byleth asked.
"This is for Hilda." Claude said, tossing Byleth a scroll. "Deliver this to her in secret as soon as you can, OK? It's for her eyes only."
Byleth didn't say a thing, catching the scroll and accidentally crumpling it in his frustration.
"Thank you...for everything," Claude said with a weak grin. "I know you're not happy with me right now, but the next time we meet...I hope you will still consider yourself to be my Teach. Until then, farewell my friend."
With that, Claude's wyvern took off to the sky. As the white beast flew away, Claude waved his final goodbye as he left Fodlan...and Byleth behind.