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Verdant Wind
Fodlan's New Dawn
Day 17 of the Horsebow Moon
"I don't understand..." Byleth murmured in confusion as the Crest Analyzer scanned Lysithea's hand and displayed her Crests once again.
"I told you, Professor. My Crests...I...they still reside within me," Lysithea sighed softly.
"That can't be true." Byleth frowned. "They were gone last night."
"I thought they were," Lysithea mumbled. "But clearly that's not the case. We...couldn't remove them."
"But we did remove them," Byleth insisted stubbornly. "You couldn't display them before."
"No, I couldn't but...I think I now understand why that is." Lysithea said. "You see, my Crests never truly disappeared, they only—"
"That can't be it," Byleth interrupted, a rare trace of panic in his voice. "Maybe I made a mistake during the ritual. We can try—"
"Will you just listen to me?" Lysithea snapped, trying to keep an even tone.
Byleth went quiet and Lysithea sighed again before continuing.
"During the ritual, you were able to draw out all of the Crest power from my body. My blood no longer bears a Crest." Lysithea explained patiently. "Because of this, I am unable to manifest my Crests or wield their power. But they...my Crests can't truly be removed. They're...part of who I am, Professor."
"What are you saying?" Byleth asked slowly.
"My blood currently doesn't possess a Crest...but in time, my body will create new Crest-bearing blood. I don't know how long that will take, but when it happens, I will be burdened with their strain once again..."
"...I see." Byleth murmured softly, sitting into a nearby chair and staring into his lap.
He looked so...lost. Lost, scared and confused. Seeing the professor in such a vulnerable state was heartbreaking. Lysithea knew Byleth well enough to understand that he was the sort of person who was determined to find an answer to every problem, and she was sure that at this moment he was desperately wracking his brain to find another solution for her predicament.
But...there was no solution this time. And Byleth, who struggled to accept this, was looking more and more defeated by the second. The last time Lysithea had seen Byleth look this miserable was when his father had died. And, despite her best efforts, she couldn't help but feel responsible...that she was the cause of this pain.
"I'm so sorry, Professor..." Lysithea whispered shakily, tears welling in her eyes.
Byleth quickly composed himself and placed a comforting hand on Lysithea's shoulder, not wanting her to see him in such a broken state.
"It's not too late. We can still find a way," Byleth reassured her.
This, however, did not have the comforting effect that Byleth had hoped for. In fact, Lysithea was a little horrified to hear him say this. ...It was over. Did he not realize that? They had tried their hardest, but removing her Crests simply couldn't be done. Was the professor in denial of their situation?
"Professor...it is too late," Lysithea said softly.
"There's still time," Byleth insisted.
"The coronation is in three days." Lysithea reminded him. "How do you plan to cure me by then?"
Byleth hesitated and placed a hand to his chin, thinking it over for a moment before responding.
"Shambhala. If we excavate the city, we're sure to find more of their Crest research."
"There's not enough time," Lysithea gently reasoned with him. "It would take days just to reach Shambhala. You can't afford to miss your own coronation."
"I'll abdicate the throne."
"You can't be serious!"
"That's what Claude did," Byleth said, for once baring his emotions on full display.
Lysithea could distinctly hear the seething resentment towards Claude in the professor's voice.
"But you can't. The people need you, Professor."
"No, they don't. I'll leave Fodlan to someone capable, with more experience. Maybe Seteth or Lorenz. And then we can—"
"BYLETH!"
Byleth immediately went silent, a bit startled by Lysithea's outburst. Nobody had ever shouted his name at him before...not even Jeralt.
"Enough is enough," Lysithea said in a gentle, yet stern tone.
And although she had just yelled at him, the look she was giving Byleth was not one of anger, but genuine concern.
"Lysithea..."
"Professor, I appreciate all you've done. It's people like you who've made my short life worth living. I really mean that," Lysithea said softly, once again fighting back tears. "But you can't turn your back on the world just for one student."
"...But my students are my world," Byleth murmured. "Especially you."
Lysithea's eyes welled up and she turned away. She couldn't take it. She couldn't bear to face him anymore. This was the exact reason why she didn't want to make friends when she first joined the academy, why she didn't want to be close to anyone. In the end, it was those who were closest to her that would suffer the most when she was gone.
"I'm sorry, Professor. But it's over." Lysithea muttered, a tone of finality in her voice. "...I should get going. I need to pack my things."
Without another word, Lysithea made her way to the corridor outside Hanneman's office and out of sight. Byleth could hear her footsteps quicken as Lysithea broke into a sprint the moment she turned the corner.
Sitri Eisner
1139 – 1159
Jeralt Eisner
? – 1180
Resting in the warm embrace of cherished memories.
It had been several hours since Lysithea revealed the results of Hanneman's Crest Analyzer. The sun was beginning to set as Byleth placed a bouquet of lilies on his parent's grave. The choice of flower wasn't a coincidence, as these were originally meant to be given to Lysithea after he proposed to her but...given recent events, it seemed they would no longer be serving this purpose.
Between the war and trying to find a cure for Lysithea, Byleth hadn't had many opportunities to visit the cemetery as of late. And soon his visits would become even more limited, for once the coronation ceremony was completed, Byleth was to make his way to Derdriu and take residence in the now vacant Castle Riegan. Seteth would accompany him for a short time and together they would set up the foundation for the United Kingdom of Fodlan.
Byleth sighed. The last time he had come to pay his respects was right before their battle with Nemesis. It was here that he swore he would find a cure. That he would marry Lysithea, pass on his mother's ring, and make Jeralt proud. But...he had failed Jeralt just as he failed Lysithea. In time...she would likely have a grave here too. And Byleth would be visiting her alongside his parents.
The very thought made Byleth sick to his stomach. He was so...angry. At everything. He hated Solon's people, those who shortened Lysithea's life and took Jeralt from him. He felt betrayed by Claude, whose decision cost Byleth his opportunity to find a cure. And more than anything, Byleth was frustrated with himself...for his resignation. For sitting here, wallowing in self-pity, instead of spending his remaining time looking for another solution.
Now more than ever, Byleth wished he could speak to Jeralt. Growing up, he had always been a stubborn and independent child, never asking for help and rarely turning to Jeralt for guidance...but this was the one time Byleth truly wished he could lean on his father for support. Jeralt would know what to say. He would know better than anyone what Byleth was going through. What it was like to lose a loved one...
Sitri Eisner
1139 – 1159
20 years old. His mother would have been just a little younger than Lysithea when she died. Byleth was now starting to understand just what sort of torment Jeralt had been dealing with all his life, and couldn't help but wonder if he would end up the same way. Aloof, always distant, constantly trying to drink away the pain...was that the sort of person Fodlan's new ruler was going to be?
"Professor?"
Byleth glanced over his shoulder. It was Leonie.
"Why are you here?" Byleth asked, unaware how rude this sounded.
"Oh, I just came to pay Jeralt a visit," Leonie replied. "Figured I wouldn't get too many chances once we left the monastery. I guess you were thinking the same thing, huh?"
Byleth didn't respond and simply turned back to the grave.
"Um...I'm not interrupting, am I?" Leonie asked hesitantly. "I can come back later if you need a moment alone with Captain Jeralt."
"...You can stay." Byleth said after a very extended pause.
At the moment, Byleth was having a hard time deciding whether he wanted to be alone or not. It was the same way he had felt when Jeralt died. Whenever Byleth was by himself, he longed to be in the company of his students, to share his grief with them. But whenever he was with people, Byleth felt obligated to conceal his true feelings.
"That's part of a leader's job. You can't give in to despair."
That was what Claude had once told him back at the academy. And no matter how much Byleth resented him right now, he understood this to be true. It was ironic considering that, since joining the academy, Byleth had strived to better express himself...and yet now he was being forced to conceal his emotions. For the sake of his students. For Fodlan.
Leonie smiled as she sat beside Byleth and placed an unopened beer bottle on Jeralt's grave, alongside Byleth's flower offering.
"Jeralt's favorite brand," Byleth noted, while Leonie pulled out a second beer bottle and uncorked it.
"Yeah, I thought he might appreciate it," Leonie laughed, clinking her bottle with Jeralt's and taking the first swig.
Byleth forced himself to smile but remained quiet.
"Thanks for inviting me," Leonie said. "To be honest, I've been kind of worried about you."
"There's no need to worry."
"Always hiding your troubles behind that stoic expression...you really are just like Captain Jeralt," Leonie sighed. "You've become pretty distant lately, but I guess you just have a lot on your mind with the whole coronation coming up, huh?"
"I do," Byleth admitted.
"It...must be hard, having so much responsibility thrusted on you at your age," Leonie added with a small frown.
Byleth simply nodded. His coronation was far from the only issue currently plaguing his mind, but it was nice to know that someone understood the sort of the pressure he was under. ...Not that he could admit to it.
"I realize it's not the same as Captain Jeralt, but I hope you know that you can come to me or Alois...for anything," Leonie said sympathetically. "If you ever need help or just want to talk, we're here for you."
Byleth nodded again, but didn't say anything. Leonie let out a small sigh and glanced back to Jeralt's grave. She hadn't really expected the professor to open up or anything. He really was just like the captain in that regard. Just when Leonie was about to give up on prying any information from her professor, however, Byleth spoke.
"I have a question about my father."
"Huh? Oh yeah? What is it?" Leonie asked, her eyebrows raised.
"When you were with Jeralt...did he ever mention my mother?"
"Your mother? No...I don't think he did." Leonie frowned. "Um, he talked about you though. A lot actually. Whenever we were training, Captain Jeralt would always compare me to his prodigal son...it got a bit annoying, to be honest."
"Sorry."
"No need for apologies. But now that you mention it, I don't think you've ever talked about your mother either," Leonie noted. "What was she like?"
Byleth paused for a moment. Until now, he had never really thought about the sort of person his mother had been.
"My mother was frail, but very smart. She enjoyed spending most of her time in the library, reading books," Byleth recited, using Jeralt's diary entries as a reference. "She had trouble with her emotions, but was always kind to others and...she had a very beautiful smile. Jeralt used to mentor her before they got married. She also loved flow—"
Byleth paused, glancing at the bouquet of lilies he had left on Jeralt and Sitri's grave. Speaking of his mother only further reminded him of Lysithea...and his heart ached.
"She sounds like an amazing woman," Leonie said kindly.
"She was."
"Were the two of you close?"
"No. She died shortly after I was born."
"Oh, I'm...sorry to hear that," Leonie said awkwardly.
"It's fine," Byleth muttered.
"Your mother...have you been thinking about her lately?" Leonie asked tentatively.
"I have."
Byleth didn't elaborate on this any further and Leonie didn't press the subject, respecting his privacy.
Having described his mother out loud, Byleth couldn't help but draw parallels between her situation and Lysithea's. He had never really thought of it, but was it possible that it was his mother's fragile state that led to her dying during childbirth? Perhaps her fragility meant that she had always been fated to die an early death...
Sitri once bore the same Crest Stone that Byleth did. She was a 'failure' and therefore couldn't house Sothis' conscience, but was that the only consequence of her incompatibility? Was it possible that his mother had been frail because she couldn't handle the power of the Crest Stone? The power of a god? Perhaps she, like Lysithea and Edelgard, had been condemned to a shortened life because of her Crest?
"If not for Crests, the world might've been a more peaceful place."
Byleth bared his teeth, thinking back to what Lysithea had said. She was right...and so was Edelgard. Even before they were ingrained in Fodlan's noble system, Crests had brought nothing but suffering and heartache into the world.
Nemesis had slaughtered the people of Zanado so that his allies might bear their Crests. It was because of Crests that Lysithea and Edelgard had lost their families. It was because of Crests that Lysithea, Edelgard, and maybe his own mother had lost their futures. It was because of Crests...that Byleth now understood why he had to be Fodlan's ruler. So that he could put a stop to their influence...so that nobody else had to suffer.
It was the only way Byleth could atone for his failure to save her...the woman he loved.
"Huh. That's weird," Leonie muttered, frowning as she inspected the tombstone.
"What's weird?" Byleth asked.
"Jeralt doesn't have a year of birth listed," Leonie pointed out. "Doesn't anybody know his age?"
"He never told me."
"Still, you would think there would be records on that sort of thing."
"If there was, the Church would have them," Byleth said.
"Good point. Hm, how old do you think he was?"
"Over one hundred." Byleth responded dryly.
"Hahaha! Good one, Professor," Leonie laughed. "Though he was probably closer in age to your mother, don't you think?"
Byleth didn't reciprocate her laughter. He was being completely serious. Whereas Lysithea, Edelgard, and his mother had their lives cut short due to their Crests, Jeralt's lifespan had been extended instead. The irony that it was a Crest that saved Jeralt wasn't lost on him. It was also because of Jeralt's extended lifespan that he had been able to meet Sitri, who would bear his child. Because of this, Byleth couldn't bring himself to hate Rhea.
...But he still resented her. Not just for her experiments or her attempt to take away his identity in order to revive Sothis. No, Byleth resented Rhea because, during all her years in power, she had done nothing to stop the influence of Crests. Instead, she had been content to allow the Crests to spread like a cancer until they were so deeply entrenched that removing them could destroy Fodlan.
In Edelgard's attempt to abolish the influence of Crests, she had brought instability and chaos to the land. But this war wouldn't have been necessary if the Church had done something sooner. After all these years, why hadn't there been any attempts to find a cure for Crests? If Rhea could bestow Crests onto others, then surely she knew the secret to—
"...Rhea." Byleth whispered after a small pause.
After all this time, Byleth had completely forgotten his plan to interrogate Rhea for information on Crests and their possible removal.
"Huh—hey where are you going?" Leonie asked as Byleth quickly rose to his feet.
"I need to see Rhea," Byleth said shortly.
"The Archbishop? But she's not—h-hey! Professor! Get back here!" Leonie shouted, but Byleth was already sprinting towards the monastery
He had to see her...while there was still time.
"Urgh..." Rhea gasped, clutching her chest.
"Rhea!" Seteth exclaimed as Flayn soothed her pain with white magic.
"Are...you feeling well, Rhea?" Flayn asked timidly.
Rhea simply shook her head. The time she spent in confinement along with the damage she sustained at Shambhala had taken a significant toll on her health and the last few weeks had not been kind to her. Rhea's face was sunken, her hair disheveled, and her skin was paler than ever. Even simple tasks such as eating and speaking had become a struggle for her.
"There isn't much time left," Flayn said with a small frown. "Have you been in touch with the others yet, Brother?"
"I...am afraid not," Seteth admitted with a small sigh. "With a new age dawning on Fodlan, I have been preoccupied with my duties."
"But surely contacting them is of equal importance," Flayn insisted. "They would wish to pay their respects, would they not?"
'They', of course, was a reference to the other children of the goddess, Macuil and Indech.
"To be honest, I highly doubt it," Seteth said. "If they were unwilling to aid us in saving Rhea's life, I can hardly imagine they would come to mourn her death."
Rhea lowered her head despondently and didn't say a word.
"But they are family! I am certain that—" Flayn started.
"Someone is coming," Seteth interrupted.
"I'm sorry, but nobody is permitted to be here," One of the knights guarding Rhea's door said.
"Let me in," A familiar voice responded.
"But the Archbishop is—" Another knight began but was quickly interrupted when Seteth burst out of Rhea's room and joined in.
"What is the meaning of this? I thought I made it clear that—oh...it is you, Professor," Seteth said, faltering slightly as Byleth approached. "Forgive me, but now is not a good time. Can this wait?"
"I need to see Rhea," Byleth said.
"I'm afraid I cannot allow it." Seteth said firmly. "In her current condition, the Archbishop is in no state to entertain guests."
"You're here," Byleth rebutted.
"That is—I am assisting Flayn while she attends to Rhea," Seteth said defensively.
"I need to see her," Byleth repeated. "That's an order."
"I..." Seteth paused, unsure how to respond.
"Please, Professor, Rhea is in dire need of rest!" Flayn insisted. "I implore you to leave her be!"
"Let him in," Rhea said in a voice that was barely more than a whisper.
"Are...are you sure, Rhea?" Seteth asked with a tone of concern.
Rhea nodded quietly and Seteth sighed before stepping aside and allowing Byleth entry.
"We need to speak alone," Byleth said.
"But she requires assistance!" Flayn protested.
"I will be fine, Flayn..." Rhea in the same strained whisper. "There is no need to concern yourself with my wellbeing."
"Very well..." Seteth said reluctantly. "But please, try to keep your visit brief."
Byleth nodded and Seteth exited the room, beckoning for Flayn and the knights to follow him before heading down the stairs. Once they all left, Byleth turned to Rhea once again.
"It is good to see you, sweet child," Rhea said softly. "How may I—"
Rhea paused and began coughing furiously. This lasted for some time until Byleth took Flayn's place as Rhea's healer and alleviated her condition with white magic.
"Are you OK?" Byleth asked, a small irrational part of him worried that Rhea would die at any second.
"...I don't have long," Rhea wheezed. "My flame will soon be extinguished. I am sure you still wish to know more about your past. This...will likely be our last chance to speak. So please...ask your questions, Professor."
"I want to know how to remove Crests," Byleth said, getting straight to the point.
"Your...Crest?" Rhea whispered slowly. "I am afraid removing it poses far too great a ris—"
"Not my Crest. Someone else," Byleth interrupted.
Rhea simply stared at Byleth nonplussed. This wasn't the line of questioning she had been expecting from him.
"You gave Jeralt his Crest." Byleth continued, speaking in an unusually hurried tone. "You know how to bestow Crests onto others."
"...I will not deny it," Rhea murmured after a short pause. "It is true that I—among others—have successfully been able to gift humans with this power. However, to my knowledge, nobody has ever managed to have their Crest removed."
Byleth's heart sank upon hearing this, though he wasn't surprised.
"Perhaps nobody has ever tried," Byleth suggested.
"Perhaps..." Rhea repeated softly.
"You must know something."
"I apologize, dear child, but I cannot assist you."
"Can't or won't?" Byleth asked sternly.
Rhea didn't respond.
"Tell me what you know. Anything will help," Byleth pressed.
Rhea simply lowered her head and remained quiet. Whatever information Rhea had, she clearly had no intention of sharing it.
"...If you don't do anything, someone is going to die." Byleth said, now pleading.
"I offer my sincerest condolences..." Rhea whispered. "But I am of no use to you in this state. Nor can I share my knowledge...not with you or anyone."
Byleth was starting to panic, but he still had one more idea.
"If you help me—if I can save her, I...will stay at your bedside for your remaining days."
Rhea glanced up at him, her expression unreadable.
"I can tell you about my time with Sothis...my memories of her," Byleth offered, certain that this would win Rhea over.
Rhea's eyes widened and for a moment she gave a small smile—the first time she had smiled in weeks, maybe months. But this didn't last long, as Rhea soon shook her head and lowered her gaze once again.
"No. As much as I would desire this, I cannot accept," Rhea said softly. "Your duty is to Fodlan, you cannot stay with me."
Byleth's face fell. That was it. That had been his final trump card. If this couldn't convince Rhea, then nothing would. As Byleth lowered his head in hopelessness, Rhea stared at him sympathetically. She didn't know what was going on, but seeing Byleth in this broken state...she was reminded of how Jeralt looked when Sitri had died. Rhea had no desire to share this information but...perhaps this was her chance to make amends for her past mistakes.
"I will help you...on one condition." Rhea relented.
"What is it?" Byleth asked his eyes unusually wide as he stared at Rhea intensely.
"You must promise that the knowledge I share...will be a secret that you take to the grave."
Verdant Wind
Fodlan's New Dawn
Day 18 of the Horsebow Moon
Knock knock knock!
"Ugh...yeah, yeah I'm coming." Lysithea grumbled as she rose out of bed, still in her nightgown, and answered the door.
It was Byleth.
"Sorry for waking you," Byleth said while Lysithea rubbed her eyes tiredly.
"P-Professor?" Lysithea yawned. "What...what are you doing up so early? It's not even morning..."
"I need your help."
"My...help?" Lysithea mumbled, still half-asleep.
"I found another lead for a cure."
"Another...?" Lysithea paused for a moment as her brain registered what he said. "This again?! Professor, I told you we don't have enough time!"
"We still have two days." Byleth corrected her.
"You're about to become the ruler of Fodlan, you really should be focusing on your responsibilities," Lysithea said sternly, trying to mask her concern with anger.
"My responsibility is to fulfill my promise to you."
"You only promised that you would help me," Lysithea reminded him. "You've done more than enough and, while I appreciate your efforts, you can't expect to be a proper leader when you're placing all of your focus on me."
"How can I save Fodlan if I can't save a single student?" Byleth countered.
"You really are stubborn, you know that?" Lysithea said, folding her arms.
"One more try," Byleth insisted, staring intently into Lysithea's eyes and taking her hand into his.
Lysithea tried to give Byleth a disapproving look but found herself melting under his gaze, her cheeks reddening slightly.
"I'll think about it." Lysithea said non-committedly, heading inside her room and beckoning the professor to follow. "Just what is this 'lead' you've found?"
"Blood replication surgery." Byleth responded, sitting on Lysithea's bed.
"Hang on, that's..."
"It's similar to blood reconstruction surgery, yes." Byleth nodded. "I'm sure this will work."
"But what is it, exactly?"
Byleth paused for a moment and placed a hand to his chin, wondering how best to explain it and how much he could afford to tell her while keeping his promise to Rhea.
"...Claude told you about the children of the goddess, right?"
"He did." Lysithea nodded. "But how is that related to me?"
"Do you remember the legends of a strange liquid that could bestow certain people with Crests?"
"Yes...and others would turn into horrific beasts." Lysithea added.
"Pure Crest-bearing blood infects the human body like a poison. It's dangerous." Byleth explained. "Those Who Slither in the Dark developed a blood ritual to safely transfer these Crests."
Byleth wasn't really sure whether this was true or not. It was actually Seiros who used this method to safely bestow the Crests of the Saints to her followers. But it was also likely that Those Who Slither in the Dark used the same method as well.
"So, in other words, this ritual would replicate one person's blood to match another?" Lysithea questioned.
"Yes."
"And...is it safe?" Lysithea asked nervously.
"It's not the same as the experiments performed on you," Byleth reassured her.
Based on what Rhea had said, blood reconstruction surgery involved changing the properties of existing blood into something new. Something potentially unstable and dangerous. This was why so many children from the Imperial Royal Family and House Ordelia had died. However, blood replication surgery relied on overwriting blood until it matched a different, yet stable, blood sample. Thus, it was much safer.
"I'll admit, I am intrigued." Lysithea said, pondering the situation.
There were only two more days until the coronation and, if Lysithea was being honest with herself, she didn't want to spend this remaining time cooped up in her room or the library, overworking herself, before undergoing hours of pain and stress in a blood ritual. And she certainly didn't want to get her hopes up again either. However, this new revelation did sound promising...
"Do...do you really think this could work?" Lysithea asked anxiously.
"This ritual was made to implant Crests," Byleth pointed out. "Crest-bearing blood is powerful enough to overwrite ordinary blood, but usually it wouldn't work in reverse."
"Usually?" Lysithea repeated.
"We recently drained the Crest power from your body." Byleth reminded her. "Your blood should still be powerless. All we need now is blood that is both powerful and Crestless."
"But where would we find such blood?" Lysithea frowned.
Byleth didn't respond and simply stared at her intently.
"Wait, do you mean...yourself?" Lysithea asked, wide-eyed.
"My mother held unique blood and Jeralt bore the Major Crest of Seiros," Byleth explained. "And though I have a Crest, my blood is Crestless."
"There's no telling if this will work, but what you say does make sense," Lysithea acknowledged. "Where did you learn about all of this, anyway?"
"It doesn't matter," Byleth said. "What matters is that this might help you."
"...Oh, all right. You've convinced me," Lysithea sighed, smiling in spite of herself, and earning a smile from Byleth in return. "But wait, if we're using your blood—"
"—I won't be able to perform the ritual alone," Byleth finished. "I will need your help."
"That only gives me two days to study this!"
"It will be difficult."
"What are you still doing here, then?! I need to get dressed!" Lysithea exclaimed, shooing Byleth out of her room.
"I'll meet you in my quarters." Byleth said, barely containing his amusement at Lysithea's sudden enthusiasm.
Verdant Wind
Fodlan's New Dawn
Day 19 of the Horsebow Moon
It was late evening as Byleth and Lysithea continued performing the final phases of the blood replication surgery. Mastering the necessary blood magic in a mere two days had been no easy task, but after 30 hours of non-stop study and practice with little food and no sleep, the two of them managed to pull it off.
Following Rhea's advice, Byleth had chosen to perform the blood ritual in the Goddess Tower. The Goddess Tower was a sacred place, magically attuned, and flowed with the power of the goddess herself, making it an ideal place to perform white magic and, by extension, blood magic. Rhea had used the tower many times herself to conduct this very same ritual and bestow her most loyal followers with the Crest of Seiros.
To Lysithea's relief, the blood ritual they were performing was proving to be much less painful and strenuous than their last attempt, and although Byleth credited this improvement to their hard work and the power of the Goddess Tower, Lysithea knew there was more to it than that. There was something else at play that was helping them produce far greater results than their previous efforts.
The preceding rituals had merely been the result of clumsy experimentation based on research notes they barely understood. The studies Byleth and Lysithea conducted relied on a combination of unfounded theories, crude guesswork, and a lot of dumb luck. But this time it was different. Lysithea didn't know how, but it was clear that the professor had a deep understanding magic that was being used here.
But the professor's proficiency in the ritual wasn't the only magical improvement. Lysithea noticed that the professor's arcane abilities had advanced significantly. Perhaps it was the Goddess Tower resonating with the Crest of Flames, but it seemed as though Byleth had gained a new mastery over his Crest and was using it much more harmoniously with his spellwork, thus increasing the potency and stability of his magic.
Lysithea had tried asking the professor multiple times on how he had obtained all this knowledge, but each time she did, Byleth would simply tell her to focus on the ritual. And so she did, murmuring incantations alongside him, synchronizing her magic with his, and controlling the flow of power that formed from Byleth's blood.
Keeping true to his word, Byleth never did fully explain the ritual process to Lysithea, only that her role was to manifest power from his wound and then direct that power into the incision on her left arm. While Lysithea did this, Byleth used the energy she transmitted to perform the blood replication process, overwriting her blood to match his own.
"One last step," Byleth informed her.
Lysithea nodded. Whatever Byleth was doing now was completely different from everything else they had tried. Based on the sensations Lysithea felt in her body, this final step didn't seem to be affecting her blood, but her bones. More importantly...it seemed to be working. Lysithea didn't know what was happening, but she could feel a significant difference in her body.
The process lasted a few minutes, but once they were done, Lysithea knew, even before Byleth motioned for her to stop, that it was over.
"Professor I..." Lysithea paused, at a loss for words.
"We've done all that we can," Byleth said solemnly as he healed the incision on Lysithea's arm.
"We have," Lysithea nodded in numb disbelief. "I can feel that the Crests are no longer a part of me."
There was no need to consult Hanneman's Crest Analyzer this time. Lysithea knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that her Crests were gone.
It was hard to describe how she was feeling, but there was more to it than simply losing power. Lysithea had never felt so clean, so whole before . It was as though there had been two different entities living inside her all this time, each with a mind of their own and both subtly influencing her in their own way. But now they were gone and Lysithea was just...Lysithea.
"That must mean I'll...I mean, my body will..." Lysithea stuttered.
"We can't say for sure, but we can hope," Byleth said softly, staring intently at her.
Despite all they had accomplished, it was a bittersweet victory for Byleth who, until now, had always taken it for granted that removing Lysithea's Crests would mean restoring her lifespan as well. He hadn't anticipated this uncertainty...the grim possibility that Lysithea's lost years could never be recovered.
"Thank you, Professor. No matter the outcome, I feel a sense of peace. I have hope, and that hope will carry me through it all." Lysithea said appreciatively. "You've done so much, searching for a way to remove my Crests—to save me. I can't tell you how much it means to me."
Lysithea, by contrast, was content with this triumph. Even if her future was uncertain, having her Crests removed gave Lysithea a sense of closure. It meant that, even if the worst came to pass, at least she wouldn't have to spend her final days surrendering herself to a fate of misfortune. The nightmare was over...and she had her stubborn professor thank for that.
"So, what will you do now?" Byleth asked, subconsciously placing his hand against his pocket where Sitri's ring rested.
"I will not claim my title. House Ordelia will end with my father's generation," Lysithea said resolutely. "After this, I'm going to begin preparations for our family's dissolution. This will ensure that the people of our territory will not be troubled. And my parents will be able to live out their lives in peace."
"And after that?" Byleth prompted, having expected this answer.
"A good question..." Lysithea said slowly, her eyes widening.
Until now, there never was an 'after that'. Lysithea had always seen the restoration of Ordelia territory simply as...the end. But with her Crests removed, she was now free to make her own choices, to live out her life the way she wanted. There were infinite possibilities and yet...Lysithea felt she already knew where she belonged.
"I hadn't considered it. But, assuming I have life left in me..." Lysithea hesitated somewhat shyly, glancing towards Byleth. "Would it be all right if I came back here? To...stay by your side?"
It was ironic in a way. Lysithea had spent her entire life chained to her own sense of duty, helping her parents govern their territory. She was now free to do whatever she wanted...and yet all Lysithea wanted to do was support Byleth the same way he had supported her. She wanted...to be close to him.
"Without my Crests, I'm not sure what all I'd be able to do for you." Lysithea admitted. "But you have given me a new life. I want to use my time to support you however I can. I just..."
Lysithea faltered for a moment, but before she could continue, she felt Byleth place something small in her hand.
"Lysithea...I want you to have this," Byleth said with a warm smile.
Lysithea glanced down at the small object Byleth had given her...it was a beautiful, ornate silver ring, embedded with amethysts. It was...
"Oh! Is this...this is..." Lysithea gasped.
...A wedding ring.
"I'll be waiting for your safe return," Byleth said tenderly.
For the briefest moment, Lysithea was confused. Byleth had given her a ring and yet he had not proposed the question...but then Lysithea realized that he didn't need to. This wasn't a traditional proposal. Rather...it was simply the next step for them. Obviously, Byleth hadn't been carrying this ring with him by mere happenstance. He had been planning this for some time, waiting for the perfect moment to announce their engagement. There was no doubt in his mind that she would accept it.
Lysithea looked up, staring at him guiltily as she finally understood what had truly been at stake—what Byleth had been fighting so hard for. Not just her future...but their future. Lysithea hadn't merely given up on her life, she had given up on him. She had given up on their love, their future as a couple—as a family. Lysithea couldn't help but feel...ashamed of herself.
"What I said earlier about not caring what the outcome of all this is...I take it back," Lysithea said shakily, forcing herself to meet Byleth's gaze. "For the longest time, I didn't think I'd be around to be a part of the future you and everyone were creating. That I had no place in it."
Lysithea trembled as she finally admitted to herself the sentiment that had been plaguing the back of her mind for years. The sense of not belonging. That she was truly alone, no matter how many friends surrounded her. Until now, all she could do was accept it...but Lysithea didn't want to just 'accept' it anymore. She didn't want to feign indifference. Not when Byleth was trying so hard to create a future for them.
"But now, I cannot fight it any longer...I do care. And I do not wish to give up on chasing that future. I do not wish to die! I refuse to give up...on myself, or on our future." Lysithea exclaimed, her eyes welling with tears. "And so...I promise to come back to you. No matter what!"
Byleth stumbled back as Lysithea, without warning, flung herself against him and buried her head against his chest.
"Once I'm back..." Lysithea whispered in a quavering voice.
"We will chase that future. Together., Byleth finished as he held Lysithea close and stroked her hair.
"Yes, I quite like the sound of that. Together!" Lysithea gushed, her heart fluttering. "It is decided. We will be together forever. Living long, full lives! Count on it, my love."
Several hours passed and night fell upon Garreg Mach, bringing an icy chill along with it. During this time, Byleth and Lysithea remained at the Goddess Tower, their backs to the wall and Byleth's overcoat draped around them as Lysithea rested her head against Byleth's shoulder and Byleth leaned his head against hers.
Byleth glanced down to Lysithea and smiled warmly as he caught her admiring her engagement ring once again.
"I take it you like the ring?" Byleth asked coyly.
He was teasing, of course, but due to his monotone, Lysithea missed the joke and answered candidly.
"It's lovely, Byleth," Lysithea said cheerfully, making sure to address her new fiancé by name. "I can't believe you were able to afford this—you didn't go through too much trouble, did you?"
"It was my mother's, actually," Byleth said. "Jeralt...wanted me to give it to someone I love."
"Your mother's?" Lysithea asked. "But this ring, it looks—"
"—like it was made for you?" Byleth finished, with a small smile.
Lysithea nodded bashfully, glancing back to the ring again. The silver and amethysts were a perfect complement to her hair and outfit. She had assumed that Byleth picked it out himself for this very reason.
"I guess Claude would call it 'fate'." Byleth said.
"Um, 'fate'?" Lysithea repeated with an amused smile.
"We were destined to be together." Byleth said, his toneless voice making it difficult to determine if he was being serious or flirting.
Lysithea rolled her eyes and let out a small sigh, tilting her head slightly to kiss Byleth's cheek before returning to her relaxed position. Byleth glanced towards her and, although his face didn't show it, it warmed his heart to see Lysithea so happy...so relaxed and peaceful. She looked as though she might doze off at any moment.
"How are you feeling?" Byleth asked.
"Tired..." Lysithea mumbled sleepily, resting her eyes and nuzzling against him.
She was exhausted, but saying it aloud only made Lysithea realize just how tired she really was. Not just from her recent lack of sleep, but from her Crests, the pressure she had placed herself under for all these years, the massive workload she endured, the war—everything. Even when she had been resting, Lysithea's mind was always focused on work and just how much time she had left.
But now...the war was finished, her Crests had been removed, and her life was no longer an hourglass. It was over. It was finally over and, for the first time, Lysithea was without worry. For the first time in her life, she could truly relax.
"We should get some sleep, then," Byleth suggested. "It will be a busy day tomorrow."
"Um, actually...do you mind if we stay like this? Just a bit longer?" Lysithea pleaded.
"You must be cold."
"No. Actually, I'm feeling quite cozy." Lysithea insisted as she snuggled closer, her hair tickling Byleth's nose.
"...I suppose I don't mind then," Byleth murmured, his cheeks turning a faint red as a familiar candy-like scent filled his nostrils.
Lysithea giggled and closed her eyes with contentment once again while Byleth absentmindedly stroked her hair. She was so warm, so content and sleepy. It was tempting to nod off, but Lysithea wouldn't allow herself to sleep. Byleth had managed to make this special occasion even more special by proposing to her on the spot and Lysithea wanted to enjoy this moment for as long as possible.
...And at some point, she was going to have to ask Byleth whether or not they would be sharing a room now. It was something that made Lysithea feel both excited and nervous...was she ready for such a big step? They hadn't even shared their first kiss, after all. And was it even appropriate? They were engaged, sure, but not yet married.
This was the sort of thing that Lysithea's mother had always wanted to discuss with her, but Lysithea didn't care to listen to. As far as Lysithea was concerned, she would never be involved in a relationship anyway, so what was the point of learning about romance, her 'role as a woman', and other such nonsense?
And Lysithea knew, of course, that she couldn't turn to Byleth for help—he was probably even more clueless! To make matters worse, he was likely counting on her to lead him. The idea of teaching her new fiancé about all this was...very embarrassing. Lysithea would have to ask her parents about it the next time she saw them.
Lysithea let out a sigh as she reminded herself that she was going home soon. Lysithea missed her parents dearly and she was excited to see them again—to tell them everything that transpired and celebrate her marriage, the war's end, and her longevity with her mother and father. But going home also meant going back to a strict work schedule and the idea of separating from Byleth so soon after their engagement was...heartbreaking.
"We won't be able to see much of each other tomorrow, will we?" Lysithea asked sadly
"No." Byleth replied plainly. "And you are planning to leave the day after, right?"
"...I must." Lysithea sighed.
"I'm headed to the Alliance as well, to Derdriu. We can journey together." Byleth suggested.
"That would be nice." Lysithea agreed with a small smile.
"When we part ways, I will send several battalions of knights to accompany you."
"While I appreciate the offer, that's really not necessary," Lysithea insisted. "I don't need an escort, I'm perfectly capable, you know."
"They're not escorts," Byleth corrected her. "I'm sending them with you to help restore Ordelia territory."
"They...what?"
"You said it could take years to restore your territory," Byleth reminded her. "But if I send your family enough troops and resources, we could cut it down to months."
"That's sweet of you, but I simply cannot accept that." Lysithea protested. "Our new kingdom has only just been founded. It would be reckless to allocate your resources in such a way."
"...I... want to see you again," Byleth muttered sheepishly.
"So do I, but as the new ruler you must be fair and just. You can't—"
"Seteth won't be around to help me forever," Byleth interrupted. "And I won't be able to restore Fodlan without your help."
Lysithea went quiet and stared at Byleth critically. He was being completely serious about this, wasn't he? ...Byleth wasn't just assisting her on a selfish whim. He was doing it because he truly believed having her at his side was best for the kingdom.
"Y-You...you really think that highly of me, do you?" Lysithea mumbled bashfully.
"I always have,"
His voice was completely devoid of emotion as always. It was deadpan and serious, lacking any hint of romantic intent. But Lysithea only found this aspect about Byleth to be endearing. She could always trust that he was being sincere with her...and the fact that he respected her and saw her as a capable person, someone he depended on—even without her Crests—meant far more to her than any flattery would.
"Truly?" Lysithea asked, smiling broadly.
"Truly," Byleth repeated.
"...Even when we were in the academy?"
Byleth nodded.
"Heh, I was honestly a bit of a mess back then," Lysithea admitted sheepishly.
"You worked hard. I thought you were admirable."
"Thanks, but it isn't as though you were lacking a work ethic yourself."
"Maybe...but you had other virtues that I lacked."
"Such as?" Lysithea asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Your life had meaning. You worked hard for people other than yourself," Byleth muttered. "...Until I became a professor, I only lived for myself. My days as a mercenary, my time travelling Fodlan...I hardly remember any of it. There was nothing worth remembering. I didn't have a purpose."
"Byleth..." Lysithea said softly with a small concerned frown, taking his hand.
"I'm OK now," Byleth assured her. "Thanks to you and the other students."
Lysithea smiled and nestled her head underneath his chin. Despite his cold, hardened appearance, Byleth was...surprisingly cuddly.
"...You mentioned I had other qualities?" Lysithea asked playfully.
"You were always skilled at expressing your emotions."
"That's not a 'skill', Byleth!" Lysithea giggled.
"It is to me," Byleth asserted
"Really, I had no self-control back then," Lysithea sighed. "To be perfectly honest, I wanted to be more like you."
"You were easy to talk to. I never had trouble understanding you. And...I liked seeing you smile," Byleth added quietly
"Is that so?" Lysithea said, looking up and smiling sweetly at him.
"Yes, just like that..." Byleth muttered quietly.
Although his face remained as stoic as ever, Byleth blushed slightly. Lysithea did too when she realized that their faces were a mere few inches from each other. She shyly tried to turn away but was stopped when Byleth placed a hand to her cheek and ever so gently turned her to face him, staring intently into her eyes...bracing himself for something.
"Byleth...I—"
"I'm ready." Byleth said resolutely, his face hardened.
"Y-Yes, as am I..." Lysithea affirmed nervously.
What?! No I'm not! Lysithea internally screamed. But even so, I want to do this...
The two of them slowly inched their faces closer.
We are engaged, after all. So there's no sense in putting this off any longer!
Byleth closed his eyes, as did Lysithea, who braced herself for impact. They moved closer...
Almost.
And closer...
Any moment now.
...
No—no! I can't do this! What if I mess up? Or if someone walks in on us again?! Or—
But there were no interuptions. Finally, her lips lightly touched his. It wasn't forceful, there was little movement, and no tongue was involved. It was gentle, timid, and innocent...an inexperienced first kiss. Byleth moved his lips more firmly onto hers and they awkwardly held this position for a few moments before breaking away.
"W-We...we did it," Lysithea whispered breathlessly.
"Yeah..." Byleth muttered in an uncharacteristically nervous tone.
He was still holding Lysithea tightly in his arms, their faces still mere inches from each other. Byleth felt a heat rising in his body and soon realized it wasn't just intimacy that he was feeling, but embarrassment. They had just shared their first kiss and yet it had been such a...clumsy attempt on his part.
"Sorry..." Byleth said softly. "I'm...not the best at expressing myself."
"Don't worry about it. I can't say I have much experience in this sort of thing either," Lysithea admitted shyly, trying to comfort him.
It was all too clear that neither of them knew what they were doing, but for Lysithea this hardly detracted from the moment. Far from it. If anything, she was happier knowing that they were sharing this awkward experience together...that their first kiss had been reserved for each other and nobody else. However, she could tell that kissing wasn't the only thing on Byleth's mind...
"Are you all right?" Lysithea asked with a small frown.
"It's never been in my nature to express my emotions. But...I do feel them," Byleth paused for a moment, as if straining his voice to force an emotional inflection. "I...care about you, Lysithea. I want you to be happy. And even if I can't show it, I hope you know that I love—"
"Byleth," Lysithea interrupted.
Byleth hesitated and, before he could respond, Lysithea had pressed her lips to his once again. This kiss was bolder—more forceful as Lysithea placed one hand on Byleth's shoulder and the other on the back of his head, pulling him in and deepening the kiss.
What was this feeling? These unfamiliar sensations and new emotions Byleth felt as he returned her kiss. He wanted to...protect her? Protect her from what? No, he wanted to be...close to her.
Byleth held Lysithea more firmly, the latter moaning slightly as he stroked her hair. His arms were wrapped tightly around her and yet...Byleth still longed to be closer, somehow. Compensating for this desire, Byleth attempted to mimic Lysithea's passionate movements, quickly complying when Lysithea's tongue invaded his mouth and met his own.
"Lysithea...I..." Byleth gasped breathlessly when they finally broke apart.
Lysithea's chest swelled with pride, pleased to see that she had left him utterly speechless.
"Now you listen to me. I don't care what you say, I'm more than capable of seeing through that stony face of yours," Lysithea said in a gentle scolding tone. "I know exactly how you feel—you've shown it time and time again. After everything you've done, you have nothing to prove to me, OK?"
"...OK," Byleth said, nodding slowly with a small smile.
"Good. Now that we've sorted that out, we really should get some sleep," Lysithea suggested. "The others will expect you to be well rested tomorrow and I want to enjoy our last day together as the Golden Deer House. Is there anything else before we head to bed?"
"...I wouldn't mind one more kiss," Byleth chuckled unabashedly.
Lysithea folded her arms upon hearing this but couldn't resist smirking as she pulled him in and resumed where they had left off, this time allowing Byleth to take the lead.
Now that it was all said and done, Lysithea found that she was grateful that their first kiss had waited until this moment. Because now it meant so much more. He was no longer her professor and she was no longer his desperate student, hoping that she wouldn't have to depart this world without ever kissing anyone.
Instead, he was her fiancé. Her husband-to-be. And she was kissing him not in desperation, but to celebrate their union...and the long and peaceful future they would share together.
The End